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Evolution Mining (ASX: EVN) has delivered strong H1 FY26 results, with net profit after tax more than doubling to $766.6m from the year before as the gold price surged through Q2. Underlying profit after tax hit a record $785.2m, while earnings per share rose 107% to 37.96c, reflecting the strong gold price environment. Consistent operational performance delivered gold and copper production of 365,000oz and 36,000t, in line with guidance.  Evolution says it is on track to deliver 710,000-780,000oz of gold but is expecting to come in towards the lower end of its copper guidance due to a Q2 weather event at Ernest Henry. Off the back of these results, Evolution Mining has updated its Northparkes streaming deal with Triple Flag Precious Metals, securing an additional $120m refundable deposit due December 15. The revised deal also cuts the stream rate over the E44 deposit, reducing Triple Flag’s take to 25% of payable gold and 37.5% of payable silver. Evolution managing director and chief executive Lawrie Conway says this marks a major milestone for the Northparkes operation, where the miner has now established a pathway to unlock even more value.  “To achieve this, we needed to have full alignment with Triple Flag on how this value can be realised,” he said. “Triple Flag has demonstrated throughout our discussions, a commitment to jointly work on unlocking this potential.” Triple Flag chief executive and director Sheldon Vanderkooy says the gold potential of the Northparkes land package in this higher gold price environment is immense. “I want to congratulate the Evolution team for the significant value they have created at Northparkes through approval of the E22 block cave, commencement of a pre-feasibility study to evaluate the potential of a material expansion of Northparkes mill processing capacity, and the potential development of the E44 gold open pit,” he said. “We are pleased to provide additional development funding to Evolution for guaranteed minimum gold and silver deliveries from the gold-dominant E44 deposit, which will create value for the shareholders of both Evolution and Triple Flag.” The Evolution board has approved the development of the E22 block cave with a capital investment of $545m. The miner expects the operation to generate a rate of return of 28% at base case metal prices or 38% at upside metal prices. 

University graduates invited to work with Glencore Glencore has opened applications for its 2027 graduate program which offers university graduates the opportunity to launch their careers with the leading resources company.Open to graduates in engineering, environmental science, geology, accounting, health and safety, human resources and IT, the program begins in February 2027 and provides a strong foundation for long-term careers in the mining industry.The two-year program combines hands-on site experience with structured development, mentoring from industry leaders and access to a strong professional network, along with a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits.Since 2020, 668 graduates have joined Glencore’s Australian coal and metals operations, gaining practical experience while contributing to major regional projects and local communities.Glencore coal human resources manager Michelle Montgomery says the coal graduate program was designed to give graduates real responsibility, strong support and early exposure to operational environments.“Our Graduate Program gives emerging professionals the chance to learn, grow and thrive in a supportive and challenging environment, while building strong foundations for long-term careers,” she said."Beyond technical skills participants develop confidence in communication, teamwork and leadership, all underpinned by a strong safety culture, integrity and responsibility for solving real challenges.”For graduate geotechnical engineer Nicholas Grady, the coal graduate program offered opportunities he had not found elsewhere in the industry, particularly the chance to gain experience across both underground and open-cut operations.“I chose to apply for the Glencore graduate program because it offered opportunities other programs didn’t, particularly as a geotechnical engineer,” he said.“I’ve had the chance to work in both underground and open-cut coal operations and gain plenty of hands-on experience.“The support on site has been great. I have a direct supervisor who has been extremely helpful and someone I can always speak to, even when we’re not on site together. It’s a unique opportunity for graduates looking for real responsibility early in their careers, and I would encourage students to give it a go.”Glencore Mount Isa Mines human resources manager Shari Barwick says the metals graduate program is designed to give graduates meaningful responsibility while providing the support they need to succeed.“Our graduate program helps early-career professionals build skills, confidence and leadership capability in a supportive and challenging environment, laying the groundwork for rewarding careers in regional Queensland,” she said.“Alongside technical skills, graduates develop teamwork, communication and problem-solving abilities, guided by our strong focus on safety, integrity and real-world impact.”For metallurgist Mikayla McKenna the opportunity to challenge herself, gain practical experience and build confidence was a defining part of the program.“I joined the graduate program because I wanted hands-on experience, not just theory,” she said.“That is one of the best parts of the graduate program, learning from people who’ve been solving problems for years. That knowledge doesn’t exist in textbooks, you only get it by being here, amongst the action.“Within months of arriving, I was solving real operational problems and working with people who trusted me. That’s what made this experience unlike any other.”

MCA: Skilled migration to reverse mining talent crunch The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) has outlined a range of programs and reforms to skilled migration policy to reduce a talent shortage in the nation’s minerals industry. In a submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Migration’s Inquiry into the value of skilled migration to Australia, the MCA’s recommendations include fast-tracking permanent residency for in-demand global talent, cutting processing delays and accelerating licensing.MCA chief executive Tania Constable says Australian mining is facing a severe skills shortage. “ threatens our ability to take advantage of growing global demand for critical minerals essential to daily life, the energy transition and defence and bulk commodities such as iron ore and coal,” she said. “Mining is facing a workforce crunch as demand for talent intensifies while nearly half of mining engineers are expected to retire within the next decade, yet hundreds of foreign engineers living in Australia are forced to drive Ubers or accept other work below their level of expertise for a living. “Employing Australians will always be the first priority of the minerals industry. “The industry provides more than 290,000 direct jobs and also creates jobs through supply chains and related industries — totalling around 1.25m jobs in direct and indirect jobs across the country — with projections indicating up to 35,400 jobs are to be added by 2028.” Skilled workers are also delivered through the vocational education and training system which supplies job-ready talent through apprenticeships, traineeships and targeted upskilling programs. Apprentices and trainees made up about 4.4% of the mining workforce for the last 15 years, with almost 11,000 mining apprentices and trainees in training. “At the same time, skilled migration fills urgent workforce needs, complements domestic training and supports long-term growth,” Ms Constable said. “Without skilled migration, mining labour shortages especially in critical and hard to fill specialised roles would put project timelines, export earnings and the broader national economy at risk.” Australian industry is struggling to fill critical roles including mining, geotechnical and processing engineers, metallurgists, geologists, electricians, mine surveyors, diesel fitters and drillers. “While Australia’s skilled migration intake is intended to align with industry needs, responsiveness is weakened by slow updates, credential barriers and settlement constraints,” Ms Constable said. “Australia’s mining, clean energy and technology sectors are all frustrated and impeded by these weaknesses, as their demand for specialised skills is growing faster than migration pathways can adapt.” Although skilled migrants comprise just 1.24% of the Australian minerals workforce, their contribution is critical. Since June 2020, skilled migrant industry participation hasmore than doubled, rising 122% from 1700 in 2020 to 3880 in 2025.  The MCA’s submission outlines several recommendations to improve skilled migration approach, including restoring responsiveness and streamlining pathways by aligning intake with verified industry needs and fast-tracking permanent residency routes to attract and retain global talent According to the MCA, eliminating structural barriers by cutting processing delays, simplifying requirements and modernising administration whilst empowering states and territories through flexible regional compacts and embedding clear residency, family and settlement support are also crucial. The MCA also recommends activating regional compacts that give states and territories flexible nomination quotas directly tied to verified local shortages and mobilising existing migrant talent by accelerating credential recognition and introducing targeted industry incentives for work experience placements and structured mentoring. Accelerating licensure and credential assessment through codesign with professional regulators will also help create frictionless, accelerated permanent residency routes for skills essential to national strategic priorities, including those required for the critical minerals, the clean energy transition and net zero targets, such as STEM, advanced manufacturing and specific trades, says the MCA. “A more agile and targeted skilled migration system will secure the skills that drive innovation, lift productivity and reinforce the nation’s position in the global economy, particularly in mining where leadership is critical to long-term prosperity,” Ms Constable said. 

Rio Tinto rules out Glencore merger  Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) has confirmed it is no longer considering a possible merger or other business combination with Glencore. While outlooks for Rio Tinto have been rejigged with the appointment of Simon Trott to chief executive, a merger with Glencore would have been doubly surprising. According to Glencore, the offer would have seen Rio Tinto retaining both the chairman and chief executive roles and delivering a proforma ownership of the combined company. Glencore said this arrangement would significantly undervalue the company and that the proposed acquisition would not be in the best interests of its shareholders.  The talks have been watched closely as copper appears central to the deal. Rio is actively building scale in copper, while Glencore brings an established global copper portfolio. But beyond copper, the companies’ portfolios are difficult to reconcile. Rio remains anchored in iron ore and has spent years simplifying its exposure to higher-emissions commodities, including exiting coal, while Glencore remains one of the world’s largest coal producers.  Rio’s push to streamline around ‘future-facing’ commodities sits awkwardly with Glencore’s coal exposure — meaning copper alone may not have been enough to justify what could have been a complex integration.