BHP CEO steps down as miner pivots to copper

By Chloe Coutinho

Wednesday, 18 March 2026

NewsPeople & Workforce

BHP’s (ASX: BHP) Mike Henry will step down on July 1 after six and a half years as chief executive, with Brandon Craig set to succeed him.

The MOU supports Metallium’s plan to develop a national network of e-waste processing facilities, strategically located near major e-waste collection hubs, rapidly expanding U.S. data centre industrial parks and regional industrial corridors with strong logistics and waste generation.

Alcoa expects 2026 total alumina segment production and shipments to remain unchanged from its prior projection, ranging between 9.7-9.9mt and between 11.8-12.0mt respectively.

NewsProjects & Operations

Middle East conflict weighs on Alcoa shipments

Alcoa’s (ASX: AAI) first quarter aluminium shipments fell 8% while alumina shipments fell 31%, partly due to shipping delays linked to war in the Middle East and Cyclone Narelle.

Through the new joint venture, PSOCO will hold an indirect 15% stake in each of the mines.

Economics & Commodity PricesNewsProjects & Operations

MinRes sheds its stake in lithium business

Mineral Resources (ASX: MIN) will sell a 30% stake in its operational lithium business to POSCO Holdings for $1.2b (US$765m).

Ardea Resources says the KNP will be located in a jurisdiction with exemplary ESG credentials.

FIRB approves major Australian-Japanese critical minerals collaboration

FIRB approves major Australian-Japanese critical minerals collaboration Australia’s Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) has approved the Ardea Resources (ASX: ARL), Sumitomo Metal Mining and Mitsubishi Corporation joint venture to develop the Kalgoorlie nickel project (KNP) in WA. The KNP and its sub-set the Goongarrie Hub, are a globally significant series of nickel-cobalt and critical mineral deposits which host the largest nickel-cobalt resource in the developed world at 854mt, according to Ardea. In addition to FIRB approval, Ardea has been informed that the Consortium has obtained merger control clearance from the Korea Fair Trade Commission, successfully satisfying two of the four conditions...

The NSW Government says it is commitment to the critical minerals industry which provides high quality jobs in regional NSW and mines the materials needed to build the net-zero future.

NSW looks for new critical minerals projects

NSW looks for new critical minerals projects The NSW Government has launched a new $2.5m co-investment seed funding program to unearth the state’s next major critical minerals projects. The new Critical Minerals Exploration Program is a key part of the government’s Critical Minerals and High-Tech Metals Strategy. The $2.5 million fund requires a 50% co-investment from successful applicants and is aimed at encouraging more exploration in the state by supporting companies to undertake drilling, geophysics and geochemistry, all crucial steps to determine the scale of a...