MinRes and POSCO execute lithium JV agreements

By Chloe Coutinho

Monday, 4 May 2026

InternationalNews

POSCO Holdings will acquire 30% of Mineral Resources’ (ASX: MIN) operational lithium business under a new incorporated joint venture, LithCo.

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.

Rinehart drops lithium stakes for rare earths

Economics & Commodity PricesInternationalNews

Rinehart drops lithium stakes for rare earths

Gina Rinehart has become the majority shareholder in the US’s only rare earths producer, MP Materials, while majorly decreasing her US-listed lithium holdings.

China eyes Barrambie project JV

CommoditiesContractsDevelopmentsInternationalNews

China eyes Barrambie project JV

NEOMETALS (ASX: NMT) has entered into an MoU with the Institute of Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences (IMUMR) to develop the $692m Barrambie Titanium Vanadium project in WA. The MoU will lay the foundations for a potential 50:50 commercial production JV. IMUMR is a leading metallurgical institute in China with recognised expertise in, and relationships with China’s titanium and vanadium chemical processing industry, and global titanium-vanadium production houses. At an estimated total indicated and inferred mineral resource of 280.1mt at 9.18pc titanium and 0.44pc to 80m vertical depth, the Barrambie deposit is considered to be one of the world’s largest, high-grade titanium-vanadium deposits. Neometals’ cashed-up potential Chinese partner has the ability to fast track the…

Gold near seven year high

CommoditiesInternationalNews

Gold near seven year high

GOLD has peaked at a near seven-year high of US$1579.72 after the US launched a deadly attack against Iranian military leader Major General Qassem Soleimani. The destabilising effect on the international market was swift, and was the latest in a string of contributing factors that has continued to drive investors to gold as a safe-haven metal to protect against market downturn. The price spike has come after a momentary lapse in gold’s momentum in Q4 2019, surging to its highest price since April 2013 at US$1579.72. The assassination of General Soleimani has escalated international fears that tensions between Washington and Tehran could spill over into a new war in the Middle East. The targeted attack was given the go-ahead by…

Newcrest progresses Chilean project

InternationalNews

Newcrest progresses Chilean project

BY JESSICA CUMMINS NEWCREST Mining has entered into the farm-in stage of its agreement with Mirasol Resources’ Altazor gold project in Chile. The two companies first signed an option and farm in agreement in November 2017, which saw Newcrest set to acquire up to 80 per cent of the project by completing a series of exploration and development milestones. After completing an aggressive exploration program comprising systematic soil sampling, detailed geological mapping, magnetics and electrical geophysics last year, Newcrest presented an exploration budget totalling $US3.3 million for this season’s exploration program. Exploration works would be focussed on a maiden drilling program, subject to obtaining applicable permits and permissions. Mirasol president and chief executive Stephen Nano said the company was pleased…

The NSW Government is committed to ensuring land is returned to a safe and stable condition when mining ends.

$37.7m to support NSW mining communities and protect workers

The NSW Government is making additional investments in mine safety and rehabilitation in the 2024-25 NSW Budget. A total strategic investment of $37.7m will support mining communities, ensure rehabilitation of mines and support health and safety for mine workers in NSW. This includes $13.6m over four years for mine rehabilitation, a key priority for regional communities. This funding package increases dedicated regulatory resources to ensure compliance with rehabilitation requirements and provide support for local communities. Inspectors at the NSW Resources Regulator will oversee a projected increase in rehabilitation activities. This is particularly important at the State’s 39 coal mines, 32 of which are expected to close by 2040. The Resources Regulator will be supported with $1.6m to monitor and enforce…

UFR has approximately 40 employees and is headquartered in Brisbane, Australia.

Sandvik acquires Universal Field Robots

Sandvik has completed its acquisition of Universal Field Robots (UFR), a fast-growing Australia-based provider of autonomous interoperable solutions for the surface mining and underground mining markets. UFR’s solution portfolio is built on a common autonomy platform, which is a strong complement to Sandvik’s automation offering and includes original equipment manufacturer (OEM) agnostic robotic and autonomous solutions for trucks, loaders and auxiliary equipment. According to Sandvik, the acquisition will help to increase the addressable market for the company and further strengthens the market position of Sandvik AutoMine. Sandvik president and chief executive Stefan Widing comments on the transaction. “Universal Field Robots is an important strategic addition to Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions, which will strengthen our growth potential and provide key…

The new results show that the Tallebung deposit remains open in all directions.

Exploration & DiscoveryNews

Significant discoveries at NSW tin project

Recent drilling and surface sampling activities at Sky Metals’ (ASX: SKY) Tallebung tin project have identified significant extensions of the known mineralisation, outlining new mineralised positions east and south?east of the current footprint.

Recognising the varying stages of electrification standards across the mining industry, ABB and Komatsu are focusing on haulage, loading and auxiliary equipment.

ABB and Komatsu collaborate on net zero innovations

ABB and Komatsu have signed a Strategic Collaboration Agreement to develop heavy industrial machinery solutions that can bring net zero emissions a step closer to reality. The collaboration brings two global leaders together to share industry expertise and products in a bid to create world-class solutions, ranging from renewable energy generation to fully electrified mining equipment. ABB and Komatsu’s collaboration is geared towards reducing diesel consumption and ultimately eliminating it through the electrification of mine operations. Komatsu Surface Haulage senior vice president Dan Funcannon comments on the agreement. “We’re pleased to embark on this collaboration with ABB and are excited to leverage one another’s industry leading products and technological expertise to help move mining operations toward net zero emissions, empowering…