Weekly Mining Pulse | What Happened Across the Global Mining Industry?

Top Mining Stories of the Week

Global critical mineral investment fell 9% in 2025 (IEA), with lithium down 40% but copper investment rose 8%, highlighting a shift in investment priorities.
BHP approved a US$900 million investment in the Ministers North iron ore project in the Pilbara, adding 20 Mtpa of high-grade iron ore production to offset declining output from existing operations.
India granted in-principle approval to divert 2,000 hectares of forest land for coal and iron ore mining across Chhattisgarh and Odisha, supporting major projects involving companies such as Tata Steel and Ambuja Cements.
Vale invested US$685 million in research, development and innovation during 2025. The company now operates 45+ AI solutions and 90+ autonomous mining equipment across its global operations.
The United States announced plans to auction 13.4 million hectares of seabed near American Samoa for deep-sea mineral exploration, a move that has already sparked significant environmental debate.
BHP also received the first major environmental approval for the expansion of the Escondida Copper Mine in Chile. The first phase is valued at US$1.3 billion, forming part of a broader investment program of up to US$14.7 billion.
India launched the 8th Tranche of Critical and Strategic Mineral Auctions, offering 20 mineral blocks across nine states containing Lithium, Rare Earth Elements (REE), Graphite, Tungsten and Molybdenum.
NMDC reduced domestic iron ore prices by ₹250/t for lump ore and ₹150/t for fines, reflecting softer international prices and seasonal demand during the monsoon.
The Tadicherla-II Coal Block in Telangana was directly allocated to SCCL. With 350 million tonnes of reserves and an estimated value of ₹1.2 lakh crore, it is expected to become one of South India’s largest coal assets.
The Government is also working towards reviving the historic Ramagiri Gold Mines in Andhra Pradesh, potentially bringing gold production and employment back to the region.

Additional News

Global Trends & Investment

1. Critical Mineral Investment Drops 9% in 2025: According to the IEA’s Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2026, global investment in critical minerals fell by 9% in 2025, ending several years of growth due to geopolitical tensions and price volatility. Battery metals saw the steepest pullback, with lithium investment dropping around 40%, while copper spending increased by 8% .
2. Indonesia’s Downstream Investment Surges: Indonesia reported that downstream investment in the first half of 2026 reached Rp300.1 trillion ($300.1 trillion Rupiah), a 6.9% increase year-on-year. The mineral sector was the largest recipient, with nickel accounting for Rp71 trillion of the investment .
3. US Proposes Seabed Mining Lease: The US Interior Department proposed a lease for 31 million acres off the coast of American Samoa for seabed mining of polymetallic nodules rich in critical minerals. The auction is proposed for November 19, though American Samoa’s governor opposes deep-sea mining .

🏢 Corporate & Project Updates

4. BHP Secures Major Copper Expansion Approval: BHP received its first major environmental approval to begin work on a massive expansion of its Escondida copper mine in Chile. This first stage will cost around $1.3 billion, part of a total investment of up to $14.7 billion for the project .
5. BHP Restructures Ahead of CEO Change: Incoming BHP CEO Brandon Craig announced a significant leadership restructuring before taking the helm, splitting the President Americas role into two separate positions for North and South America .
6. South32 to Sell Aluminium Assets: South32 signed a binding conditional agreement to sell its aluminium assets to Alcoa in a deal worth up to US$5.6 billion .
7. Scotiabank Cuts Agnico Eagle Estimates: Scotiabank lowered its FY2026 earnings estimates for gold miner Agnico Eagle Mines from $11.81 to $11.32 per share, while maintaining a “Sector Outperform” rating .
8. Faraday Copper to Acquire BHP’s San Manuel Site: Faraday Copper agreed to acquire BHP’s San Manuel site in Arizona, which is adjacent to its own Copper Creek project, to create a combined copper district .

🇮🇳 India-Specific Developments

9. India Launches 8th Critical Mineral Auction: Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy launched the Eighth Tranche of Auction for Critical and Strategic Mineral Blocks. The tranche includes 20 blocks across nine states, offering minerals like Molybdenum, Graphite, REE, Lithium, and Tungsten .
10. NMDC Cuts Iron Ore Prices: State-owned miner NMDC reduced domestic iron ore prices due to softer international prices and the onset of the monsoon season. Lump ore prices were cut by ₹250 per tonne and fines by ₹150 per tonne
GAIL and KABIL partner for critical minerals: State-run GAIL (India) Ltd signed an MoU with Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL) to jointly explore opportunities in critical and strategic minerals. This collaboration will focus on identifying mining opportunities, sharing technical expertise, and strengthening India’s long-term supply of these resources to support its clean energy transition .
Massive Tadicherla-II coal block allocated to SCCL: The Centre approved the direct allocation of the Tadicherla-II coal block in Telangana to Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL), bypassing the auction route. Valued at an estimated ₹1.20 lakh crore with reserves of 350 million metric tonnes, it’s considered the largest coal block in South India and is expected to create thousands of jobs and secure the company’s future .
Government focuses on reviving Ramagiri gold mines: The government is focusing on reviving the historic Ramagiri gold mines in Andhra Pradesh’s Sri Sathya Sai district. Following a recent survey by the Geological Survey of India (GSI), the state is looking to restart operations, which could bring significant employment opportunities back to the region

The Week of Mega-Consolidation & Innovation

The global mining sector has entered a “decisive phase,” and with this third week of July 2026 marking a historic surge in both transaction value and technological shifts. From A$12.6B mergers to AI-driven “Mines of the Future,” here are the top 10 stories shaping the industry:

Australia’s New Gold Powerhouse: Genesis Minerals and Vault Minerals have finalized a massive A$12.6 billion merger, creating Australia’s third-largest listed gold producer. This strategic move focuses on the Leonora-Laverton district to secure long-life, low-cost assets.

2. Alcoa’s US$5.6B Aluminum Offensive: In a major portfolio reshuffle, Alcoa acquired South32’s aluminum and bauxite assets and This allows South32 to pivot toward “green” metals like copper and zinc while Alcoa secures upstream dominance in Australia and Brazil.

3. The IEA’s Critical Warning: The International Energy Agency (IEA) warns that mineral concerns have shifted from simple demand to supply chain vulnerabilities but Expect copper and lithium deficits to persist through 2035, exacerbated by highly concentrated refining and new export restrictions.

4. The $48 Billion Illicit Gold Economy: A sobering report from the IISS reveals that soaring gold prices (above 5,600/oz)arefuelingaboomingilliciteconomythatfinancesorganizedcrimeandarmedgroups.Illegalminingnowgeneratesbetween∗∗US12 billion and US$48 billion annually**.

5. South Africa’s Gold-from-Waste Revolution: DRDGOLD is investing R10 billion into five new projects to extract gold from mine dumps and tailings. This “win-win” strategy recovers value while restoring environments left behind by a century of mining.

6. Vale’s Innovation Leadership: Vale released its first-ever R&D&I report, revealing a US$685 million investment in technology in 2025 alone. The company now utilizes over 45 AI solutions and 90+ autonomous pieces of equipment across its global value chain.

7. India’s Mining Expansion: The Indian government has granted in-principle clearance to divert 2,000 hectares of forest land for coal and iron ore mining across Chhattisgarh and Odisha, benefiting players like Tata Steel and Ambuja Cements.

8. BHP’s Strategic Investment: BHP sanctioned US$900 million for the Ministers North project in the Pilbara. This high-grade iron ore project is designed to supply 20 million tonnes per annum, offsetting natural declines in other hubs.

9. Sibanye-Stillwater Extends Mine Life: Over R900 million is being directed to the K4 shaft project in South Africa. This capital expenditure is set to provide an incredible 48-year mine life for the PGM (platinum group metals) operation.

10. Iron Ore Market Sideways: Despite port inventories tightening (down 2.03 million mt), iron ore prices are moving sideways as the market reacts to geopolitical tensions, including the US-Iran conflict.

The Bottom Line: We are witnessing an M&A “super-cycle” driven by the energy transition and a race for jurisdictional safety in North America and Australia. Scale is the new survival strategy.

Which of these shifts do you think will have the biggest impact on the 2030 supply chain? Let’s discuss in the comments!

The sources are- mining.com, economic times, BHP R&D, Vale news etc