Mining Digital

Albemarle has announced that BHP’s Chief Commercial Officer Ragnar Udd will succeed Kent Masters as the new President and CEO of Albemarle. Ragnar’s appointment will take effect in February 2027 once Ragnar’s notice period at BHP elapses. Ragnar will also join Albemarle’s Board of Directors.

Caterpillar will collaborate with US based general purpose robot supplier FieldAI to collect real data points from industrial environments. This collaboration combines Caterpillar's deep industry expertise, engineering capabilities and operational data with FieldAI's AI-enabled robot foundation models to autonomously operate across complex jobsites and manufacturing environments. FieldAI's autonomous robot has been deployed in construction and mining environments.

Many of Epiroc's underground Scooptram loader models are compatible with the Deep Automation system. Credit: Epiroc. Mining equipment supplier Epiroc has announced that it has extended the scope of the autonomous service offered to customers as part of its Deep Automation autonomous operation service. Epiroc’s Deep Automation is a set of systems and applications that allow customers to orchestrate the underground material handling flow.

The global market for lithium has expanded dramatically since 2020, driven by expanding demand for lithium-ion batteries from the expansion of EVs, electrification in the industrial sector, as well as increasing demand for battery energy storage systems (BESS). Lithium is also used in the production of certain non-ferrous metallic alloys, being combined both with aluminium and magnesium for strength and lightness.

Lithium Argentina currently operates a joint venture with Chinese lithium miner, Ganfeng Lithium. Credit: Lithium Argentina Lithium miner Lithium Argentina has agreed a deal with China-based developer Ganfeng Lithium to consolidate their neighbouring Pozuelos-Pastos Grandes projects (PPG) in Salta Province, Argentina.

Metso has extensive experience supplying mining process equipment, including grinding mills (pictured). Credit: Metso. Mining technology provider Metso has signed an agreement with Finland’s Geological Survey (GTK) to supply the engineering and process technology for a new pilot plant for minerals processing and circular economy materials. The new processing plant will be located at GTK Mintec’s research centre in Outokumpu, in Finland’s north Karelia region.

Industrial services and technology supplier Siemens Energy has announced plans to separate its Transformation of Industry business unit into a standalone business unit. The unit will initially operate under Siemens Energy’s upcoming new brand, Omterra, before the necessary legal and administrative steps to separate the unit are complete.

Mining companies generate more operational data than ever before. Sensors, autonomous equipment, fleet systems, processing plants, environmental monitors and workforce applications all produce information that can improve performance. But data alone does not create value. Value comes when the right people can interpret that data, act on it quickly and apply scarce expertise where it matters most. That is becoming harder.

José Noldin, CEO of GravitHy and Giacomo Mareschi Danieli, CEO of Danieli. Credit: GravitHy Industrial process equipment supplier Danieli announced the order of an ENERGIRON Zero reformer direct reduction (DR) plant in August 2026. The plant will have a production capacity for 2mtpy of hot briquetted iron (HBI). The plant will be constructed at the industrial port area of Fos-sur-Mer, west of Marseille on France’s Mediterranean coast. The plant is expected to start operation by the end of 2030.

Left to right: Hakan Yildiz (W√§rtsil√§), Paul Maes (Africa Power Services), Marc Thiriet (W√§rtsil√§), Alrick Theretz (Africa Power Services) and Sameer Poredi (W√§rtsil√§). ¬© W√§rtsil√§ Corporation Power equipment supplier W√§rtsil√§ announced the order for the five W√§rtsil√§ 32 generating sets on 27 August 2026.