To fully maximise their operational efficiencies, miners must ensure comprehensive maintenance and monitoring of all heavy machinery undercarriage systems are in place. By effectively addressing a range of risks associated with on-site issues, such as abrasive working environments, appropriate load control, and corrosion, mining companies can extend the collective life…

One of the most significant challenges facing the mining sector is the lack of universal rules for ground stabilisation. Each ore body and its geological environment are unique, presenting distinct characteristics and complexities. As a result, effective risk mitigation in this area demands a multi-disciplinary approach. Ground engineering should be…

The International Seabed Authority’s years  long inaction on developing proposed rules and mechanisms for mining on the ocean floor has been thrown into disarray by the United States, which recently said it would accelerate the initiation of deep-sea mining in US waters. Earlier this year, United States President Donald Trump…

An efficient dredging strategy can significantly enhance a mining company’s operational, environmental, and safety parameters while expanding its range of extractable resources. Dredging involves excavating sediments, minerals, and other valuable materials from underwater environments such as rivers, lakes, and seabeds. According to the US Mine Safety and Health Administration(MSHA), in…

It was Mark Twain who famously sent a cable to the press in the US after his obituary had been mistakenly published, stating reports of his death had been greatly exaggerated. Today, the mode of communication is likely via email, and coal could be the correspondent. Despite frequent predictions of…

Australia’s mining industry is at a crossroads — caught between an aging workforce, dwindling productivity, and a reliance on a transient labour model that’s failing regional communities. Whilst the promise of automation is still a work in progress, the depth of experience that once sustained mining operations is at risk…

On 26 March 2025, the Parliament of Australia passed the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Reconsiderations) Bill 2025, changing how some environmental decisions can be reviewed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The Bill limits the power of the Minister for the Environment to reconsider…

The mining industry faces universal workforce challenges across continents, according to Arjen De Bruin, Group CEO of OIM Consulting. His research reveals critical insights into supervisory performance and organisational effectiveness in mining sectors across Africa, Australia, and the Americas. Supervisory Performance Landscape De Bruin's extensive study of over 2,000 supervisors…