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Environmental campaign groups lodged a complaint against the European Commission on Tuesday, accusing the EU executive of moving ahead with an overhaul of water protection and management laws without enough evidence.

The complaint is the latest by environmental groups over the European Union's efforts to simplify and scale back policies, a strategy known as the EU "omnibus", which responds to complaints from industries who say burdensome laws hurt their competitiveness with global rivals like the US and China.

The complaint concerns a Commission plan to revise the EU's main water legislation this year, in part in response to concerns by mining and metals companies that say the law's environmental safeguards are delaying permits for new critical raw materials mines and other industrial projects.

In a complaint filed with the European Ombudsman — the EU's independent watchdog — the World Wildlife Fund, the European Environmental Bureau and three other groups said the Commission had failed to sufficiently gather evidence and consult stakeholders before announcing the planned revision.

This failure amounted to maladministration, they said.

"Their cumulative effect amounts to a flagrant deviation from established due process, one that materially affects citizens' rights," the NGOs said. They argued that the EU water laws are not the reason new mines struggle to get permits, and do not need revising.

A Commission spokesperson said it had not yet been notified of the complaint, but that it would continue to engage with stakeholders as it prepares to revise the water laws.

"The Commission has been engaging in a transparent and inclusive dialogue with member states and stakeholders, and is currently assessing the input from stakeholders," the spokesperson said.

The Ombudsman will now decide whether to open an inquiry into the complaint. That process can take a few weeks, a spokesperson for the watchdog told Reuters.

The EU watchdog does not have enforcement powers, but rather makes recommendations that can affect future EU lawmaking, and increases scrutiny of the Commission.

Last year, the Ombudsman obliged the Commission to publicly explain why it had fast-tracked other proposals to curb sustainability laws, and not assessed whether the changes complied with Europe's climate change commitments.

Mine tyre life lengthening that protects environment highlighted at Electra Mining Africa

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation.

The International Standards Organisation (ISO) has verified the important environmental protection benefits of opting for mine tyre life extension solutions rather than purchasing new tyres.

The carbon footprint methodology verified provides measurable data that mining companies can use when reporting Scope 3 emissions, which are by far the largest share of a mine's total carbon footprint.

Last year, 70 mining companies across six regions reported prevented 32 700 t of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission by avoiding the need to manufacture and transport replacement mining tyres earlier than necessary.

The ISO verification is the evolution of a programme that has helped mining operations quantify the environmental value of tyre life extension since 2019.

As mining companies place greater emphasis on understanding emissions across their supply chains, Kal Tire believes reliable measurement will become increasingly important in demonstrating the contribution tyre management strategies can make towards helping mining customers extend tyre life, reduce waste and improve the environmental performance of their tyre operations.

Kal Tire's Mining Tire Group, which is exhibiting at Electra Mining Africa 2026 at Johannesburg's show grounds, services and supplies more than 230 mine sites across five continents.

The group's Maple Program includes ultra repair, retreading and ultra tread for mining tyres and SCS Global Services' validation gives added assurance in the carbon savings calculated from extending tyre life.

"Customers in Zambia are currently making use of the Maple Program," Kal Tire VP Southern Africa John Martin told Mining Weekly at the Canadian company's comprehensive exhibition stand.

Zambia's users receive annual certification of CO2 tonnage saved through the use of particularly ultra-repair technology, using Kal Tire's on-site repair facilities.

"We have customers in Ghana as well," Kal Tire communications director Tracy Cobb added.

Overall, Kal Tire's Mining Tire Group provides mining tyre service and supply to more than 230 mine sites across five continents.

Instead of scrapping tyres immediately and purchasing new ones, a second life is being put into tyre casing, which lowers the total cost of tyre ownership.

"Because the cost of the repair is nowhere near the cost of purchasing a new tyre, by the time that repaired tyre does end its life, you have saved a lot of money," Cobb pointed out.

Part of Kal Tire's service is to ensure that the tyres the company looks after last as long as they possibly can.

"Service providers like ourselves are not always permitted to sell those very large tyres. It's normally a direct supply from a manufacturer to an end user, and so for us, it's not about creating revenue by selling tyres. It's creating the value for the customer by making sure that the customer's operation is more sustainable.

"We very much support this whole United Nations Charter around reuse and we want customers to use fewer tyres and that's part of the sustainability that that we provide to the operations," said Martin.

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation.

The second-largest producer of silver globally and the EU's largest producer of mined copper KGHM Polska Miedź and global diversified miner BHP World Exploration have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) establishing a framework for exploration of areas of mutual interest.

The document marks the beginning of discussions between two significant players in the mining sector and reflects the broader industry trend of seeking new opportunities for cooperation, knowledge sharing and improved operational efficiency.

Drawing on their international experience and technical capabilities, KGHM and BHP will identify opportunities to share knowledge, compare operational practices and analyse potential directions for cooperation. At this stage, the parties will focus on refining shared priorities and identifying areas where further dialogue may deliver tangible benefits.

Through this framework, KGHM and BHP may evaluate opportunities to leverage their respective technical, operational and international experience, including in relation to exploration opportunities, development-stage projects, and other areas where cooperation could create mutual value.

The collaboration may also extend to initiatives and projects beyond locations where both companies currently operate, where the complementary capabilities and expertise can create mutual value.

The modern global mining sector is increasingly based on cooperation, the exchange of experience and the pursuit of operational synergies. For KGHM, dialogue with a leading global mining group is an opportunity to compare perspectives and identify areas where shared know-how can deliver tangible business benefits.

"The signed MoU provides a structured framework for further discussions and opens the way for an in-depth analysis of potential areas of cooperation," says KGHM president Remigiusz Paszkiewicz.

In turn, BHP CEO Brandon Craig says he is excited to strengthen BHP's partnership with KGHM through this global MoU, saying that the agreement builds on the strong partnership that the partners have had in place for some time to enhance their copper operations in Chile.

"The world will need more copper, driven by traditional economic growth, the energy transition, and digital investments. We are focused on unlocking high returning growth through innovative partnerships like this one. The MoU provides a structure for BHP and KGHM teams to come together and explore new avenues to find and unlock copper growth opportunities."

KGHM VP Anna Sobieraj-Kozakiewicz adds that the mining industry benefits from open dialogue and the exchange of experience among companies operating across different regions and jurisdictions.

"The MoU provides a platform for engagement between KGHM and BHP and reflects our shared interest in exchanging perspectives and exploring potential opportunities for future collaboration," she concludes.

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation.

South Africa's Multotec, whose equipment is now used to optimise recoveries and reduce cost of ownership in mineral processing plants in 100 countries on six continents, highlighted its global success on the opening day of Electra Mining Africa 2026 when it formally handed over the CEO baton.

After 20 years of leadership under Thomas Holtz, Multotec announced the appointment of Johan Robbertse as its new Group CEO along with the elevation of Holtz to the chairpersonship of a company that has to a large extent bucked South Africa's deindustrialisation trend.

During his 20-year CEO tenure, Holtz led Multotec through a period of transformation, guided by a vision to build a globally competitive manufacturing business from Africa, powered by African talent.

Supported by manufacturing operations across Africa, South America, Asia and North America, alongside sister companies in Europe and Australia, Multotec evolved into a globally integrated business while retaining its South African roots, a foundation that positions the company for its next phase of growth.

As part of the planned leadership transition, Holtz will focus on strengthening the board's independence and governance while supporting the company's long-term strategic direction and continued international growth.

The leadership transition follows two decades of sustained international growth that transformed Multotec from a predominantly South African manufacturer into a globally integrated business that now exports around 60% of its equipment.

"South Africa and Africa is obviously a key market for us. We have every intention of staying here and growing here. At the same time, we've got to go where the market is, and we know, and obviously those in the mining industry know, the pain that we felt with diamonds.

"Then it varies. Gold is currently doing well and has been doing well for a while now. Then other minerals are struggling, so we have to find where the mining operations are and we've done pretty well in some very remote jurisdictions," Holtz pointed out.

"We've almost seen everything on a process plant, but we still learn every day, and that's the beauty of having manufacturing. It's 53 years of specialist process knowledge that we can apply," Robbertse reported during the formal handover covered by Mining Weekly.

"It's 1 900 people across the globe, speaking various languages, coming from various cultures, that come together to make the mineral process industry great, and may that continue for a long, long time," Robbertse added.

Holtz joined the company in 1996 as a project manager before progressing through a series of leadership roles across the business. In 2008, he succeeded his late father and Multotec co-founder, Ernst Joachim (EJ) Holtz, as Group CEO, becoming only the second CEO in the company's half century-plus history.

The appointment of Robbertse, who joined the company in 2010, reflects Multotec's commitment to leadership continuity to ensure that customer focus, product development and innovation remain embedded.

Regarding Multotec's latest joint venture business in China, Holtz commented: "We have a presence in China to support the mining industry in China, so that's our priority.

"We've worked with a mining consortium to go into a region that's a little bit less serviced from an international screen product portfolio, but over time we'll add the spirals, we'll add the cyclones. We might add some other products but in that particular region.

"What's amazing, is the Chinese are so welcoming of companies that are prepared to invest and bring technology and skill up local people.

"We've got a strong local market that we can service. We've got a strong local partner who's going to work with us, and we believe our Chine...

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a global leader in process and laboratory measurement technology, offering a broad portfolio of instruments, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation.

Mining and metals research firm BMI find that Australia's industry risk profile is largely being shaped by climate exposure and labour scarcity, though these effects vary by sector.

Climate-related risks are most acute in mining and agriculture, particularly in Western Australia with nearly 90% of the state's land being prone to bushfires, exposing this mining sector to elevated physical climate risk.

BMI's proprietary asset-exposure data shows mining's climate risk score rising from 64.5 in 2026 to 65.4 by 2050, with the impact likely to be felt mainly through higher insurance and private capital expenditure rather than weaker output.

In turn, labour shortages present a more economy-wide challenge, with gaps pronounced in health, education and construction. BMI expects this pressure to intensify as tighter migration settings constrain access to overseas skilled workers - an important source of labour for several sectors.

In mining, labour costs remain high relative to competing mining jurisdictions and wage disputes are a recurring threat - a pressure which BMI expects automation to only partly offset over the coming decade.

Another material financing risk for Australia's mining industry is that of governance.

Government procurement is currently equal to 17.9% of GDP, while 34 active National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) investigations as of May raise tender-integrity risk for a sector dependent on public approvals and infrastructure access.

BMI also cites heightened national-security screening of foreign investment in critical minerals as a challenge, as it adds another layer of regulatory friction. The firm says Australia's mining remains the sector most exposed to the policy uncertainty created by rising political fragmentation.

In respect of the broader economy, BMI says Australia's policy responses have so far remained targeted rather than structural, limiting their ability to materially reduce sector risk. In agriculture, federal and State drought-support measures provide short-term relief, but do not address longer-term constraints around water infrastructure investment, leaving the sector exposed to recurring climate stress.

"Major infrastructure spending commitments are supporting transport and low-carbon energy development, but do little to ease the skilled labour shortages that continue to constrain execution," BMI notes.

BMI further finds that Australia's mining industry is forecast to decrease in value from $172-billion in 2026 to $164-billion by 2035 as coal and iron-ore output softens.

New South Wales halted applications for new greenfield coal mines in March, however, continued federal approval of mine life extensions and expansions – including a 24-year extension for Middlemount in February – will support fossil-fuel export earnings despite the government's net-zero target by 2050.

On the social front, BMI expects the Australian mining sector's shift toward automation to offset labour scarcity, which the firm says will likely reduce the country's role as a regional employer over time, even as critical-minerals expansion sustains investment.

Moreover, BMI expects fossil fuels to continue accounting for more than 86% of Australia's total energy consumption by 2035, even as non-hydro renewables rise to 66% of the power mix. This indicates that the power generation sector's emissions profile will improve only gradually and remain misaligned with the scale and pace of transition required.