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2025 Mine Developments: How Global Mining Growth Is Accelerating
11 Dec, 20254 Minutes
After years of conservative investment and cautious project development, the mining industry is accelerating once again in response to increasing demand for energy-transition minerals and long-term resource security.
The global mining market is expected to reach a value of approximately $3.35 trillion in 2026, showing how quickly activity is gaining pace. Regions such as Africa, Canada, Central Asia, and parts of the Middle East are becoming increasingly active hubs for new projects and large-scale expansions, each driven by a mix of economic targets, technology adoption, and supply-chain strategy.
In this article, we explore some of the most high-profile mine openings and strategic expansions in recent months and what they mean for mining businesses seeking the senior-level talent required to drive growth.
Contact CSG Talent to secure senior-level mining talent.
New Mine Openings Reshaping the Global Market
One of the major recent shifts in global mining has been the pace at which new projects have moved from planning to production. Companies are pushing to commission mines at a faster pace, particularly where critical minerals like lithium, nickel, copper, and high-grade iron ore can strengthen the world’s clean-energy systems. The main driver of this urgency is the geopolitical push to diversify supply chains away from regions that previously dominated the market.
This activity has created demand for skilled operational leaders, engineers, metallurgists, maintenance specialists, and project teams capable of rapidly bringing new mines into production.
Simandou: Africa’s Most Significant Iron Ore Project
After decades of anticipation, the Simandou iron ore project finally became operational in November, immediately becoming the largest mining venture in Africa. It is one of the world’s greatest undeveloped high-grade iron ore deposits, with over 4 billion tonnes of reserves with an exceptional 65–80% iron content.
Backed by a partnership between the Government of Guinea, Baowu Steel, Chinalco and Rio Tinto’s Simfer consortium, the project combines a world-class mine, a new port, and a 650-kilometre railway system running through challenging terrain. With investment of over $20 billion, Simandou is expected to contribute hundreds of thousands of jobs throughout its lifecycle and contribute significantly to Guinea’s economic future through its 15% state ownership.
As the mine scales toward its projected full capacity of 120 million tonnes per year by 2028, companies supporting the project are already competing for specialists in rail engineering, large-scale maintenance, process plant operations, safety leadership, and supply-chain management.
Goose Mine: A Major Step Forward for Canadian Gold Production
B2Gold reached a major milestone in October by achieving commercial production at the Goose Mine in Nunavut. This mine is the company's first operation in Canada and a significant long-term addition to its global portfolio. It reached commercial status just a few months after initial mill operation, which was made possible by a collaborative effort between engineering, operations, and on-site technical teams working in some of the most remote conditions in North America.
From 2026 to 2031, Goose is expected to contribute roughly 300,000 ounces of gold annually. The project combines an open-pit operation at the Echo deposit with a transition into underground mining, supported by significant exploration that could turn Back River into a multi-mine complex.
Operations in Arctic environments demand professionals who are comfortable with rotational work, extreme climates, and the complex logistics of remote mining. As B2Gold continues to expand its footprint in the region, demand for underground supervisors, mill operators, maintenance leaders, and environmental specialists will remain high.
Gilar and Demirli: Strengthening Azerbaijan’s Copper Strategy
Anglo Asian Mining marked an important milestone in its corporate growth strategy in 2025 with the opening of the Gilar underground mine in May and the Demirli open-pit mine in July. Both assets have strengthened the company’s transition toward becoming a mid-tier, copper-focused producer by 2029.
Gilar brings a blend of copper, gold, and zinc resources into production, with an estimated 54,000 tonnes of copper and 255,000 ounces of gold. Demirli is expected to produce approximately 15,000 tonnes of copper per year in the near future.
These mines have already generated around 150 new full-time positions and reinforced the growing value of copper in global supply chains. As copper is essential for electric vehicles, expanding power grids, and renewable energy, these projects have become crucial hubs for future development, increasing competition for underground mining specialists and geologists focused on polymetallic deposits.
Strategic Expansions at Existing Mines
Although new mine developments are reshaping the global supply landscape, companies are also optimising and upgrading existing mines to support the next phase of growth. These expansions are increasingly shaped by technological advancement, renewable innovation, and the rising need for critical minerals. Operators are investing heavily in automation, digital monitoring systems, and electrified equipment to improve efficiency and remove humans from dangerous environments.
Former mine sites are also being repurposed for renewable energy projects such as geothermal heating, which turns existing infrastructure into valuable low-carbon assets. The main driver is the global push for energy-transition minerals like copper, nickel, and lithium, which is driving producers to optimise and expand operations rather than relying solely on new builds.
Lumwana Expansion: Transforming Zambia into a Global Copper Powerhouse
Barrick Gold’s ongoing expansion of the Lumwana copper mine in Zambia is one of the best examples of how established assets are being re-engineered to meet future global demand. Copper continues to be one of the world’s most critical minerals, as it’s key to almost every aspect of electrification.
Lumwana’s transformation into a tier-one copper asset involves major plant upgrades and expanded production capacity. The scale of this upgrade reinforces Zambia's growing profile as a critical copper hub and increases the need for talent with expertise in copper processing, plant optimisation, project engineering, and electrical systems integration.
Huaneng’s AI-Enabled Autonomous Fleet Expansion
Autonomous mining fleets are also being expanded to support growth and efficiency. In December, Huaneng advanced one of the world’s most ambitious autonomous mining programmes by deploying an expanded fleet of AI-enabled, 5G-connected electric haul trucks. As well as eliminating on-site diesel emissions, these vehicles deliver significant performance benefits, with early testing showing efficiency gains of more than 20% compared to standard fleets.
Autonomous systems are reshaping the structure of mine operations, as they require new roles in AI diagnostics, predictive maintenance, and integrated fleet management. As more mines follow this direction, there will be an increased focus on these future-focused technical roles.
Mining Recruitment Specialists at CSG Talent
The pace of development across the global mining sector is showing no signs of slowing down. Whether commissioning a new operation, expanding an established site, or integrating advanced technologies, companies require senior talent capable of delivering these complex projects safely and efficiently.
At CSG Talent, we help mining companies around the world secure the engineers, geologists, operational leaders, and sustainability specialists needed to drive long-term success. We support clients navigating the shift toward next-generation capabilities to ensure they can compete in a market where talent shortages are increasing.
If you’re planning to scale your operations or strengthen project capability in 2026, our mining recruitment specialists can connect you with the industry’s top leadership talent.
Contact our mining recruitment specialists to secure talent with the technical expertise to drive long-term success.
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