The mining industry’s 2025 story was one of delivery, not hype. Speculation around battery metals gave way to operational reality as companies tackled the technical backbone of the energy transition - expanding lithium extraction, confronting copper bottlenecks, and negotiating the uncertain future of deep-sea mining.
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Mining Research and Technological Developments of 2025
Precision mining and artificial intelligence
Research in 2025 focused on “precision mining", which involves using data and biotechnology to reduce the environmental footprint of extraction. A key development was the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in greenfield exploration to identify "blind" deposits - ore bodies with no surface expression.
Companies such as KoBold Metals used machine learning algorithms to map subsurface anomalies at the Mingomba project in Zambia.1 By integrating satellite imagery, geochemical data, and seismic patterns, AI-supported exploration reduced the time from discovery to resource definition by approximately 30 %. This efficiency is an important metric as the industry addresses supply gaps in copper and nickel.
Direct lithium extraction enters commercial use
Direct lithium extraction (DLE) also moved from pilot phases to commercial use. During 2025, several projects in the "Lithium Triangle" of South America and the Smackover Formation in the United States implemented DLE technologies. Unlike traditional evaporation ponds, which require long lead times and high water consumption, these DLE processes utilize selective membranes and ion-exchange resins to extract lithium more quickly with a reduced surface footprint.1 This development has supported the social license to operate in water-stressed regions.
Biomining trials
In the area of sustainability, research institutions in Australia and Canada continued trials on "biomining". This process uses engineered microbes to recover rare earth elements (REEs) from low-grade tailings through biological leaching. It aims to turn waste piles into viable resource streams, consistent with circular economy objectives.1
Market Developments and the Deep-Sea Mining Debate
Copper supply
The global mining market in 2025 was influenced by a continued copper supply deficit. Although the growth rate of the electric vehicle (EV) market fluctuated in some regions, the demand for copper for grid modernization and renewable energy infrastructure remained steady. Declining ore grades in established Chilean and Peruvian mines contributed to elevated prices, prompting companies to explore new regions.
Deep-sea mining continues to concern
The debate over deep-sea mining (DSM) remained a prominent market topic. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) continued negotiations on the "Mining Code", but sessions throughout the year did not finalize regulations for the extraction of polymetallic nodules in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone. Although some nations sought to begin commercial operations to secure mineral supplies, a group of over 30 to 40 nations called for a precautionary pause or a moratorium.2
The market remains divided on this issue. Proponents argue that deep-sea extraction has a lower carbon footprint than terrestrial mining because it requires less infrastructure. Conversely, environmental scientists have noted potential risks to benthic ecosystems and fisheries. The lack of regulatory consensus has resulted in continued uncertainty for commercial entities awaiting exploitation contracts.2
Export restrictions on raw ores
"Resource Nationalism" also persisted in 2025. Several nations in Africa and Southeast Asia implemented export restrictions on raw ores to encourage investment in domestic downstream processing. This led to a realignment of supply chains as Western companies evaluated the costs of domestic smelting versus maintaining market share in these regions.
Mining Company Developments in 2025
Corporate mining activity in 2025 focused on portfolio adjustments and acquisitions in the copper and lithium sectors.
Rio Tinto increased its position in the lithium market following the integration of Arcadium Lithium assets. The company focused on these assets to increase production capacity by 2030. Simultaneously, Rio Tinto reached a new stage at the Simandou iron ore project in Guinea, where the first shipments of high-grade ore commenced following the resolution of previous logistical challenges.3
Anglo American restructured its operations in 2025. Following a rejected takeover bid in 2024, the company moved to demerge its platinum group metals business and began the separation of its diamond business (De Beers). This strategy reflects an industry trend of selling assets outside of a core focus on transition metals.
Glencore retained its coal business after acquiring Teck Resources’ steelmaking coal assets. The company maintained the combined operations to utilize coal earnings while continuing its focus on transition metal production.1
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Looking Ahead to 2026 in the Mining Sector
Several trends are expected to influence the industry in 2026:
- Battery technology: The development of solid-state batteries may affect demand for traditional nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) chemistries and associated mining projects.4
- Processing requirements: More nations may implement requirements for domestic mineral processing, affecting how miners invest in local infrastructure.
- Underground automation: The deployment of fully autonomous underground drilling and blasting systems is expected to increase, aiming to reduce safety risks for personnel in hazardous environments.
- International investment: Saudi Arabia’s Maaden is expected to continue pursuing acquisitions in South American copper and nickel projects, increasing its role in the global mineral trade.4
In 2025, mining stopped talking about the energy transition and got on with building it. AI-driven exploration, commercial-scale direct lithium extraction, and early biomining trials showed real progress behind the scenes, while copper shortages and geopolitical pressure reshaped global supply chains.
Deep-sea mining remained stuck in regulatory limbo, resource nationalism gathered pace, and major miners reshuffled portfolios to double down on transition metals. It was a year defined less by speculation and more by substance - laying the technical and political groundwork for what comes next.
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References and Further Reading
- International Energy Agency (IEA). Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2025. IEA Publications. https://www.iea.org/reports/global-critical-minerals-outlook-2025
- International Seabed Authority (ISA). Documents from the 30th Session (2025). https://isa.org.jm/sessions/30th-session-2025/
- Rio Tinto Group. Annual Report 2024 and Operational Updates 2025. https://www.riotinto.com/en/invest/reports/annual-report
- S&P Global. Mining and Metals Outlook 2025/2026: Strategic Supply and Geopolitical Risk. S&P Global Commodity Insights. https://www.spglobal.com/commodity-insights/en/market-insights/metals-mining
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