Weir Signs Strategic Collaboration Agreement with MINEXXT to Advance Sustainable Tailings Solutions

Weir Partners with MINEXXT to Advance Sustainable Tailings Management Solutions

Engineering giant Weir Group has announced a strategic cooperation agreement with MINEXXT, Inc., aimed at strengthening its position in the global market for thickened and paste tailings solutions—a critical area for improving sustainability in mining operations.

The partnership will see Weir incorporating MINEXXT’s advanced thickening technology into its global tailings portfolio. This integration is designed to deliver high-performance solutions that address the mining industry’s growing need for more efficient and environmentally responsible tailings management systems.

Industry experts note that proper tailings management has become increasingly important for mining companies facing stricter environmental regulations and growing pressure from investors and communities to improve their sustainability credentials. Tailings, the waste material left after the valuable minerals are extracted from ore, have been a source of environmental concern and catastrophic failures in recent years.

The collaboration has already begun yielding results, with joint projects currently underway in Australia and Kazakhstan. Both companies expect additional opportunities to emerge as their partnership develops further across global mining regions.

Mike Cook, Managing Director at MINEXXT, emphasized the benefits of combining resources: “Collaborating allows innovative companies such as Weir and MINEXXT to access a broader, more knowledgeable resource pool. Utilizing our extensive experience coupled with advanced technologies enables us to offer clients a proven and more practical solution for optimizing their operations.”

Erik Vlot, Global Tailings Process Director at Weir, highlighted the technical advantages of the partnership: “The value of this cooperation agreement lies in having access to exceptional, world-class thickening technology. Thickening will remain important as part of tailings flowsheets, and the challenge around thickening of fines and ultra-fines can be addressed with MINEXXT’s patented feedwell technology.”

The mining industry has been moving toward thickened and paste tailings systems as they typically require less water than conventional methods, reduce the risk of dam failures, and can facilitate better water recovery and reuse. These systems are particularly valuable in regions facing water scarcity or where environmental regulations are becoming more stringent.

Industry analysts suggest that this partnership comes at a strategic time, as mining companies globally are investing heavily in upgrading their tailings facilities following high-profile dam failures in recent years, including the devastating 2019 Brumadinho disaster in Brazil that killed 270 people.

The Weir Group, founded in 1871, has established itself as one of the world’s leading engineering businesses, with a stated purpose of making mining and infrastructure operations more sustainable and efficient. The company employs approximately 12,000 people across more than 50 countries and maintains a presence in every major mining region worldwide.

Weir’s technologies are designed to enable the production of critical resources using less energy, water, and waste while reducing customers’ total cost of ownership. This focus aligns the company with structural trends supporting long-term demand for its technology, including the increasing need for essential metals to support economic development and carbon transition.

The collaboration with MINEXXT represents a continuation of Weir’s strategy to partner with specialized technology providers to enhance its offerings in key sustainability areas. As mining companies continue to face pressure to improve their environmental performance while maintaining productivity, partnerships like this are likely to become increasingly common in the industry.

Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.