Robbins is a US-based, global leader in tunnel boring machines and associated technology. Ivanhoe Electric initially will use the Robbins TBM for decline development at the Santa Cruz Copper Project in Arizona.
Robbins recently reacquired the TBM from a division of Anglo American plc (“Anglo”), who originally purchased the machine for use at its Grosvenor coal mine in Queensland, Australia, where it successfully completed two declines totalling 1.8 km in 1000 hrs of total use underground.
In late 2025, Ivanhoe Electric identified the opportunity to acquire the Robbins TBM that was on care and maintenance at the Grosvenor coal mine in Queensland, Australia. After a review of the machine’s specifications and history and extensive discussions with Robbins, Ivanhoe Electric secured a legally binding option to acquire the TBM from Robbins in March 2026, subject to completion of due diligence and trade-off studies. Robbins entered into a separate binding agreement to acquire the machine from Anglo.
Upon completion of due diligence, including two site visits accompanied by representatives from Robbins to inspect the condition of the machine and critical components, Ivanhoe Electric notified Robbins on 8 May of its intent to exercise its option to acquire the Robbins TBM. The final purchase is subject to completion of definitive agreements, which are expected before the end of this month.
The acquisition of the TBM also provides Ivanhoe Electric with the tunnel boring technology assets to pursue future expansion opportunities at the Santa Cruz Copper Project, including the nearby Texaco Deposit, located approximately 2 km to the northeast of the Santa Cruz Deposit. Significant extensions were identified using Ivanhoe Electric’s proprietary Typhoon™ surveying technology.
Texaco received an initial Mineral Resource Estimate in 2023, with subsequent drilling at the edge of the deposit confirming broad zones of high-grade copper mineralisation that remain open. The 2025 Preliminary Feasibility Study outlined an Inferred Resource at Texaco totalling 2.7 million t of contained copper at 0.8% copper, not included in the current mine plan but supporting meaningful future expansion potential on Ivanhoe Electric’s 100%-owned private land package in one of America’s most established copper mining districts.