Rio backs Queensland biochar facility

Australia’s first underground lithium mine Liontown Resources (ASX: LTR) has officially opened its Kathleen Valley lithium project 680km north-east of Perth, WA. The project is a globally significant, long-life operation and Australia’s first underground lithium mine that is expected to generate jobs and bolster local development. Liontown has already signed offtake agreements with some of the world’s leading electric vehicle (EV) and battery manufacturers including Tesla, Ford, LG Energy Solution and Beijing Sinomine. With these contracts, the company has secured demand for the project’s initial production and positioned itself as an emerging force in the global lithium supply chain. Boosted by a $15m interest-free loan from the...

RTS highlights industry-wide concerns This week in Perth, WA, key industry representatives addressed some major challenges the Australian mining industry is facing at the Resources Technology Showcase. Concerns surrounding the feasibility of global green steel production amid challenging industry conditions, oversupply, low ore grades, approval delays and low ore prices, were prominent. BHP (ASX: BHP) WA iron ore asset president Tim Day says getting the costs of smelting iron ore using lower emissions fuels to compete with traditional blast furnaces is at least 10 years away. “It is very hard to compete against an established industry and making the industry commercial in Australia...

Companies fined for truck driver death Three mining and construction services companies have been fined a total of $770,000 for an incident that led to the death of a truck driver in 2022 on the Great Northern Highway.  At about 9.27pm on July 25, 2022, the ratchet strap securing the intake boom of a pump being transported to Perth failed and the boom became unrestrained before striking and killing the driver of a truck travelling in the opposite direction just north of Meekatharra.  On October 14, the Perth Magistrates Court fined Resource Operations and Maintenance Services, Diverse Management...

Donald wins major project status and $80m financing Astron’s (ASX: ATR) Donald rare earth and mineral sands project, located in the Murray Basin, Victoria, has been recognised by the Federal Government for its national importance.  The project is one of the world’s most significant rare earth resources and is expected to be the fourth-largest rare earth mine outside of China once operational.   Astron is developing the project as a joint venture with US-based critical minerals company Energy Fuels.  The companies...