Forrestania awards $27m Tycho open-pit contract

RBA uncertain on Australia’s critical minerals future The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has outlined an uncertain outlook for Australia’s critical minerals industry that depends on policy environments and investment levels amidst the global energy transition. The RBA research paper, The global energy transition and critical minerals, reports the magnitude of both long-term global demand projections and Australian production remains subject to considerable uncertainty with global price declines halting production and delaying investment plans such that growth is likely to remain subdued. However, the report found that critical minerals production in...

Rio Tinto seeks to cut Chinalco’s 11% stake Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) is considering an asset-for-equity swap with state-owned Aluminum Corp of China (Chinalco) that would reduce the miner's stake in Rio, Reuters reported, citing three people familiar with the matter. Sources told Reuters that Chinalco would exchange a portion of its holdings for stakes in some of Rio Tinto’s mining assets in a move to free up...

UQ to upskill Latin America miners The University of Queensland (UQ) has been granted $1m in funding to design and deliver short courses for workers at mining projects in Chile and Argentina. The funding, provided by the Federal Department of Education, is part of an Australian transnational education program supporting the development of global skilled workforces in the critical minerals sector. UQ’s Sustainable Minerals Institute has a longstanding partnership with the Latin American mining industry through its International Centre of Excellence (SMI-ICE) based in Santiago, Chile. The SMI-ICE Chile currently employs 33 staff members and has strong relationships with...