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Epiroc purchases Schramm Australia.

Epiroc purchases RC drilling manufacturer Schramm Australia

Epiroc has agreed to purchase the key assets of Schramm Australia, a leading Perth-based mining equipment manufacturer, particularly reverse circulation (RC) drilling products. Schramm Australia has been in voluntary administration since February 2023, with assets including intellectual property, two production facilities near Perth, WA, and two service centres located in Queensland and South Australia. Epiroc president and chief executive Helena Hedblom says Schramm Australia’s approximately 80 employees will be offered employment at Epiroc. “The Schramm products and brand are well known as a global leader in reverse circulation technology,” she said. “We look forward to welcoming the strong team at Schramm Australia to the Epiroc Group.” FTI Consulting voluntary administrator Hayden White says this is a great outcome for Schramm’s…

Australian Mining Review

Encounter Resources expands South32 farm-in tenure for Jessica Copper project

Encounter Resources Limited (ASX: ENRL) is pleased to announce the significant expansion of the farm-in tenure for the Jessica copper project in the Northern Territory (NT). The expansion comes ahead of the commencement of maiden diamond drilling scheduled for next month. The project is being explored under a farm-in agreement with South32 (ASX: S32), a partnership that aims to unlock the copper potential in the region. Reprocessing of seismic lines has provided further clarity on potential drill targets, and Encounter Resources plans to initiate maiden diamond drilling, covering a distance of 3,500m, in June or July 2023. In addition to the original Jessica tenure, a target generation process has highlighted promising copper prospects adjacent to the project, leading to an…

Monadelphous to acquire BMC in Victoria

Monadelphous to acquire BMC in Victoria

Monadelphous Group Limited (ASX: MND) has entered into an agreement to acquire BMC, a Victorian-based mechanical and electrical services business, as part of the large engineering company’s strategic move into the east coast energy generation, transmission and storage market. BMC provides specialist high voltage and instrumentation installation, calibration and maintenance services across the power, petrochemical, pulp and paper, mining, oil and gas and renewables sectors. It services major industry and key utilities throughout Australia, employs about 180 personnel and generates about $60m in revenue per year. This acquisition will support Monadelphous’ efforts to continue supporting Australia’s transition to clean energy, particularly as a maintenance services provider to the growing offshore oil and gas decommissioning sector on the east coast of…

International Graphite secures prime Collie site

International graphite secures Collie site for battery anode material manufacturing plant

International Graphite Limited (ASX: IG6) has announced that it has selected the preferred site for its proposed Collie Graphite Battery Anode Material (BAM) Facility in WA. The company has signed an exclusive non-binding memorandum of understanding for an option agreement to negotiate a lease over approximately 20ha of privately owned land in the Coolangatta industrial precinct, located 5km north-east of the Collie town centre. The lease period is set for 20 years with a further 20-year extension available, and the option may be exercised within a two-year period. The commercial lease details will be finalised during the option period. This decision follows the release of the company’s scoping study for the Collie Graphite BAM Facility last month. IG6 managing director…

Preparation for first blast at Auric Mining's Jeffreys Find in WA.

Auric commences mining at Jeffreys Find in WA

Auric Mining (ASX: AWJ) has commenced open pit mining at its Jeffreys Find project, with first gold pour expected in early July this year. WA Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) has approved the full mining proposal for the project, located about 45km northeast of Norseman in WA and about 750km from Perth. Drill and blast of the first 5m bench has been completed, with contractor BML Ventures expected to be fully mobilised for all mining activities and operational by the end of this week. Between 100,000-150,000t of ore will be hauled to the Greenfields Mill at Coolgardie, WA, from late May where it will be toll-treated. Auric managing director Mark English says this is excellent progress and…

Australian Mining Review

Northern Territory progresses towards carbon capture and storage hub, enabling low-emission industries

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is drawing closer to reality in the Northern Territory (NT) as the government collaborates with industry leaders to establish a common-user hub at Middle Arm. This initiative aims to utilise emissions from current and future natural gas processing operations to support the development of low emissions industries that utilise carbon dioxide (CO2) and clean hydrogen as feedstocks. A recent report by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, underscores the potential of CO2 utilisation to drive low-emission manufacturing in the NT. The report explores various CO2 utilisation prospects that can enable low-emission manufacturing and boost the Territory’s economy. It expands on CSIRO’s earlier CO2 Utilisation Roadmap released in 2021. By integrating CO2 utilisation technologies into local hub…

Australian Mining Review

Quantum computing and Australian mining: developments from CSIRO

Quantum computing is a groundbreaking field of science that holds the potential to revolutionise various industries and reshape our world. As Australia positions itself as a global leader in quantum technologies, the country’s scientific research organisation, CSIRO, is at the forefront of developing quantum applications for the mining sector. By leveraging advanced technologies like Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUIDs) and embracing the concept of zero-entry mines powered by digitalisation and automation, Australia is driving significant advancements in the mining industry. Recent developments from CSIRO in quantum computing promise to have a transformative impact on Australian mining. The power of squids in mineral exploration CSIRO’s LandTEM, a portable exploration tool, utilises SQUIDs to revolutionise mineral exploration. SQUIDs are quantum sensors that…

(Image source - Mincor Resources). Mincor awards haulage contract to Kooda Contracting.

Mincor awards haulage contract to Kooda Contracting

Mincor Resources (ASX: MCR) has awarded its haulage contracts for its Kambalda nickel operations in WA to Kooda Contracting. The Kalgoorlie-based contractor will be responsible for carting and blending nickel ore from both of Mincor’s mining operations to the Kambalda nickel concentrator until 31 December 2025. Mincor’s Kambalda nickel operations comprise the flagship Cassini nickel mine (a greenfields discovery by Mincor), the Northern operations (Long and Otter Juan/Durkin North mines) and the Miitel mine. In FY22, underground development continued at both the Cassini and the Northern Operations, with extraction of the first nickel development ore at Cassini in March 2022 marking a significant milestone as the first new Kambalda nickel mine to be developed in over a decade. One year…

New Mineral Potential Maps for Australia Exploring for the Future program

Australian Workers’ Union proposes critical minerals export tax to foster domestic value-addition

The Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) intends to propose a tax on unprocessed exports of critical minerals at the upcoming ALP National Conference. This resolution aims to promote domestic refining, processing and manufacturing of these valuable resources. The AWU argues that Australia’s current strategy of exporting raw critical minerals to China compromises national interests and highlights the need to develop a robust domestic capacity for transforming these minerals into high-value products. The AWU is advocating for a significant tax on the export of raw critical minerals, including lithium, cobalt and rare earths. The union believes that the current unrestricted export approach undermines Australia’s strategic advantage and economic potential. By imposing a tax, the AWU aims to discourage the export of unprocessed…

Rio grande Salar - Australian Mining Review

Pursuit Minerals receives approval for large Mito tenement at Rio Grande Sur lithium project

Pursuit Minerals Limited (ASX: PUR), a mineral exploration and project development company, has recently announced a significant development in its Rio Grande Sur project. The company has received formal approval and granting of the Mito tenement from the Salta Mining Secretary. This approval marks a crucial milestone for Pursuit Minerals as it paves the way for further exploration and drilling activities in the highly prospective Rio Grande Salar region of Argentina. The Mito tenement, located in the north-western area of the Rio Grande Salar, holds immense strategic importance for Pursuit Minerals. The tenement is situated adjacent to a site where recent exploration drilling has yielded positive results, indicating the presence of lithium brine. With the formal approval obtained, Pursuit Minerals…

EGA chief executive Abdulnasser Bin Kalban (centre) greets Alcoa’s executive vice president and chief commercial officer Kelly Thomas (second from left) and Alcoa vice president of sales for bauxite and alumina Ben Lindsey at Al Taweelah alumina refinery in Abu Dhabi. At far right is EGA chief supply chain and business development dfficer Simon Storesund. (Photo: Business Wire).

Alcoa multi-year agreement with Emirates Global Aluminium

Alcoa (NYSE: AA) will soon be the largest third-party supplier of alumina to Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside of oil and gas, after signing a new eight-year agreement to provide as much as 15.6mt of smelter grade alumina from WA. EGA operates smelters in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the Al Taweelah alumina refinery in Abu Dhabi and a bauxite mine in the Republic of Guineaits. Al Taweelah met 47% of EGA’s total alumina needs in 2022. Alcoa president and chief executive Roy Harvey says the company operates the world’s largest third-party alumina business with low-carbon processes. “We’re proud to be recognised with this significant additional volume from EGA as a leading…