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Wabtec Corporation (NYSE: WAB) has received an order from Rio Tinto for four FLXdrive battery-electric locomotives to support sustainable operations of the mining company’s rail network in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The 100-percent, battery-powered locomotive will help Rio Tinto’s effort to achieve a 50-percent reduction in Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 2030. “Our partnership with Wabtec is an investment in innovation and an acknowledgment of the need to increase the pace of our decarbonization efforts,” said Rio Tinto Iron Ore Managing Director of Port, Rail and Core Services, Richard Cohen. “By locking this in now, we are making progress in our efforts to reduce our Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2030.”...

Kopore Metals Limited (ASX:KMT) has entered into a binding share sale agreement with Endeavour Financial AG to acquire 100% of Endeavour's uranium project in the Agadez region of Niger. Under the deal Kopore will acquire Endeavour's wholly owned subsidiary EF Niger Exploration SARL. The Project comprises three granted exploration permits (Permits) and one exploration licence application in the highly prospective Tim Mersoi Basin, considered one of the world’s major uranium producing areas. The Permits host the same geology that is represented at Orano’s Cominak (now shut down) and Somair mines and the Imouraren (Orano), Madaouela (Goviex) and Dasa (Global Atomic) projects. According to the World Nuclear Association, Niger was the 6th largest producer of uranium in 2021 and has been...

Perth-based lithium exploration and development company Winsome Resources (ASX:WR1) has commenced trading on the ASX following an Initial Public Offering (IPO) which raised A$18 million. Managing Director, Chris Evans, said Winsome will utilise the funds for an intensive exploration and drilling campaign at its projects in the James Bay region of Quebec, Canada. The company will concentrate its efforts on establishing a maiden resource of high quality spodumene concentrate that is suitable for conversion across multiple battery applications. Winsome currently has three wholly owned projects - Cancet, Adina and Sirmac-Clappier. The most advanced project, Cancet, provides a shallow, high-grade lithium deposit and is located close to established infrastructure and supply chains. “Current trends show up to 10 times more lithium...

The ‘Robotics & Automation in Mining’ conference ran over the 12th and 13th of October at Joondalup Resort in Perth. Speakers gave presentations on how automation in the resources sector will innovate practices and keep Australia a world leader in mining, while reducing harm and waste. The conference opened with a welcome to country from Shaun Nannup and addresses from WA’s Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Bill Johnston and conference chairperson, Dave Stevenson. The City of Joondalup was the proud official host of the event, with James Pearson the chief executive of the city delivering an address. The city recently announced that it is a significant step closer to its Urban Robotics and Automation Precinct, which will further its position...

M Mining produced its first high-quality metallurgical coal over the weekend from the Mavis Downs Pit at the Millennium Mine in Central Queensland. “Since commencing operations in August with an innovative mine restart plan, this has been an important early production milestone for us,” said Mr Matt Latimore, director and founder of M Mining. “Achieving first coal so quickly is the result of a fantastic effort from our partners, suppliers, managers and workforce. “In the nine weeks since completion of the sale of Millennium Mine, M Mining has established a strong operating team and issued $464m in contracts for Auger, Auger support, Open cut and Underground. “Our work is underwriting the future growth of this operation, economic activity and local...

BHP is partnering with South Metro TAFE to train people in general maintenance skills that can be used in its villages and housing portfolios. This new pathway is called the Diversity Pathway Program and it provides Indigenous and/ or female participants with the required skills for employment in WA’s resources industry. Participants can expect to be right at home in the Pilbara region’s BHP villages upon course completion, as the course has been developed to mirror the BHP work environment, with workplace language and policies followed. The Diversity Pathway Program run by South Metro TAFE results in a Certificate II in Construction Pathways – Building Maintenance for participants, and an additional skill set in electrical test and tag statutory compliance....

A team of researchers at James Cook University, led by Dr Bithin Datta, have successfully used an AI-based tool to analyse existing meteorological and hydrological data related to the Ross River basin area, near Townsville in Queensland. The results of the Artificial Neural Network’s (ANN) analysis found patterns that may correspond to an impending drought in the region. According to Dr Datta, ANNs are known for their exceptional pattern recognition capabilities which mimic the complex recognition and decision-making traits of the human brain. “Once trained and validated, it is capable of establishing the relationship between apparently related variables and identifies less relevant variables. These are then used to make a prediction.” This AI shows great promise for farmers, who may...

This article includes a list of resources for mental healthcare and suicide prevention. Australian government statistics show that one-in-two Australians will experience a diagnosable mental health issue in their lifetime. From anxiety to bipolar to ADHD, we all either have something or know someone who does, which is why mental health awareness and suicide prevention is so important to the community — perhaps even more so in mining. R U OK? Is an Australian suicide prevention charity, and R U OK? Day 2021 falls on September 9th. The aim is to start conversations about mental health. On this day, millions in the country are still in lockdown, experiencing unprecedented isolation and profound economic hardship. In the mining industry, mental health...

Red 5 Limited’s (ASX: RED) project, King of the Hills (KOTH) is progressing on schedule for first gold in the June Quarter of 2022. It’s located in WA’s Goldfields-Esperance region with a 16-year life-of-mine. The geology of KOTH is unique in the distribution of ore within intrusive rock types throughout the mafic and ultramafic host rocks, and the relative softness of this ore. The confidence and understanding of both the geology and metallurgy at KOTH are exceptionally high. KOTH’s construction has remained within budget, with several key achievements in the construction progress during August 2021: All the SAG mill components have been delivered to site, sole plates are in place on the foundation, and assembly of the mill shell and...

BHP claims that it has fired at least 48 workers from its WA mining camps for sexual harassment or assault since 2019. Other preventative measures include more CCTV cameras, 24/7 security, better lighting and better locks. This information was revealed to a parliamentary inquiry examining sexual harassment against women at WA mine sites. Included in this inquiry were the results of a survey conducted by the Western Mineworkers Alliance which found that nearly a quarter of women working in WA mine sites have experienced physical acts of sexual assault, and two-in-three experienced harassment of a sexual nature. This is a serious and widespread issue for women who work in mining. Workplace safety has been high on the agenda across the...