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The frontiers between the Australian mining industry and the international space sector are one step closer to being merged. The Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth (AROSE) officially opened its head office in Perth last week, with the help of WA Deputy Premier and Minister for Science, Roger Cook. AROSE is an industry-led consortium between Australia’s traditional industry sectors such as mining as well as the burgeoning international space sector to establish a world-leading hub for the nation’s remote operations capabilities for Earth and space applications. AROSE chief executive Leanne Cunnold says Australia’s expertise in remote operations is highly respected and in demand by international space agencies. “The mining industry in Australia is a world-leader in the use of…

Alcoa of Australia Limited will receive $11.3m in funding from the Federal Government to explore technology that reduces carbon emissions in its energy-intensive alumina refining process. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) this morning announced the funding to Alcoa in the company’s $28.2m project to test Mechanical Vapour Recompressions (MVR) technology, powered by renewable energy, to electrify the production of steam. The first-of-its-kind deployment in Australia is planned to be undertaken at Alcoa’s existing alumina refining facility at Wagerup, WA, with the potential to improve efficiency, reduce costs and reduce emissions. ARENA chief executive Darren Miller said this project was a significant step towards making low emissions alumina and an important step towards decarbonising metals production. “It’s great to see…

Fortescue Metals Group has celebrated two significant milestones as part of its Billion Opportunities procurement initiative. Coinciding with the program’s 10-year anniversary, more than $3b in contracts and sub-contracts have been awarded to Aboriginal businesses and joint ventures since the initiative was launched in 2011. Marking the milestone, Fortescue Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Gaines also announced Fortescue Future Industries would commit to a target of awarding $1b in contracts to Aboriginal businesses and joint ventures on green energy projects by 2030. Among the beneficiaries has been Brindabella Resources, a majority Aboriginal-owned business established by five women who are Traditional Custodians from the Pilbara area, which was awarded a three-year contract recently to provide plant hire equipment for Fortescue’s Cloudbreak operations.

BHP (ASX: BHP) has produced first ore at its $4.7b South Flank iron ore operation today, making the mining giant’s Pilbara operations the largest iron ore hub globally. This echoes BHP chief executive Mike Henry’s speech at the Bank of America Metals, Mining and Steel Conference recently where he said the company would announce first production soon. “In the next few days we will announce first production at the 80mtpa South Flank iron ore project, with its higher grade and lump fraction,” he said. “All brought in on time and on budget in spite of COVID-19.” Long-term, Mr Henry expects the demand for copper to double and that of nickel to quadruple over the next 30 years. “Demand for steel…

Northern Minerals Limited (ASX: NTU) will begin its second phase drilling campaign at its Browns Range project next month, as part of its plan to build the WA operation into a significant world producer of dysprosium outside of China. The company will invest a minimum of $5m in exploration at Browns Range in FY21, with plans for 8500m-10,000m of RC drilling over a six-week period in its second drilling phase. The first drilling phase in late 2020 yielded promising assay results and results of both drilling phases will inform feasibility studies for a commercial-scale beneficiation plant on-site. Northern Minerals chief executive Mark Tory says the company is committed to unlocking the mineral potential at Browns Range through ongoing, targeted exploration…

Minimum security prisoners around WA can gain mining and civil construction skills through a collaboration between Aboriginal contractor Carey Mining, the WA Justice Department and traditional landowners. Twelve Aboriginal prisoners have graduated from the Carey Bindjareb training program run by the state department at Serpentine-based facility, Karnet Prison Farm, and are on track for potential employment. WA Corrective Services, Mines and Petroleum and Energy Minister Rob Johnston says the project provides meaningful industry-led training for Aboriginal men with direct links to employment when they get out of prison. “It’s a great result to have nearly two-thirds of graduates in the community gainfully employed in the mining and civil industries, and that most of the remainder are actively seeking work” he…

A global challenge has been launched by three of the world’s largest mining companies for technology innovators to develop concepts for new large-scale haul truck electrification systems to reduce the time required to charge large trucks and increase overall productivity. BHP, Rio Tinto and Vale, the founding patrons of the Charge On Innovation Challenge, together with Austmine, Australia’s Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS) industry body, are looking for innovations to deliver electricity to large battery-electric haul trucks quickly and efficiently. The mining industry requires multi-megawatt scale fast-charging concepts capable of delivering around 400kWh to charge and propel a truck within the truck’s haul cycle of load, travel, dump, return and queue. BHP Minerals Australia president Edgar Basto says he…

With Asia-Pacific being the fastest growing silica sand market globally, a WA company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to supply high-grade silica to a Chinese manufacturer from its flagship project near Geraldton WA. Perpetual Resources Limited (ASX: PEC) has signed an MOU with Guangdong Qinyin New Material Technology Co., Ltd, (Qinyin), covering indicative interest by the China-based company to purchase 400,000tpa of high grade silica from the Beharra Project, which is 96km south of Geraldton, WA, and 300km north of the capital city Perth. Perpetual executive chairman Julian Babarczy said the company is pleased to be entering discussions with Qinyin regarding potential offtake for Beharra. “Qinyin represents such a well-positioned and active participant in the silica sand and…

A QUIET PLACE 2 (John Krasinski, Emily Blunt) A Quiet Place Part II is quite literally a sequel, picking up directly where its preceding chapter left off, extrapolating on the first instalment’s cliffhanger ending, which had resilient  mother Evelyn Abbott (Blunt) killing off inhuman attackers who were threatening her and her kids Regan and Marcus. But there’s a prelude before the story continues, in which the viewer is taken back to the very moment the Abbott clan witnessed first-hand the horrific experience that would forever disrupt and change their lives. Via the flashback, we see how the Abbotts reacted to Earth’s new apex predator – blind, emaciated beings with chitinous armour and an acute sense of hearing – and provides…

On 65 Roses Day, send your loved ones a rose from the mines, and it will be helping people with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) at the same time. CF is a rare recessive genetic disorder that causes severe damage to the lungs, digestive system and other organs in the body, and for which there is currently no cure. On 65 Roses Day, Friday, May 28, you can make a real difference to those living with the disease. A typical 65 Roses Day sees the streets flooded with red roses being sold by volunteers, but COVID-19 put a stop to that last year and saw the introduction of a virtual rose. Virtual roses mean every West Aussie, no matter how remote, can…

The Federal Government is investing $20m in a new strategy to diversity exports and find new markets for Australia’s resources and technology. This comes a day after the announcement of an additional $190m in a new five-year “Our North, Our Future: 2021-2026” plan to grow jobs, digital connectivity and businesses throughout Australia’s north, as well as a further $100m to extend the Junior Minerals Exploration Inventive (JMEI) for four more years. The Global Resources Strategy, launched by Federal Resources, Water and Norther Territory Minister Keith Pitt in Townsville, aims to secure long-term benefits for the sectors and the Australian economy. Federal Resources, Water and Northern Australia Minister Keith Pitt said the strategy will help Australia build resilience to trade shocks…