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A significant milestone has been achieved at Fortescue Metals Group’s Eliwana iron ore mine and rail project, with first ore going through its onsite processing facility at its Western Hub in Pilbara, WA. The celebrations were marked with an official opening event yesterday attended by Fortescue chief executive Elizabeth Gaines, Fortescue deputy chairman Mark Barnaba AM, WA Mines Minister Bill Johnston and representatives from the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura People (PKKP). Ms Gaines said Eliwana was the next important stage of development of Fortescue’s world-class integrated operations. “Exploration commenced in this area in 2006, and we have now delivered a new 30mtpa dry ore processing facility and infrastructure, along with 143km of rail which is in the final stages...

With a total of 13 mine fatalities in WA in 1997, nine of which were in underground mining, Alex Atkins knew she was entering dangerous territory in her chosen career. It was the same year that Ms Atkins started out in underground mining, armed with two engineering degrees and qualified as a geotechnical engineer, mining engineer and mining geologist. The principal of Alex Atkins and Associates – guest speaker at the St Barbara’s Day Luncheon in Perth last Friday, organised by the WA Mining Club – says it was a formative experience for her being in the “line of fire in such a deadly period”. “The number of fatalities in the decade I started were more than double the industry’s...

Sayona Mining (ASX: SYA) will commence exploration over its Pilbara gold portfolio, targeting Hemi-style mineralisation. Initial work will focus on the Mt Dove project, which includes testing for intrusion-related gold mineralisation. Sayona Mining managing director Brett Lynch says the company is excited to launch this exploration program. “A recent assessment identified a number of targets across our 100% owned Pilbara gold portfolio,” he said. “The Hemi discovery has highlighted the region’s potential and we look forward to unlocking the prospectivity of our large tenement holding for the benefit of shareholders, adding to our flagship Authier Lithium Project and other lithium projects in Canada and WA." De Grey Mining’s Hemi discovery is a large-scale, high-value, near-surface gold discovery. The gold price...

Exploration drilling has taken off since the COVID-19 pandemic. A raft of measures by the Federal and state governments to increase mineral exploration, along with the advent of smart technology, have come together to create a conducive environment for increased exploration drilling. One such company experiencing this wave is mining technology company IMDEX, which develops cloud-connected sensors and drilling products that provide critical information in real-time. The number of cloud-connected instruments it rents out reached a record high in 2020, specifically its IMDEX HUB IQTM cloud-based technology and software. IMDEX chief executive Paul House says strong mining fundamentals supported a return to pre-COVID-19 business levels. “We are still experiencing record high numbers on rent and record plans by our customers...

The Federal Government has called on China to resolve a standoff involving an Indian ship carrying Australian coal, one of more than 50 currently stranded off the Chinese coast. Trade minister Simon Birmingham raised concerns about the welfare of the Indian seafarers who remained on board, while making a broader appeal to the Chinese government to cease “what seems to be a recurring targeting of some Australian industries”. The Indian-flagged vessel carrying coal from Australia arrived at the port of Jingtang in mid-June but has been waiting five months to be allowed to berth. Mr Birmingham said crew on board the vessel were in need of urgent relief and are mentally and physically exhausted due to unprecedented prolonged stay on board....

New regulations governing the transportation of lead acid batteries (new and used) have been adopted by the Australian Code for Transportation of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail (ADGC). The new regulations came into effect in October 2020. The National Transport Commission (NTC) has adopted the new P801 Packing Instructions approved in June 2018, by the UN Subcommittee of Experts for the Transportation of Dangerous Goods. Upon inclusion in the ADGC there is a 12-month period before they become mandatory. The primary change to the existing packing instructions is the inclusion of requirements for transporting waste or used lead acid batteries (ULAB) in either stainless steel or plastic bins. These changes were introduced to remove the ambiguity as to whether...

The merger between Northern Star Resources (ASX: NST) and Saracen Mineral Holdings (ASX: SAR), announced in early October, has sent ripples through the Australian gold mining industry. The friendly alliance between the Australian owners of the Super Pit, managed by Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM), will effectively create a new Top 10 global gold major with a $16b market capitalisation. The completion of the merger, anticipated around February 2021, will target new production levels of 2mozpa by FY27 from its Tier 1 locations at Kalgoorlie, Yandal and North America. Northern Star Resources executive chairman Bill Beament, who will transition to Non-Executive Chair in July 2021, says the company has only ever pursued growth that will create value for its shareholders....

South32 remains in a strong position with the release of its September quarterly report today, maintaining its FY21 production guidance across all operations. The company also delivered a US$70m increase in its cash position to reach a net cash balance of US$368m, a 23% lift from its FY20 US$298m. South32 chief executive Graham Kerr said this quarter shows strong operating performance and a further strengthening of the company’s financial position despite the continued health crisis. “We delivered a 19% increase in manganese ore production and a 22% increase in metallurgical coal production,” Mr Kerr said. “During the quarter we continued our work to reshape and improve our portfolio, progressing the divestment of South Africa Energy Coal and entering into a...