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By Rachel Dally-Watkins 18 May, 2015     WITH a theme of optimising performance and maximising productivity, the upcoming Iron Ore 2015 conference and exhibition is particularly timely. The iron ore price has halved in the past year as a result of increased supply and falling Chinese demand, dropping below US$50 per tonne (for the first time in a decade) in early April before a slight upswing taking it closer to US$60/t by May. Iron Ore 2015 chair and CSIRO Mineral Resources Flagship portfolio leader – carbon steel Dr Ralph Holmes said given...

Decmil: diversifying to meet new demand SERVICE providers across Australia are re-evaluating their business strategies as traditional sources of income in iron ore and LNG continue to slide. According to project delivery major Decmil, companies that diversify, both geographically and across different market sectors, stand the best chance of withstanding tough conditions. Decmil’s half year results, released in early February, demonstrated how challenging current conditions are, as well as the benefits of active strategy adjustment. The company reported a 48 per cent increase in revenue to $389.8 million for the six months ended 31 December 2014 – although lower construction margins saw earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation and net profit after tax decline by 7.4 per cent and...

By Rachel Dally-Watkins 14 May, 2015 A new 150 megawatt combined cycle gas power station in South Hedland, WA, will supply long-term electricity to meet local demand through the state-owned Horizon Power network, including Fortescue Metals Group’s operations within Port Hedland. Station owner, operator and builder TransAlta began construction on the project in March and expected the station to be completed by mid-2016. Power and automation technology group ABB was awarded a multimillion-dollar contract to provide a substation upgrade solution for connecting the transmission grid to the new South Hedland Power Station. According to ABB Australia substation business unit manager Markus...

By Rachel Dally-Watkins 12 May, 2015 AS the WA and Queensland governments prepare the findings of two separate reviews on fly in, fly out workers amid a resources downturn, support network FIFO Families has warned the industry not to be distracted from the key issues. In June, the WA Government will outline the findings of its inquiry into the link between FIFO work arrangements and suicide; while the Queensland Government is reviewing two 100 per cent FIFO operations to determine the allowable percentage of FIFO workers on mining sites in the state. The use of 100 per cent FIFO workforces in Queensland has been a controversial issue for some time, with many arguing the practice takes opportunities away from locals....

By Jane Goldsmith 11 May, 2015 CANADIAN miner Crocodile Gold is ramping up production at its Australian operations, in conjunction with the rising US dollar and slowly stabilising gold price. The mid-tier miner produced 59,676oz of gold in the first quarter of 2015, marking an 11.4 per cent rise from its year-on-year results and its seventh consecutive quarter producing above its 53,000oz guidance. Crocodile has three mines in Australia – Cosmo gold in the Northern Territory, and Fosterville and Stawell in Victoria – and substantial land packages including the focal exploration project, Enhanced Big Hill at Stawell. In the company’s first quarter report, chief executive Rodney Lamond said Crocodile was well positioned to meet full-year targets. “As a result of...

By Rachel Dally-Watkins 30 April, 2015 IN its latest cost-saving move, Fortescue Metals Group has sacked around 200 people from its Pilbara mine sites. According to reports, about 100 workers were flown home from Christmas Creek on Tuesday and on Wednesday, 100 workers at Cloudbreak – including truck drivers who had just flown to site – were told to return home immediately. Workers told media they were not given any warning before flying to site, claiming the order to return home came as a surprise. Reports stated workers on site were given plastic bags to pack their belongings into, while others were called on...