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China recently approved the build of 11 new nuclear reactors and, with the East Asian country having the fastest growing nuclear energy program in the world, we find out where Australia stands in the transition to reliable renewable energy and how long it might take to build a reactor here. CSIRO’s GenCost 2023-24 report estimates a development timeline of at least 15 years for a nuclear reactor in Australia, including construction. But this is in the absence of a local development pipeline, additional legal, safety and security requirements, as well as stakeholder evidence. Nuclear For Australia founder Will Shackel says a shorter timeframe is possible. “The best experts suggest it’s anywhere between 10-15 years for Australia,” he said. “The UAE…

In early September, Thiess held its inaugural industry experience day at the Mackay Training Hub in Queensland. Students from Clontarf Foundation, Project Booya Mackay and Kutta Mulla Gorinna School were offered the opportunity experience a complete view of the mining industry and participate in different mining streams. Thiess staff demonstrated various functions in a mine, including production, maintenance, autonomy, mine management, surveying, coal handling and preparation. Project Booyah Mackay senior constable Keiran Horsefall expressed his gratitude. “I’d like to sincerely thank the team at Thiess for allowing us to attend the Thiess mining day experience,” he said. “It was incredible for our group of young men to interact with trained professionals within the industry from different mining backgrounds.” Big hits…

As part of a new biofuels pilot, Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) will develop Pongamia seed farms in Australia to explore the potential of Pongamia seed oil as a feedstock for renewable diesel. The pilot program aims to determine if Pongamia seed oil can contribute to Rio’s renewable diesel needs while potentially contributing to the growth of a new biofuel sector in Australia. Currently, Rio is in the final stages of acquiring around 3000ha of cleared land near Townsville in north Queensland to establish farms to study growth conditions and measure seed oil yields. Rio has partnered with woodfibre processor and exporter Midway to oversee the planting and management of the Pongamia seed farms. Midway will engage with nurseries, agricultural experts…

Curtin University has entered a three-year, $2.4m agreement with carbon capture and storage research organisation, CO2CRC. Researchers from the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences will apply their seismic monitoring expertise and geophysics knowledge to monitor thousands of tonnes of CO2 to be injected underground at the Otway International Test Centre in Victoria. The team from Curtin will use new fibre optic sensors to monitor how the gas behaves during the next stage of the Otway project. A pioneering initiative, the Otway project aims to improve the understanding of carbon capture and storage technology by testing its safety and feasibility for reducing the impact of carbon emissions on a large scale. Project lead Professor Roman Pevzner says carbon capture and…

Chalice Mining’s (ASX: CHN) Gonneville project in WA has been awarded Strategic Project status from the WA Government under WA’s Lead Agency Framework. The Lead Agency Framework was designed to focus the efforts of the government towards projects that need to procced first to deliver on the State’s decarbonisation and economic diversification agenda. Environmental approvals for Gonneville will be subject to assessment through the new Green Energy Assessment Unit. A dedicated team within the WA Department of Water and Environmental Regulation has been tasked with supporting the Environmental Protection Authority to facilitate the streamlined assessment of green energy projects such as Gonneville. The Green Energy Major Projects Group, which is part of the WA Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and…

True North Copper (ASX: TNC) has marked a significant milestone at its Cloncurry copper project (CCP) in Queensland with the first oxide ore delivered from the Wallace North deposit. Last week, True North began transportation of the ore from Wallace North to the Great Australian Mine (GAM) crushing facility with irrigation of the ore to begin in October. True North managing director Bevan Jones commented on the milestone. “Our team at Wallace North has continued to advance mining activities on schedule with the current CCP mine plan,” he said. “TNC’s progress towards becoming Australia’s next copper producer has taken significant steps forward since our previous Wallace North update, with 6000t of oxide ore having now been mined and transportation of…

The Australian Resources & Energy Employer Association (AREEA) has identified 107 new projects, worth about $131b and creating almost 27,000 jobs over the next five years. WA alone accounts for 48 new projects, or 44% of the investment pipeline, requiring at least 11,000 new workers by the end of 2029. AREEA’s new report, Resources and Energy Workforce Forecast: 2024-2029, breaks down the estimated labour required to operate new, expansion and restarted mining and oil and gas projects, based on modelling of the Federal Department of Industry project data. AREEA chief executive Steve Knott AM comments on this. “Iron ore, coal and gas saw Australia’s export earnings reach a record $466b in the year to June 2023,” he said. “The industry…

Researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) have released the first report exploring the feasibility of collaboration on hydrogen and green metals. As part of the Federal Government’s Green Metals for Sustainable Steel from Australia and Germany (SuSteelAG) initiative, the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) are exploring the potential of creating a sustainable green iron and steel value chain between the two countries. Australia and Germany are strengthening opportunities for collaboration in green hydrogen and green metals, helping Australia build a ‘Future Made in Australia’ and become a renewable energy superpower. UNSW Sydney is leading the SuSteelAG initiative, with the first…

Australian Vanadium (ASX: AVL) has completed factory acceptance testing (FAT) of a vanadium flow battery (VFB) to be deployed at a Horizon Power site in Kununurra, WA. The 220kWh VFB, which can deliver up to 78kW of power, was purchased by Horizon Power for a long duration energy storage project. The battery contains vanadium electrolyte manufactured by AVL at its electrolyte manufacturing facility in Perth and this marks the first instance of AVL’s vanadium electrolyte being used in an operation VFB. AVL chief executive Graham Arvidson says this is a significant milestone for the company. “We are pleased to report that the VFB purchased by Horizon Power has now completed the FAT process and is operating successfully,” he said. “This…

Alcoa (ASX: AAI) will be selling its 25.1% interest in the Ma’aden joint venture (JV) to Saudi Arabian mining company Ma’aden for $1.1b. The transaction comprises around 86m Ma’aden shares (valued at $950m) and $150m cash. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, Alcoa will hold its Ma’aden shares for a minimum of three years, with one-third of the shares becoming transferable after the third, fourth and fifth anniversaries of closing the transaction. Created in 2009, the JV comprises two entities, the Ma’aden Bauxite (MBAC, the bauxite mine and alumina refinery) and Alumina Company and the Ma’aden Aluminium Company (MAC, the aluminium smelter and casthouse). Alcoa president and chief executive Willian Oplinger commented on the sale. “We deeply value our…

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) says coal royalty legislation which passed through State Parliament yesterday have further damaged the state’s competitiveness. The Bill, which was introduced by the State Government without consultation in May 2023, will force any future decrease in coal royalty taxes to be legislated, making it harder for future governments to make changes. QRC chief executive Janette Hewson says the State Government should focus on getting the right policy settings to secure a pipeline of investment and re-establish the state’s competitiveness. “The State Government’s decision to impose the world’s highest coal royalty tax rates was made without proper industry consultation and they failed to consider the impacts for everyday Queenslanders when introducing this Bill,” she said. “Forcing…