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GROUNDBREAKING April meetings between the Chinese and Australian business and government sectors have taken on a new significance as a study finds Australia is facing increased competition for Chinese investment. The report Demystifying Chinese Investment in Australia: Update March 2013 by KPMG and the University of Sydney’s China Studies Centre, stated that while Australia had maintained its position as the principal beneficiary of Chinese overseas direct investment (ODI), its dominance was slipping as the Asian giant continued to diversify investment. “While Australia’s accumulated Chinese direct investment is still ahead of its main international competitors, there is no denying that the rest of the world is hot on our heels and aggressively competing for Chinese capital,” University of Sydney Chinese Studies…

A new solar-powered Cisco wireless mesh network is being used to run the mine fleet automation system at Barrick’s Cowal gold mine in NSW. Barrick commissioned Brisbane-based CBO Telecommunications to design and implement the system, which comprises Cisco aironet 1524SB outdoor mesh access points managed by the Cisco prime network control system. The network has self-healing capabilities to suit the harsh mine site environment, and can also be mounted on CBO solar mobility trailers, providing the capacity for consistent connectivity anywhere within the mine, regardless of pit depth or geographical distance. The Cowal mine uses the Caterpillar MineStar software to manage its mining dispatch operations, with operators using screens in their vehicles to enter information into the system. This and…

DESPITE cutting jobs in late 2012, Rio Tinto subsidiary Coal and Allied has hired 13 new apprentices for two of its NSW mine sites. The new electrical and mechanical apprentices were selected from a large group of applicants and will join 32 existing trainees at the company’s Hunter Valley and Mount Thorley Warkworth sites near Singleton. Apprentice committee chair Steve Jackson said the move was proof of the company’s commitment to training local workers. “Since 2002, we have started 115 apprentices who have gained experience in their chosen fields across our three operations in the Hunter Valley,” he said. “Last year we took a new step to promote our apprenticeship program by hosting a workshop in Singleton specifically for interested…

THE first two holes drilled at Sirius Resources’ conductor 6 drilling target have intersected thick zones of massive sulphide; confirming the area is an extension of the existing Bollinger deposit, part of the Fraser Range joint venture in WA. The two holes indicate that conductor 6 is the southerly extension of Bollinger and that the thick massive sulphide extends more than 100m southwards from the original discovery holes. The sulphides are similar to those seen at the company’s nearby Nova deposit, with coarse grained pentlandite (nickel sulphide) and chalcopyrite (copper sulphide) crystals visible in the core. According to Sirius, the zone remains open in all directions and drilling continues to assess the boundaries of the area. Holes are underway in…