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Fortescue’s (ASX: FMG) hydrogen-powered haul truck prototype, Europa, has arrived at the Christmas Creek mine in the Pilbara, WA, where it will complete site-based testing over the next few months. The Liebherr T 264 haul truck travelled 1,100km from Perth to site to undergo testing in a real-life mining environment in order to inform the mining giant’s future fleet of zero emission haul trucks. Once commissioned on site, Europa will be refuelled with liquid hydrogen from a gaseous and liquid hydrogen plant, located at Fortescue’s Green Energy Hub at Christmas Creek. Fortescue Metals chief executive officer Dino Otranto says “it’s fantastic to have our hydrogen-powered haul truck prototype now joining its battery electric equivalent, Roadrunner, up at site”. “Europa integrates…

A report released by Climate Energy Finance (CEF) highlights that failure to electrify and decarbonise WA’s Pilbara region risks Australia’s $250b future green iron industry. The report, SUPERPOWERING-UP: Accelerating the electrification and decarbonisation of the Pilbara, said a single common-user electricity grid infrastructure (CUI) is the critical key to decarbonising the region and reaping the economical benefits for Australia’s green transition. As stated in the report, a CUI would unlock up to $100b of new investment in renewables, battery firming and transmission, ensuring the Pilbara’s critical minerals, strategic metals and transition materials can be processed and value-added onshore using zero-emissions power. CEF director and co-author of the report Tim Buckley says now is the time to invest in new technology…

The Queensland Government will build a new $15m electrotechnology training facility in Rockhampton over the next three years to upskill workers. The CQ Renewable Energy Training Facility in Rockhampton will give local workers the skills needed for the jobs being created under the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan as well as Queensland’s Clean Energy Workforce Roadmap. Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke commented on the investment. “This new training facility will help upskill, reskill and train new and existing workers to deliver and maintain critical energy infrastructure to keep Central Queensland booming,” he said. “Central Queensland will also be at the heart of Queensland’s high-value hydrogen sector – home to the Central Queensland hydrogen hub and CQ-H2 Stanwell’s flagship Central Queensland…

ElectraLith, a spinout company from Monash University, has proven its direct lithium extraction and refining (DLE-R) technology can produce battery-grade lithium hydroxide using no water, no chemicals and minimal energy. Backed by Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO), IP Group and Monash Investment Holdings, the DLE-R technology can produce battery-grade lithium hydroxide from a range of lithium sources, including salar brines, geothermal oilfield brines and spodumene leach in locations across Australia, Argentina and the United States. This technology is emerging as the cleanest, most versatile and cost-efficient method for extracting and refining lithium. Most lithium extracting processes are costly and have negative impacts on the environment, such as carbon dioxide emissions, mineral waste and chemical pollution. DLE-R uses electro-membrane and electrodialysis technology…

Easily and reliably gouge and cut metal up to 38mm (1-1/2″) with Powermax® professional-grade plasma systems designed for maximum productivity. Unlike other metal removal methods or competitive plasma brands, industry-leading Powermax systems allow you to tackle any job by offering the most extensive manual and automated metal cutting and gouging capabilities. Available at Alphaweld Supply Group – Hypertherm Premier Partner Benefits of Powermax Cut Metal Quickly and Cleanly Plasma is created when gas is ionised by electrical energy. In Powermax systems, its intense heat (up to 22,000° C) is used to melt metal. Compressed air or nitrogen blows the molten metal away, leaving a clean edge that’s ready to weld in most cases. Cut or Gouge Any Electrically Conductive Metal Whether…

The Mining and Automotive Skills Alliance (AUSMASA) estimates that the mining and automotive industries nationally will grow by over 72,000 workers in the coming decade, including 31,000 in mining, 10,000 in oil and gas extraction, and 31,000 in the automotive industry. AUSMASA has launched its Workforce Plan for 2024 – Moving Ahead Together, which identifies the need to address workforce and skills shortages as a priority. Efforts to tackle these shortages include initiatives aimed at changing Generation Z’s perceptions of the mining industry and further research to explore youth perceptions of automotive careers. “The emergence of Electric Vehicle (EV) Technicians as a critical occupation underscores the need for targeted training programs and vocational pathways to meet industry demands,” AUSMASA chief…

The Pilbara region in WA will be home to a new high-capacity common use transmission line for green energy. When completed, the Maitland-Karratha-Burrup line will be the first major transmission line to deliver clean electricity to the Burrup Peninsula and will link renewable energy generation in the Maitland Strategic Industrial Area with Karratha and major industry players in the Pilbara. Traditional Owners, the Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation, and Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation – who have formed an alliance for the project that is part of a working group with the WA Government – are continuing to work alongside Perdaman, Woodside, and Yara Pilbara on this development. The project has the potential to be the first in the State to attract concessional finance…

Komatsu and Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) have celebrated the 300th delivery of an autonomous haulage system (AHS) truck at Rio’s Pilbara operations in WA. In 2011, the two companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to deploy 150 AHS trucks to Rio’s site and 13 years later the partnership is still going strong. Komatsu Australia’s general manager – mining automation Garry Povah says the milestone gives the companies an opportunity to reflect on the partnership. “AHS trucks are a crucial solution to both mine safety and addressing labour shortages in the sector,” he said. “By removing human operators from potentially hazardous environments, AHS trucks significantly reduce the risk of accident and injury, and while enabling continuous operation that considerably impacts…

Manuka Resources (ASX: MKR) is set to restart gold doré production at its Mt Boppy gold mine in NSW with first production targeted for Q4 2024. Currently, Manuka is constructing a fit-for-purpose processing and gold doré production facility and relocating the ball mill and associated processing components. In April 2024, Manuka announced it would establish a fit-for-purpose processing and gold production facility at Mt Boppy for a capital cost of $11.6m to generate average earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of $19mpa over an initial five-year period. Previously, ore mined at Mt Boppy was hauled 150km to the carbon in leach process plant at a cost of $27/t. This on-site processing at Mt Boppy is expected to save around…