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$140m injection to build Pilbara Hydrogen Hub The Federal and WA Governments have agreed on building a $140m hydrogen hub in the Pilbara, WA, supporting almost 1000 direct and indirect jobs. Construction on the Pilbara Hydrogen Hub will begin this year with a target timeframe of mid-2028 to become operational. It will be major centre for hydrogen production and export, with the potential to become an international gateway to Australian-made green steel and iron. A planned pipeline could enable hydrogen production of around 492,000tpa, enough to decarbonise existing ammonia production on the Burrup Peninsula. WA...

Dematic powers WesTrac Tomago spare parts warehouse WesTrac has successfully implemented a Dematic Automated Piece Picking System at its Tomago warehouse in NSW. As one of the world’s largest authorised Caterpillar® equipment dealers, this new picking system along with its Autostore™ system (resembling a large Rubik’s cube) supports the mining and construction industries in WA, NSW and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) WesTrac warehouse operations manager Natalia Trewin says its Tomago warehouse is the central distribution centre for 17 regional branches, as well...

WA producers thrown lifeline as nickel is included in Critical Minerals List The WA Government is throwing a lifeline to the State’s nickel producers by offering a 50% royalty rebate from Q2 CY24 for 18 months, in response to current global market challenges. The Nickel Financial Assistance Program will provide a rebate if the average price of nickel in concentrate is below $31,000/t (US$20,000/t) for a given quarter. The rebate will then be repayable by the companies in equal quarterly instalments over the following 24 months. WA Premier Roger...

Lidar surveying guides Central Queensland Hydrogen Project Lidar surveying is underway at the Central Queensland Hydrogen (CQ-H2) Project as part of front-end studies paving the way for the State’s largest renewable hydrogen project. The CQ-H2 Project includes the development of a large-scale renewable hydrogen production facility at Aldoga, a hydrogen transport facility (pipeline) and a liquefaction and shipping facility at the Port of Gladstone. The project will also supply renewable hydrogen to an ammonia production facility. A statement on Stanwell’s website says “lidar data points and aerial photographs were captured by a plane flying over the proposed sites of the...

Drill cores preserved as Victorian mining sites rehabilitated Two former mining sites near Bendigo, Victoria, are a step closer to rehabilitation with the removal of drill core samples from the Woodvale Evaporation Ponds and the start of rehabilitation work at Kangaroo Flat. The Victorian Earth Resources Regulator (ERR) is overseeing the rehabilitation of both sites as the former licensee was unable to meet its obligations. Resources Victoria chief executive Matt Vincent says the drill core to be stored at the Geological Survey of Victoria’s...

Ausdrill & SITECH WA Join Forces to Revolutionise Safety, Precision, & Efficiency in the Mining Industry SITECH WA, a pioneer in providing innovative technology solutions for mining operations in Western Australia, is proud to announce its strategic partnership with Ausdrill, one of the largest drilling services providers in Australia. This collaboration is set to lead in a new era of safety, precision, and efficiency for mining professionals as SITECH WA introduce Trimble Groundworks machine guidance technology across Ausdrill’s Rock Commander fleet. The integration of Trimble Groundworks machine guidance into the Rock Commander fleet represents a milestone achievement for both companies, with the successful implementation of Groundworks on Rock Commanders at BHP WAIO...

Black Cat engages with mining services companies for Paulsens refurbishment Black Cat Syndicate Limited (ASX: BC8) has commenced refurbishment works on its processing facility at the 100% owned Paulsens gold operation, with managing director Gareth Solly saying that the company has started to engage with mining contractors and equipment suppliers. Long lead items have been procured, including mill liners and lifters, two new Knelson concentrators, steel for tank and structural modifications and a new liquid oxygen tank. “Our team has been systematically working through the processing plant conducting maintenance work as well as setting details plans for future refurbishment works,” Mr Solly said....

Copper production begins at Hillgrove’s Kanmantoo mine Hillgrove Resources (ASX: HGO) has produced its first copper concentrate from the Kanmantoo underground mine following successful commissioning of the processing facility within the targeted timeframe of Q1 CY24. The project is located about 55km from Adelaide, South Australia, with the company operating a series of open pits from 2010-2020, producing about 137kt of copper and 55koz of gold. After successful studies, underground development works commenced in mid-2023 with a single decline towards...

Stanmore Resources to acquire 50% interest in Eagle Downs from South32 South32 (ASX: S32) has entered a binding agreement to divest its 50% interest in the Eagle Downs metallurgical coal project to Stanmore Resources Limited (ASX: SMR). The consideration for the transaction comprises $23m (US$15m) payable at completion, a contingent payment and a price-linked royalty. The other 50% interest in the project is held by Aquila Coal Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of China Baowu Steel Group Corporation Limited. Stanmore has signed a term sheet with Aquila, the Eagle Downs joint venture (JV) partner, in relation to...

Rio Tinto, BHP and BlueScope push ahead with plans to reduce steelmaking emissions Plans are underway to develop Australia’s first ironmaking electric smelting furnace (ESF) pilot plant in an effort to accelerate the decarbonisation of steelmaking. Rio Tinto, BHP and BlueScope said they will work together to realise the plan which could reduce CO2 emission intensity by more than 80% compared with the current industry average for the conventional blast furnace steel route. Australia’s two largest iron ore producers...