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Solar farm at Weipa.

Rio Tinto approves solar farm and battery storage facility for Amrun

Rio Tinto approves solar farm and battery storage facility for Amrun A 12.4MW solar farm and 8.8MVa/2.1MWh battery storage facility have been approved by Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) to provide renewable energy for the Amrun bauxite operations near Weipa in Queensland. The solar farm and battery storage facility are part of Rio’s global decarbonisation strategy and ongoing efforts to reduce emissions at its Pacific bauxite, alumina and aluminium operations. Both of these are expected to reduce Amrun’s diesel electricity consumption by 37% and the annual carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by 14kt. It will also add to the existing 5.6MW of solar and 4MWh of battery power for Rio’s Weipa operations. Aggreko was contracted...

(Image source: Ramelius Resources) Aerial view of the Penny gold mine.

Ramelius Resources: Staking its claim on WA’s gold sector

Ramelius Resources: Staking its claim on WA's gold sector Australia has a long history of gold mining which has helped shaped the country and economy in many ways, with gold exports generating revenue of $25.8b in FY22. Gold not only led Australia’s first mining boom, but it also triggered the 19th century gold rush with people travelling from all over the world to the goldfields of Kalgoorlie, Ballarat, Bendigo and Bathurst. As the country with the largest known gold resources in the world, Australia has a significant opportunity to supply the world’s gold demand. ASX200-listed company Ramelius Resources (ASX:RMS) has taken advantage of Australia’s gold...

(Image source: Mineral Resources) The Mt Marion site | Australian Mining Review

MinRes awards $46m contract to Bill Beament’s Develop

MinRes awards $46m contract to Bill Beament's Develop Develop Global Limited (ASX: DVP) has been awarded a $46m contract to develop an exploration decline at the Mt Marion lithium mine in WA, about 40km southwest of Kalgoorlie. The contract is expected to start in early 2024 with a term of 18 months. Former Northern Star Resources boss Bill Beament, who now heads Develop as its managing director, says “the award of this contract to Develop is a significant vote of confidence in our world-class underground mining team”. “We have built a world-class underground mining team with immense experience in developing and operating underground operations, especially in WA,” he...

Parliament House in WA.

WA Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston resigns

WA Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston resigns After seven years in the role, WA Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston is stepping down from Cabinet and will not contest the 2025 State Election. Minister Johnston will see out the remainder of his term as the Member for Cannington, a position he has been in since 2008. “I have been very proud to work for the Cannington community over the last 15 years, and I look forward to serving them until the next election,” he said. “The Cannington community have always had my first loyalty as their representative in Parliament, and it is a tremendous privilege to represent this vibrant community.” As...

Damien Durston_Head of Sales ANZ at Advanced

Embracing the Digital Revolution – Revolutionising People Management in the Australian Mining Sector

Embracing the Digital Revolution - Revolutionising People Management in the Australian Mining Sector Like any industry, the highly regulated mining sector has its own unique set of challenges when it comes to managing its workforce. Mining companies have large workforces spread across thousands of kilometres, complex shift patterns and rotations with many Fly-In-Fly-Out (FIFO) workers. Mining sector organisations face exponentially more challenges as they grow and experience the complexity of a transient workforce. The varying overtime rules, complex awards and travel allowances, award interpretation, efficient onboarding, leave and accruals, time and attendance, rostering and reporting compatible with remote mine workers are all extremely important for their Human Resources (HR)...

Man holding gold nuggets.

Western Gold Resources inches closer to gold production

Western Gold Resources inches closer to gold production Following metallurgical test work at the Gold Duke project, Western Gold Resources (ASX:WGR) is one step closer to becoming a gold producer. Perth-based BHM Process Consultants undertook the test work to determine the amenability of the orebodies to heap leaching and carbon-in-leach (CIL) processing. Notably for Western Gold, results from this work pointed towards a low capex gold operation. Samples were taken from oxide ore stockpiles which were previously sampled as part of a trial toll-treatment program. Both a high-grade (153kg) and a low-grade (137kg) composite were formed from the stockpiles and submitted to Nagrom laboratory. The high-grade sample returned a grade of 2g/t...

Methane reduction.

More than $4m in grants introduced to lower methane emissions

More than $4m in grants introduced to lower methane emissions The Australian Government will invest more than $4m in new research to help lower methane emissions from resources projects and help Australia achieve net zero by 2050. Two research grants have been introduced to the CSIRO and the University of Newcastle for projects which will trial new technology that will tackle methane emissions from coal mines. The grants — $2.05m for the CSIRO and $2.3m for the University of Newcastle — come from the Resources Methane Abatement Fund and will be for projects that tackle ventilation air methane. The Methane Abatement Fund supports research organisations to undertake development, prototype verification and validation, and demonstration...

Hancock Prospecting company Atlas Iron is leading the way in creating safer, healthier, and more satisfying work environments for miners.

World first WELL Health-Safety Rating for Atlas Iron

World first WELL Health-Safety Rating for Atlas Iron In a world-first for the mining industry, Atlas Iron’s Sanjiv Ridge iron ore mine site has been awarded the WELL Health-Safety Rating. Atlas is a subsidiary of Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting and its Sanjiv Ridge mining operation is located 240km from Port Hedland in the Pilbara, northwest WA. Hancock Operations chief executive Gerhard Veldsman says WELL Health-Safety Rating reinforces the company’s commitment to prioritising the health, safety and comfort of its staff. “Championed by our executive chairman Mrs Gina Rinehart AO, and previous Atlas chief executive, now Atlas...

Rehabilitated forest at Alcoa’s Huntly bauxite mine.

Alcoa continues jarrah forest rehabilitation success

Alcoa continues jarrah forest rehabilitation success More than 75% of the areas cleared for bauxite mining in WA have been rehabilitated with the ultimate goal of the rehabilitation to restore a self-sustaining jarrah forest ecosystem. To date, Alcoa has handed back two areas — totalling 1355ha — at the Jarrahdale mine and has received two Certificates of Acceptance from the State stating the areas met appropriate criteria for completed rehabilitation. Notably, this was the first significant mining are to be submitted for and receive a Certificate of Acceptance in Australia. Many of the rehabilitated areas that are yet to be handed back to the State support self-sustaining forest ecosystems...

According to the Report for the Sexual Harassment National Enquiry 2018, the economic cost of sexual harassment claims on the Australian economy is $2.6b in lost productivity, along with $900m in other costs.

Positive Duty demands change in sexual harassment response

Positive Duty demands change in sexual harassment response The Australian Human Rights Commission will have new powers from 12 December 2023 to investigate and enforce an employer’s positive duty under the Sex Discrimination Act 1985. Positive duty, introduced in December 2022, was a key recommendation of the Commission’s Respect@Work Report, led by former Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins AO and published in March 2020. It imposes a legal obligation on organisations and businesses to take proactive and meaningful action to prevent certain unlawful...

Sandvik’s newest battery-electric surface drill rig.

Sandvik unveils second battery-electric surface drill rig

Sandvik unveils second battery-electric surface drill rig With decarbonisation efforts accelerating across the mining sector, Sandvik has unveiled its second battery-electric concept surface drill rig. This vehicle is the first in its size class, is capable of drilling holes up to 229m in diameter and can blend the autonomy of battery with the continuous endurance of power cable. Electric surface rigs typically depend solely on a tethered cable as the power source but Sandvik’s second battery-electric surface drill rig pushes the potential of more sustainable surface drilling. The battery provides power for up to one hour of drilling or seven hours of tramming, and the battery is primarily intended for...