Author: Chloe Coutinho

Alkane Resources (ASX: ALK) and Canada’s Mandalay Resources have finalised their merger, creating a dual-listed gold and antimony producer with operations in Australia and Sweden. The company’s three cash-generating assets are located in premier mining jurisdictions and are each supported by robust organic growth opportunities, according to Alkane. The combined company is an established 160,000oz gold equivalent producer, with plans to rise to over 180,000oz gold equivalent in 2026. Alkane managing director Nic Earner says this merger represents a significant step forward for both companies. “By combining our complementary portfolios, we have created a stronger, more resilient platform with the scale and financial flexibility to pursue long-term growth,” he said. “I am pleased to welcome our new shareholders and the…

Decmil, a subsidiary of Macmahon Holdings (ASX: MAH), has secured new civil contract awards with HanRoy, Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) and Glencore. HanRoy has awarded Decmil a $104m contract for HanRoy’s Marble Bar Road Upgrade Project in WA. The contract for sections 5 and 2B covers about 46km of road construction upgrade works to Main Roads WA standards on Marble Bar Road. Works are expected to commence in August 2025 for an eight-month period. Decmil managing director and chief executive Michael Finnegan comments on the award. “We are very pleased to have been awarded additional works at the Marble Bar Road Upgrade project where we have been working closely with the HanRoy team for the past eight months on section…

The NSW Resources Regulator has published its compliance priorities for July to December 2025. These priorities are aimed at achieving ongoing safety and sustainability of the mining industry in NSW. NSW Resources Regulator executive director Jamie Tripodi says these priorities are evidence-based and respond to incidents and emerging risks. “The compliance priorities for the Regulator will continue to have a strong focus on safety and environmental risks, which is critical for all mine workers and their communities,” she said. The NSW Regulator’s safety compliance priorities will focus on four key concerns across mining and quarry industries: Mitigating the risk of conveyor-related fire incidents in underground coal mines Ensuring the safety and accessibility of underground emergency exits Effective management of…

Students at The University of Western Australia (UWA) are using the Swan River to advance renewables technology and drive the state’s transition to clean energy. Since 2016, RiverLab, a partnership between UWA and Woodside, has connected engineering students, world-leading researchers and industry partners to tackle emerging challenges in offshore engineering. Students have the opportunity to design and test prototypes quickly and cost-effectively in Perth’s Swan River Estuary. Last year, students gained hands-on skills in wave energy technology as a commercially viable clean energy solution. As part of the project, UWA Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) and physics student Megan McDougall examined how to improve wave energy capture efficiency in variable wave conditions. “The variability of ocean wave conditions presents a challenge…

Magmatic Resources (ASX: MAG) and Fortescue (ASX: FMG) have set a $3.5m exploration budget for their Myall project in NSW for FY26. Work will be focused on a significant air core and diamond drill program, with drill planning in progress. The first stage of the joint venture involves Fortescue earning up to a 51% initial interest in the Myall project. This is subject to Fortescue fulfilling its minimum obligation to spend $3m on exploration including 3000m of drilling within the first two years of the agreement. Fortescue must also spend an additional $3m on exploration in the first 4-year period of the joint venture. Magmatic Resources managing director David Richardson comments on the agreement. “The agreed 12 month $3.5m budget…

The Mount Isa copper mine closed on Thursday, ending more than six decades of operations and prompting a united North Queensland delegation of business, government and community leaders to travel to parliament. The Keep Our Copper delegation lobbied Australian Parliament for a national solution to keep the copper industry alive in North Queensland. The group is supported by Member for Kennedy Bob Katter who asked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in question time if he could reassure parliament that the copper smelter is to be owned by an entity answerable to the Australian people. “Mount Isa, which I visited with the member for Kennedy on at least five occasions, is too important to Queensland and to the nation for there not…

IGO (ASX: IGO) has fully impaired its 49% stake in the Kwinana lithium hydroxide refinery in WA, citing ongoing operational issues.  Q4 FY25 lithium hydroxide production of 2126t represented 35% of nameplate capacity for the refinery.   The plant operated at reduced capacity due to equipment failure in Q3, limiting production to May, a further equipment failure in June and other downtime.  IGO managing director Ivan Vella says the refinery operated well below nameplate capacity in the quarter and did not achieve guided production tonnes for the year.  “Despite the strong commitment from the team at site to address operational problems and ongoing issues, IGO has low confidence in the ability of this asset to achieve meaningful, sustained improvement,” he said.  “We continue to…

The Fraser Institute has released its 2024 Annual Survey of Mining Companies, with all Australian jurisdictions suffering declines in investment attractiveness and policy perception compared to 2023.  The overall Investment Attractiveness Index is determined by combining the Best Practices Mineral Potential Index — which rates regions based on their geological attractiveness — and the Policy Perception Index, which measures the effects of government policy on attitudes toward exploration investment.  The survey was circulated electronically to approximately 2289 individuals between August 7, 2024, to December 15, 2024, receiving a total of 350 responses and allowing for the ranking of 82 jurisdictions around the world.  Factors such as regulatory duplication and concerns over disputed land claims lowered investment attractiveness across most Australian jurisdictions,…

PLS’ (ASX: PLS) FY25 guidance was achieved or exceeded across all metrics alongside a 28% revenue increase in Q4. Q4 saw a production volume of 221.3kt, reflecting the increased output from the optimised Pilgan Plant following completion of the P1000 expansion in Q3. Spodumene concentrate production was 221.3kt in Q4, a 77% increase compared to the prior quarter, due to higher plant availability and the capability provided by the P1000 expansion. Lithium recovery of 71.6% in Q4  was higher than the prior quarter, with the period unhindered by plant commissioning and weather impacts. The Q4 recovery was in line with expectations, factoring in a higher proportion of contact ore (a blend of ore and host rock from the ore contact…

Mineral Resources (ASX: MIN) met FY25 production guidance across its iron ore and lithium operations amidst significant leadership transition. FY25 production volumes were 280mt, up 11mt year on year, and at the lower end of the guidance range (280 – 300mt). During the quarter, the MinRes board appointed Malcolm Bundey as an independent non-executive director. Mr Bundey assumed the position of chair on July 1, with an immediate focus on continued board renewal, strengthening governance, Onslow Iron and balance sheet repair. This follows the announcement in late 2024 that Chris Ellison would step down from his role as managing director. Mining services Q4 production volumes were a record 83mt, up 21mt quarter on quarter, driven by the ramp-up of Onslow…

CZR kicks off drilling CZR (ASX: CZR) is preparing to start an extensive drilling campaign at its Croydon gold project, located directly along strike from Northern Star Resources’ (ASX: NST) 11.2moz Hemi deposit. The company confirmed the Croydon gold discovery with limited drilling in 2019-2020 intersecting shallow high-grade gold at the Top Camp and Bottom Camp prospects. Results include: 27m at 3.2g/t of gold from 135m in CRC007, including 8m at 10g/t of gold from 135m 8m at 1.7g/t of gold from 66m in CRC018, including 1m at 9.4g/t of gold from 66m 2m at 22g/t of gold from 7m in CRC021 5m at 3.2g/t of gold from 132m in CRC032, including 2m at 7g/t of gold from 132m This…