Author: Chloe Coutinho

BHP’s Copper SA gets largest renewable electricity deal BHP has entered into its third and biggest renewable electricity supply arrangement for Copper SA. Under this baseload electricity arrangement, 100MW of renewable electricity will be supplied to power BHP’s Copper SA province, including the Olympic Dam mine, smelter and refinery as well as the Carrapateena and Prominent Hill operations. It will be supported by output from the first 300MW of Neoen’s Goyder North Wind Farm, reinforced by their new Goyder Battery with a minimum capacity of 200MW/9800MWh, and Neoen’s in-house energy management...

Fortescue signs international decarbonisation-driven deals Fortescue (ASX: FMG) has signed agreements with four major green energy innovators to accelerate decarbonisation in the Pilbara and beyond. Announced in New York during the United Nations General Assembly, the agreements are with global leader in electric vehicles and in battery manufacturing and development, BYD; solar technology and manufacturing giant, LONGi; construction and mining equipment manufacturer, XCMG; and wind and energy storage leader, Envision Energy. Fortescue has also finalised the acquisition of Spanish...

Kathleen Valley’s first year results in $193m loss for Liontown  Liontown Resources (ASX: LTR) posted a $193m loss for FY25 in the company’s first year of operations at the Kathleen Valley lithium mine in WA.  The statutory net loss after profit includes an $81m non-cash write-down of ore sorting potential (OSP) stockpiles, foreshadowed in the June quarter results.  Liontown managing director and chief executive Tony Ottaviano comments on the loss.  “While we reported a statutory loss, this was expected in a commissioning year and reflects depreciation and the treatment of stockpiles...

Core frees Finniss production  All future Finniss spodumene production is now unencumbered, following the termination of Core Lithium’s (ASX: CXO) offtake agreement with Ganfeng Lithium.  The offtake agreement was in relation to spodumene concentrate from the Finniss lithium project, located 88km by road southwest of Darwin Port in the Northern Territory.  The earlier termination of the Yahua offtake agreement together with this settlement, effected through a one-off $3m (US$2m) payment to Ganfeng, all spodumene offtake obligations are removed, leaving 100% of future Finniss production unencumbered.   This provides Core with complete marketing flexibility, with all future spodumene concentrate production now available for project partners or spot sales.   Core...

Alcoa takes next step in conveyor belt recycling  The first reel of used conveyor belts from Alcoa’s mining operations have arrived at Tyrecycle’s East Rockingham facility in WA.  The steel wire used in the belts will be reclaimed and the rubber will be turned into crumb, suitable for a range of uses including as an additive for use in road construction.  This follows the 2024 launch of an ongoing off-the-road (OTR) tyre recycling contract between Alcoa and Tyrecycle, and is part of Alcoa’s initiative to reduce,...

Wyloo and Hastings finalise rare earths JV Wyloo Gascoyne and Hasting Technology Metals will begin work on the Yangibana rare earths and niobium project in WA under their unincorporated joint venture (UJV). Andrew Forrest's private mining vehicle, Wyloo, now holds a 60% participating interest and has been appointed manager and operator of the UJV with Hastings retaining a 40% participating interest. The UJV covers all assets associated with the project, including Stage 1 being the Yangibana mine and beneficiation plant and Stage 2 being the hydrometallurgical plant. The formation of the UJV formalises the partnership between Hastings and...

MinRes acquires struggling miner linked to Chris Ellison’s brother Mineral Resources (ASX: MIN) has executed a binding asset and share sale agreement with the administrators of Resource Development Group (RDG). Under the agreement, MinRes will acquire RDG assets, including the Lucky Bay garnet mine, following creditor approval of MinRes’ proposed deed of company arrangement (DOCA) on September 1. MinRes has reassured investors that managing director Chris Ellison was not involved in deliberations to acquire the group formerly headed by his brother, Andrew Ellison. MinRes chair Malcolm Bundey comments on the decision. “The board and I sought to ensure that MinRes shareholders could realise some value from their...

Pearl Gull to sell Cockatoo Island project for $4.5m  Pearl Gull Iron (ASX: PLG) has executed a binding asset sale and purchase agreement (with Buccaneer Resources, Crestlink and JCA WA Nominees.  Under the agreement, Pearl Gull Iron Company will sell 100% of its interest in the tenements which comprise its Cockatoo Island project (including mining lease 04/235), together with all mining information, plant and infrastructure and the benefit of certain contracts relating to those tenements for $4.5m in cash, a 4% equity interest in Crestlink and a royalty payable on materials extracted from the Cockatoo Island project.  Cockatoo Island is situated off the Northwest...

Greenfields exploration takes a hit  The release of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) June 2025 quarterly data for mineral exploration and expenditure show some solid numbers, along with reason for concern.  There was significantly stronger performance of gold exploration during the June quarter, with expenditure up 36% from the March 2025 quarter to $400.1m.  An extra $100m, or a jump of 35%, was spent on gold exploration compared to the previous corresponding period.  AMEC chief executive Warren Pearce says gold has been on an incredible run of late and these stats back it up.   “It’s also a sizeable...

High grade gold hits returned in Murchison Region  New Murchison Gold (ASX: NMG) has returned encouraging drill intersections from the Abbotts Greenstone Belt in WA.  The company has been undertaking regional exploration on its extensive 677km2 exploration tenure which covers the majority of the Abbotts Greenstone Belt in the Murchison Region of WA.   Following its recent commencement of operations at the Crown Prince gold mine, NMG is advancing its pipeline of prospects within the belt.  The belt contains several large-scale gold prospects defined by...

Platina acquires Mt McKenna gold project Platina Resources (ASX: PGM) is acquiring all the shares in Jasper Exploration, which owns a 100% interest in the Mt McKenna gold project in WA. The project is located 13km east of Laverton in close proximity to Genesis Minerals (ASX: GEN) Laverton project and 20km northeast of the Granny Smith mine. Platina is acquiring the project for $320,000 cash, the issue of 20 million ordinary shares in Platina and a 1.5% net smelter royalty for which Platina can buy-back 50% of the royalty at market value. An additional $25,000 cash and 1.75m shares will be...