Author: Chloe Coutinho

China bans all BHP iron ore  China’s state-run iron ore buyer has told major steelmakers and traders to temporarily halt purchases of all new BHP (ASX: BHP) cargoes, Bloomberg reports, citing people familiar with the matter.  China Mineral Resources Group (CMRG) reportedly asked domestic buyers to suspend purchases of any dollar-denominated seaborne cargoes from BHP.  CMRG was established in 2022 in an aim to centralise iron ore demand, tighten control over the global steel market and give Chinese steel producers more control over prices.  This ban signals an escalation from CMRG, as the group similarly halted the purchase...

Newmont’s Tom Palmer retires Newmont (ASX: NEM) chief executive Tom Palmer will step down from his role as chief executive on December 31, 2025. Natascha Viljoen, president and chief operating officer, will succeed Mr Palmer as president and chief executive and will also join the board of directors on January 1, 2026. Mr Palmer will serve as a strategic advisor until his retirement on March 31, 2026, to support a seamless leadership transition. Mr Palmer comments on his resignation....

MinRes upgrades Onslow Iron haul road Mineral Resources (ASX: MIN) has safely completed the upgrades to the Onslow Iron private haul road, allowing unconstrained haulage to resume at normal speeds. Roadworks included seal binder upgrades and cement stabilisation to enhance pavement strength and moisture resistance, as well as asphalting along the entire length of the sealed road. The width of the upgraded private haul road spans 11 sealed metres from edge to edge, two metres wider than typical public roads used for heavy haulage in the Pilbara region. Mineral Resources managing director Chris Ellison comments on the upgrades. “Onslow...

Alcoa permanently closes Kwinana refinery Alcoa (ASX: AAI) has confirmed a $1.36b (US$890m) plan to permanently close its Kwinana alumina refinery in WA, citing the age of the facility, scale and operating costs, market conditions and bauxite grade challenges. This follows the curtailment of production at the refinery in June 2024. The Kwinana refinery currently has about 220 employees. Alcoa says this number will be reduced during 2026 as the closure progresses. Certain employees will remain beyond 2026 to prepare the site for future redevelopment. Permanently closing Kwinana’s 2.2mmt of annual capacity will bring Alcoa’s global consolidated refining capacity to 11.7mmt. Alcoa has undertaken numerous studies and analyses since curtailment to determine the future of the refinery, including restart and closure....

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...