Author: Chloe Coutinho

UWA students make waves in clean energy transition 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...

Magmatic and FMG fund copper-gold JV 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...

Albanese speaks up on Mount Isa 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...

IGO has “low confidence” in Kwinana refinery  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...

Australia's "freefall" in Fraser Institute rankings  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...

PLS powers through Q4 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...

MinRes meets the mark in Q4 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...

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...

Newmont on track with Q2 results  Newmont is on track to meet 2025 guidance after producing about 1.5moz of gold and generating an all-time record quarterly free cash flow of $2.5b (US$1.7b).  Attributable gold production decreased 4% to 1478koz from the prior quarter as expected, driven by the closing of non-core asset sales.  Newmont says this was partially offset by increased production at Yanacocha, in Peru, from improved injection leaching; Peñasquito, in Mexico, from higher gold grades; Nevada Gold Mines, in the US, and Boddington, in WA, from higher tonnes processed following planned maintenance.  Newmont saw an increase of $571/oz (US$376) in average realized gold price to $5044/oz (US$3,320) per...

Northern Star ready for FY26 Northern Star had a strong finish to FY25, with the miner safely delivering its revised guidance, which included new milestones of 1.63moz gold sold and net mine cash flow of $1,189m.   As the Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM) operation enters its final build year, Northern Star expects FY26 gold sold to be in the range of 1,700-1,850koz.   KCGM is forecast to deliver 550-600koz, with underground mined volumes at 3mtpa, while open pit mining productivity is forecast to increase throughout the year as mining in Golden Pike North returns to one mining horizon by H2 FY26. ...

King brings resources roundtables to Perth Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King has convened two roundtable discussions with the country’s resources sector to discuss the Federal Government’s productivity agenda. A common theme across both roundtables was the need for government to invest in common user infrastructure and reforms to the approvals process, according to Minister King. Minister King says Australia’s resources sector has worked hard over decades to carve out a leading role as a globally significant producer of the minerals and metals that the world needs. “The resources sector has for decades...