Author: Chloe Coutinho

Empowering the Hunter region’s next generation Downer has announced a new scholarship for local students studying at the University of Newcastle in NSW aimed at enabling regional communities to thrive. The Downer Empowering Women in STEM scholarship has been established to support female undergraduate students studying science, technology, engineering or mathematics. The scholarship aims to: Develop and attract the advanced skills that will be needed in the future technology-led energy and utilities sectors Support regional female students financially while encouraging them to...

Orica secures Hydrogen Headstart funding Orica (ASX: ORI) has been conditionally awarded $432m in funding to support the operation of the Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub (HVHH) in NSW. The funding has been conditionally awarded under Round One of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency’s (ARENA) competitive Hydrogen Headstart program. The program supports large-scale renewable hydrogen projects to accelerate the development of Australia’s hydrogen industry, while helping Australia connect to new global hydrogen supply chains. The funding aims to provide partial revenue support in the form...

Study unearths how copper deposits formed An international study has revealed how continental collisions may have supercharged Earth’s richest deposits of copper, a metal critical for clean energy technologies and global infrastructure. RSC principal geoscientist and the University of Western Australia School of Earth and Oceans’ Dr Yongjun Lu was co-author of the study published in Science Advances. Researchers analysed magmatic rocks from the Gangdese belt in southern Tibet — one of the world’s richest porphyry copper provinces. Porphyry copper deposits are the largest copper source globally and form when hot hydrothermal fluids travel through fractured rocks and precipitate copper minerals. “The...

Austral revives Rocklands copper mine Austral Resources Australia (ASX: AR1) has entered a binding agreement to acquire Copper Resources Australia’s Rocklands copper mine near Cloncurry, Queensland for $18m. The Rocklands copper mine — which has been on care & maintenance since late 2024 — is a fully permitted, near-term production asset. The Rocklands facility contains significant processing infrastructure adjacent to an existing resource base located only 50km east of Austral’s existing eastern tenement areas. The acquisition also complements the existing Mt Kelly SX-EW operations by expanding production capacity into copper-gold sulphide mineralisation. Austral chairman David Newling comments on the acquisition. “The acquisition of...

Meeka pours first gold at the Murchison First gold was poured on schedule at the Murchison gold project, as ramp-up in gold production continues to progress smoothly with commissioning complete. Meeka Metals (ASX: MEK) managing director Tim Davidson comments on the achievement. “It is an impressive achievement by the team to deliver first gold on time and within 12 months of breaking ground at the Murchison,” he said. “We are now focused on ramping up gold production toward our targeted 80kozpa with the arrival of the third dig fleet and expanded open pit mining plan underway and first ore from underground at Andy Well in the...

BHP charts a course with ammonia BHP has signed contracts with COSCO Shipping Bulk for the charter of two ammonia dual-fuelled Newcastlemax bulk carriers. The new vessels to be built under this arrangement will be two of only a handful of vessels in the world capable of using ammonia as a marine fuel. The two vessels, expected to be delivered from 2028, will primarily transport iron ore from WA to Northeast Asia. When run on lower or low to zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions ammonia, these...

Alcoa helps prepare for bushfires Applications are now open for the Alcoa Bushfire Ready Fund - Grants Program to help regional communities in WA and Victoria improve preparedness for bushfire and address the challenges of a changing climate. Part of the $1.3m Alcoa Bushfire Ready Fund, these annual competitive grants offer between $5000 and $20,000 to not-for-profit community and grassroots organisations supporting the communities where Alcoa (ASX: AAI) operates including Kwinana, Peel and the Upper South West in WA and the Shire of Glenelg in Victoria. Alcoa Australia president Elsabe Muller says the grants aim to assist communities, fire managers and other interest groups to...

Resources sector locks in commitment to DigiTech An industry-developed STEM program in WA has received an $815,000 funding commitment from some of the state’s leading resources companies. BHP (ASX: BHP), Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO), Woodside Energy, Chevron and CITIC Pacific Mining have collectively pledged the money to ensure the continued growth of the WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) school-based Digital Technologies Program (DigiTech). First launched in 2020 at a handful of Pilbara schools, the DigiTech program now reaches more than 6000 students from pre-primary to Year 10 across 165 schools that span the length...

Calling for new apprentices in WA Alcoa Australia (ASX: AAI) is calling for applications from aspiring mechanical fitters, heavy diesel fitters, boilermaker/welders and electrical instrumentation technicians to commence apprenticeships in 2026. The four-year apprenticeship programs, commencing in January next year, are on offer across Alcoa’s Huntly and Willowdale bauxite mines and the Pinjarra and Wagerup alumina refineries in the Peel and upper South West regions of WA. With 23 roles on offer, the positions offer competitive remuneration and benefits, and successful applicants who complete their apprenticeships will be awarded nationally recognised trade certificates. A big benefit is that...

Fortescue recognised as a global leader in 'Real Zero'   Fortescue (ASX: FMG) has been named a global leader in its commitment to Real Zero in a newly released report by Climate Integrity and the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney.  The report recognises Fortescue, alongside IKEA and Lendlease, for pioneering industry-leading climate strategies that phase out fossil fuels without reliance on carbon offsets.  Fortescue Metals chief executive Dino Otranto comments on...

Metso and BHP ink iron ore contract  Metso has signed a three-year agreement for the supply of metallic liners for chute solutions to BHP (ASX: BHP) to support WA Iron Ore (WAIO) operations.  Under the contract, Metso will supply WAIO with a suite of liner solutions, including the company's industry-leading XAlloy™ metallic as well as cast wear liners, amongst others.   Metso’s lining solutions are renowned for their ability to minimise downtime and thereby maximise throughput and productivity.    Metso chute and conveyor solutions director Tobias Krull comments on the agreement.  “We are strongly...