Author: Chloe Coutinho

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...

Alcoa scholarships support women in STEM Two engineering students from Curtin University have received a significant boost to help with their studies, thanks to the Alcoa (ASX: AAI) Bev Corless Women in Engineering Scholarship program. The scholarships have been announced in recognition of International Women in Engineering Day on June 23, 2025. Ayesha Wasim and Jorja Hinson-Tolchard will each receive $20,000 in funding to assist with their engineering studies over the next two years, while also gaining the opportunity to complete work experience at Alcoa’s bauxite mines and alumina refineries south of Perth, WA. Ms Wasim says from an early...

Resources sector fuels seventh consecutive budget surplus Despite rising economic uncertainty, the WA FY26 State Budget handed down yesterday with a $2.4b operating surplus, including sizable wins for the resources sector. The WA Government will deliver $1.1b through the budget to secure a future that is Made in WA, headlined by a $500m investment in the Strategic Industries Fund, which brings the fund's total value to $1b. The additional investment will support a range of key priorities outlined within the government's Made...

Weir awarded sustainable tailings solution contracts Weir has been selected by Codelco, the world’s largest copper producer, to supply the tailings transport solution for the Talabre tailings dam expansion project in the Atacama region of Chile. The brownfield expansion project will combine the thickened tailings streams from three major mines in the area: Ministro Hales, Chuquicamata, and Radomiro Tomic. The expansion is expected to have a total productive life of 20 years, and handle a slurry thickened to ca. 70% solid content — creating the opportunity to reuse process water and increasing the safety...

Newcastle Knights represents mining families in 2025 The mining jersey is coming to the NRLW in 2025 with the Newcastle Knights to wear the iconic hi-vis mining colours in support of thousands of mining families in NSW. A major sponsor of the women’s team since its inception, the NSW Minerals Council is increasing its investment in the women’s game with a new three-year agreement with the Newcastle Knights that includes the introduction...

Coal roundtable sets course for smarter, faster exports The Queensland Government is tackling bottlenecks holding back one of the state’s most valuable export sectors with a high-level Coal Supply Chain Roundtable hosted in Brisbane. Queensland Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates and Queensland Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dale Last hosted the event, bringing together leaders from across the coal export network to drive practical solutions and unlock billions in stalled export capacity. Despite having more than 300mt of port capacity, Queensland...

NSW launches Future Jobs and Investment Authority The NSW Government is partnering with coal-producing regions across the state to establish the Future Jobs and Investment Authority. While coal will remain an important regional employer and economic driver for decades, global demand is forecast to decrease in coming decades. Under current planning approvals, by 2040 all four of NSW’s coal-fired power stations, and 32 of the state’s 39 coal mines will close. The authority will help guide the future economic development of the four coal mining regions — the Hunter, Central...

Federal Government backs Butcherbird The Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) will invest up to $50m for Element 25’s (ASX: E25) Butcherbird manganese project in the Pilbara region of WA. This will support Element 25’s plans to expand Butcherbird’s production capacity to 1.1mtpa of manganese oxide concentrate. Butcherbird’s expansion will enable it to supply manganese concentrate feedstock for Element 25’s planned battery grade, high purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM) processing facility which it plans to build in Louisiana, US, as well as securing concentrate sales to other customers. NAIF’s support for the expansion follows Element 25’s awarding of a...

Alcoa spotlights environmental research Alcoa Australia (ASX: AAI) hosted more than 120 delegates from 33 organisations across the country at its Environmental Research Symposium last week. Attendees heard about 19 innovative research projects presented by Alcoa, collaborative partners and others from across industry, government and academia. Hosted by Alcoa’s Forest Research Centre and supported by Murdoch’s Harry Butler Institute, the event included insights across fauna, flora, rehabilitation practices, water, and the importance of embracing Traditional Owner knowledge and practices to develop a legitimate two-way science approach to forest management. In addition to insights into fauna behaviour, attendees witnessed presentations covering the secrets...

Looking to the stars for new resources Most investors build their portfolios through traditional, but a new investment horizon has emerged that extends beyond Earth's atmosphere. The space economy represents a potential opportunity for forward-thinking investors willing to explore unconventional markets, but questions remain about how best to participate in this sector. The space industry continues its rapid expansion, with estimates suggesting it could grow from about $765b (US$500b) in 2022, to a multi-trillion dollar industry by 2040. While current growth focuses on communications, Earth observation and navigation, experts forecast significant expansion into cislunar (between the Earth...

BHP’s first WA Nickel Community Fund investment A $10.6m multi-purpose community pavilion is set to be built alongside the Goldfields Art Centre, marking the first investment from BHP’s (ASX: BHP) WA Nickel Community Fund. The pavilion will be co-funded by the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder ($6.6m), BHP ($3m) and Lotterywest ($1m), with construction beginning in August/September 2025 and completion set for May 2026. BHP vice president WA nickel Annabelle Blom comments on the investment. “We’re thrilled that the community pavilion is the very first project to receive funding from our WA...