Author: Chloe Coutinho

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...

BHP announces finalists for Deep Mining Open Call Think & Act Differently (TAD), BHP's (ASX: BHP) innovation team, together with Unearthed Solutions, announced eight finalists for its Deep Mining Open Call, chosen from over ninety applications received from around the world. The Deep Mining Open Call, launched in September 2024, aimed to identify innovators with capability that could be applied to deep underground mining. The focus was on addressing challenges such as high temperature, high rock stress and hypersaline conditions in deep mining environments. BHP Innovation Vice President Jessica Farrell comments on the announcement. “Collaborating for innovative solutions is critical to our industry, providing the opportunity...

Meeka Metals’ milestone at Murchison Ore is being fed into the processing plant and commissioning is underway at Meeka Metals’ (ASX: MEK) Murchison gold project. Dry commissioning has progressed successfully and wet commissioning is underway with the first gold pour from gravity gold planned for this month. Meeka’s Managing Director Tim Davidson comments on the progress. “With commissioning of processing in June 2025, we achieve an important milestone for the Murchison as we transition from developer to producer status,” he said. “It rounds out a period of consistent delivery against our development timeline and reflects our focused...

Conspiracy mentality drives misinformation about EVs A University of Queensland-led study has found misinformation about electric vehicles (EVs) has taken root in society, primarily fuelled by mistrust and conspiracy theories. The University of Queensland (UQ) Business School postdoctoral research fellow Dr Chris Bretter says surveys in Australia, the US, Germany and Austria found people were more likely to agree than disagree with misinformation on EVs — even among those who owned one. "The misinformation statements we tested included that EVs are more likely to catch fire than petrol cars, do not produce emission savings and emit...

Unlocking opportunities for Pinjarra students A group of high school students have been given the inside scoop on the Alcoa recruitment process and how to perfect job resumes and ace interviews. Alcoa’s Pinjarra alumina refinery hosted an employability and personal branding workshop at Pinjarra Senior High School as part of the Pinjarra Prospects Program. The program, now in its ninth year, is a joint partnership between Pinjarra Senior High School and Pinjarra refinery and aims to prepare students for their move into the workforce. Twenty-seven female students from year 10 took...

Queensland backs CopperString with $2.4b The Queensland Government has reinforced its commitment to CopperString, announcing it will boost funding for the project in the upcoming state budget. The FY26 state budget will bring the total funding commitment for the project to a record investment of $2.4b — an increase of $1.4b on last year’s budget. The CopperString project is a 1,100km high-voltage electricity transmission line from Townsville to Mount Isa that will connect the state’s North West Minerals Province to the national electricity grid. Ahead of handing down the state budget on June 24,...

South Australia sets aside $650m for Whyalla The South Australia Government has announced its contribution of $650m to support Whyalla steelworks as part of the $2.4b sovereign steel package in partnership with the Federal Government. This comes as part of the state’s FY26 budget and follows the state placing OneSteel Manufacturing, Whyalla steelworks’ owner, into administration in early 2025. The budget provides $192m of stabilisation funding, a further $395m for modernising of the steelworks and $63m in an emergency response package. Industry response to the budget has been mixed, with criticism coming from South Australian Chamber...

Metso divests its ferrous business Metso has signed an agreement to sell its ferrous business to SMS group, a global company providing technology and services in plant construction and mechanical engineering for the metals industry. Some of the businesses to be divested include travelling grate pelletising and CircoredTM direct reduction process, as well as the related service business. About 180 employees, primarily based in Germany, India and China, are planned to join the SMS group at the closing of the transaction. The closing of the transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to take place in Q1 CY26. Metso minerals business area president Piia Karhu says SMS group is...

MRIWA unearths new frontiers for mineral exploration New research released this week into ancient sedimentation, deformation and mineralisation could support renewed exploration interest in under-explored areas of WA. The ancient sediments of the Yeneena Basin in WA’s north host proven mineral resources including the Telfer (gold-copper), Nifty (copper) and recently discovered Winu (copper-gold) deposits. However, the wider mineral potential of much of this region, remains largely unknown, with the deformed basin fill and its rich endowment of gold, copper, uranium and other metals largely obscured by generations of later...