Author: Chloe Coutinho

Leveraging lithium

Leveraging lithium

Leveraging lithium In the fifth instalment of the Australian Mining Review’s critical minerals series, we speak with Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO Futures mineral resources lead Max Temminghoff and CSIRO critical minerals lead with the Australian Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub Chris Vernon for a deep dive into emerging mid-stream processing pathways for lithium as highlighted in the agency’s From Minerals to Materials: An Assessment of Australia’s Critical Minerals Mid-Stream Processing Capabilities report. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are expected to drive a surge in demand for critical battery materials lithium, cobalt and graphite. These essential minerals present significant concentration and sustainability concerns across their supply chains, meaning research, development and demonstration (RD&D) activity will need a boost, both domestically and...

The North Queensland Export Terminal features "turtle-friendly" amber lighting on its infrastructure.

Queensland turtle hatchlings’ glowing first journey

Queensland turtle hatchlings’ glowing first journey Design features at the North Queensland Export Terminal north of Bowen are ensuring turtle hatchlings see the light as nature intended. Abbot Point Operations manages the operations and maintenance of the multi-billion-dollar facility and has incorporated “turtle-friendly” amber lighting on terminal infrastructure visible from the ocean, to allow hatchlings a smoother path to the sea. Abbot Point Operations general manager Damien Dederer says the specially designed lighting is just one example of how smart thinking and smart technology supports ecosystems to thrive around an operating port. “The North Queensland Export Terminal is one of Queensland’s busiest ports, exporting...

The agreement remains subject to NMG shareholder approval as Westgold owns 18.7% of NMG and is therefore deemed a related party under the ASX Listing Rules.

Westgold agreement to boost Meekatharra

Westgold agreement to boost Meekatharra Westgold Resources (ASX: WGX) has executed a gold ore purchase agreement between its subsidiary Big Bell Gold Operations and Zeus Mining, owned by New Murchison Gold (ASX: NMG). Westgold has agreed to purchase between 30,000 and 50,000t of gold ore per month from NMG’s planned open pit operation at Crown Prince. NMG is targeting the commencement of open pit mining in mid-2025. Crown Prince, which is located 33km by road from Westgold’s 1.6-1.8mtpa Bluebird processing plant, has a current JORC indicated and inferred mineral resource...

The milestone with LG Energy Solution, a major supplier of lithium-ion batteries, is aligned with Liontown’s previously announced intention to progressively start deliveries into its long-term offtake agreements.

Liontown ships first cargo to long-term customer

Liontown ships first cargo to long-term customer Liontown Resources’ (ASX: LTR) first cargo of spodumene concentrate under its long-term supply partnership with LG Energy Solution has sailed from the Port of Geraldton in WA. The shipment comprised of two separate Liontown cargoes, totalling about 33,000wmt of spodumene concentrate with a weighted average concentrate grade of about 5.2% lithium oxide, including about 11,000wmt designated for LG Energy Solution, with the balance sold to an existing short-term offtake customer. This marks the fourth and largest cargo shipped since Kathleen Valley...

Victoria’s Critical Minerals Roadmap recognises the importance of local communities and Traditional Owners.

Victoria’s critical minerals race

Victoria’s critical minerals race Victoria has released its new Critical Minerals Roadmap in an effort to bring a new focus to help develop the state’s minerals resources. Victoria has many of the critical minerals needed to produce wind turbines, rechargeable batteries and electric vehicles, including zircon, titanium, rare earth elements and antimony. As part of the roadmap, the Victorian Critical Minerals Coordination Office will be established within Resources Victoria to help to reduce project approval timelines. Critical Minerals Priority Development Zones will also be defined, so that industry and communities can better understand areas with the highest likelihood of developing successful critical minerals...

(Image source: Greatland Gold) First Greatland Telfer gold bars.

Telfer: first gold poured under Greatland

Telfer: first gold poured under Greatland The first gold bars under Greatland Gold ownership were poured at Telfer, following the company’s acquisition of Telfer and Havieron from Newmont (ASX: NEM) on December 4, 2024. Prior to completion, processing operations were utilising only one of the two nominal 10mtpa processing trains, preserving Telfer ore and stockpiles for Greatland to process after completion. Shortly following completion of the acquisition, Greatland resumed dual-train processing operations. An estimated 30.5mt to 34.5mt of stockpiles were acquired by Greatland on completion. The stockpiles include an estimated 11.5mt of high-grade run-of-mine grade ore stockpiles, plus a further estimated 19.0 to 23.0mt of low-grade stockpiles. Mining is...

Green iron refers to iron produced in a near-zero emissions manner.

WA CME: green iron’s role in decarbonisation

WA CME: green iron’s role in decarbonisation Large-scale production of green iron in WA could potentially offset nearly every tonne of carbon dioxide currently produced in Australia while generating $74b in economic value, according to the newly released report from the Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA (CME). The Realising WA’s Green Iron Potential report examines WA’s potential to play a leading role in decarbonising the emissions-intensive steelmaking process. WA CME chief executive Rebecca Tomkinson says WA boasts a long history as the world’s largest iron ore exporter and has a unique opportunity to advance down the value chain if the State can begin refining...

The independent assessment of the legacy impacts of the Panguna Mine commenced in 2022.

Panguna Mine Legacy Impact Assessment report released

Panguna Mine Legacy Impact Assessment report released PAPUA NEW GUINEA — As a member of the Panguna Mine Legacy Impact Assessment (PMLIA) Oversight Committee, Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) welcomed the release of the PMLIA report as a critical step forward in building understanding of the long-term legacy impacts of the former mine in Bougainville. The independent report assesses the environmental impacts and directly connected social and human rights impacts caused by the Panguna mine since Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) ceased operations in 1989. Conducted by independent consultants Tetra Tech Coffey over the past two years, the entire PMLIA process was overseen by...

(Image source: Thiess) The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is a global campaign led annually by UN Women. It runs every year from November 25 (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) to December 10 (Human Rights Day).

Thiess’ community support milestones

Thiess’ community support milestones Thiess is making good in the communities it operates in, with recent milestones in two major community initiatives. As part of the 2024 16 Days of Activism against Gendered Violence campaign, Thiess’ information and communications technology (ICT) and health teams collaborated to donate 14 unused mobile phones to a Brisbane hospital. Thiess health and wellbeing advisor Leigh Ruch will donate the phones to Logan Hospital social work department. Currently,...

(Image source: Whitehaven Coal) In FY24, Whitehaven donated around $250,000 to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations through partnerships across education and training, healthcare sport and other important community causes.

Whitehaven hosts Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Service

Whitehaven hosts Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Service Whitehaven Coal recently hosted members of the Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Service (TAMS) Board and executive team on visits to its Rocglen rehabilitation site and Vickery operational site in NSW, further strengthening the partnership with the regional health organisation. TAMS is a leading healthcare provider in the Tamworth region, helping to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people via comprehensive and culturally sensitive services. The visits followed a presentation by Whitehaven’s Aboriginal community relations team to the TAMS Board, during...

In November, Tivan hosted a delegation from Japan, inclusive of Sumitomo, to visit the Speewah site and the Port of Wyndham and for project related meetings in Perth, WA and Darwin, NT.

Tivan awarded $7.4m for Speewah

Tivan awarded $7.4m for Speewah Tivan (ASX: TVN) has been awarded a $7.4m cash grant for the Speewah fluorite project, located in the Kimberley region of WA, under the Federal Government’s International Partnerships in Critical Minerals (“IPCM”) program. The IPCM program supports early to mid-stage critical minerals projects that contribute to building end-to-end supply chains with Australia’s international partners in the critical minerals sector. Eligibility criteria include applicants having plans to produce critical minerals listed in Australia’s Critical Minerals List, projects which are in...