Author: Chloe Coutinho

Mental health in mining PhD scholarships The Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety (MARS) program continues to address mental well-being, positive workplace culture and safety in the WA mining industry by supporting exceptional students through PhD scholarships. The PhD scholarships, awarded by the Minerals Research Institute of WA (MRIWA), are championing high quality PhD students who are leading the way in health and psychosocial safety research in the minerals sector. The innovative research underway emphasises the importance of workplace culture and safety in the WA minerals sector. Research activities include: exploring how psychological capital can be leveraged to improve psychological safety in...

BHP awards major copper contract BHP (ASX: BHP) has awarded an engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contract to a joint venture between Fluor Australia and Hatch, to support the proposed expansion of its copper smelter and refinery facilities in South Australia. The contract will be executed in stages as BHP progresses towards a final investment decision on the smelter and refinery expansion in H1 FY27 and through to subsequent construction. The first stage of EPCM activity represents more than $40m investment to lead overall strategy and planning through the project’s study phases. BHP group procurement...

Sandvik goes electric Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions now offers electric versions of its entire range of next generation intelligent rotary blasthole drills, the company’s latest initiative to offer customers solutions that support the mining industry’s sustainability shift.  Sandvik DR410iE, Sandvik DR411iE, Sandvik DR412iE, Sandvik DR413iE and Sandvik DR416iE comprise an intelligent electric rotary range covering hole diameters from 152-406mm.  Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions rotary drills product manager Nellaiappan Subbiah says Sandvik iE-series drill rigs use the same modular platform as the company’s diesel-powered rotary rigs but with the...

MCA: building mining’s next generation The Minerals Council of Australia has concluded its inaugural Minerals Industry Experience (MiEX) Program, designed to provide hands-on exposure to the minerals industry through a two-week immersive experience.  This innovative program has set a new benchmark in addressing the critical STEM talent shortage in Australia’s minerals industry by offering immersive, paid experiences to first-year university students.   In the first week of the program, students engaged in interactive sessions on mining fundamentals, sustainability, innovation, processing and water and tailings closure management, followed by three days of on-site experiences...

Indigital and Rio Tinto launch ‘Caring for Country’ Indigenous company Indigital and Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) have partnered on an initiative that combines traditional knowledge with digital innovation to protect and restore Country and strengthen culture, while advancing sustainable mining practices for the energy transition. Initially focused on communities in Far North Queensland, the Caring for Country program enables Indigenous communities to harness conservation technologies, such as AI-driven data analysis, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) for mapping land features and Internet of Things environmental sensors to monitor soil and water health. The program also uses augmented reality and virtual reality to capture and preserve...

Aluminium to forge Australia's manufacturing future The Federal Government is investing a record $2b into the Australian-made aluminium industry in a move to secure more well-paid jobs for workers. Supercharging the local metals industry, a new Green Aluminium Production Credit will provide targeted support to Australian aluminium smelters switching to reliable, renewable electricity before 2036. Facilities will be eligible for support for every tonne of clean, reliable Australian-made aluminium they make over a period of 10 years. This credit will provide local aluminium smelters with confidence to...

Copper, bauxite big for Rio Tinto in Q4 Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) has released its Q4 CY24 production results, with copper and bauxite operations driving consistent performance and profitable growth. Rio Tinto chief executive Jakob Stausholm says the company is making strong progress in delivering organic growth from its major projects. “The Oyu Tolgoi underground copper mine in Mongolia continues to successfully ramp up, while the Simandou high-grade iron ore project in Guinea and our Western Range mine in the Pilbara are on schedule for first production this year,” he said. “Significant milestones were achieved at our...

MLG seals $45m in Northern Star contracts MLG Oz has executed key contracts with Northern Star Resources (ASX: NST) (Northern Star) for the provision of haulage and site services across four of its operations in the Goldfields of WA. The four contracts are for existing work that MLG has already been performing for Northern Star across the Jundee, South Kalgoorlie, Kanowna Belle and Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM) operations. The total combined value of the contracts has the potential to exceed $45mpa in revenue for MLG. Two of the contracts will run until June 30, 2027. The new agreements with Northern Star come...

BHP, Lundin Mining acquire Filo Corp BHP Canada (ASX: BHP) and Lundin Mining have formed a joint venture (JV) company, Vicuña, following their acquisition of Filo Corp that finalised today. The 50:50 JV will hold the Filo del Sol (FDS) copper project and the Josemaria copper project located in the Vicuña district of Argentina and Chile. Prior to completion, Lundin Mining owned 100% of the Josemaria project. At completion, BHP Canada acquired a 50% interest in the Josemaria copper project from Lundin Mining. BHP Canada and Lundin Mining then contributed...

Pilbara Minerals nets $15m grant Three major job-creating regional projects will receive a multimillion-dollar funding boost as part of the WA Government clean energy plan to diversify the economy and set WA up for the future. The WA Government has allocated $34m through its Investment Attraction Fund to three clean energy projects that will drive new job opportunities across WA. WA Premier Roger Cook says WA is on track to become a global clean energy powerhouse, to keep its economy for the long term and create the jobs of the future in the State. "These projects are at the cutting edge of the...