Author: Chloe Coutinho

A differential fee model for lodging mineral title objections before WA’s mining wardens will take effect on September 16. The introduction of the fee follows a significant increase in the number of objections to mineral title applications brought before the mining wardens over the past three years, which required the appointment of a second Perth mining warden. The new general fee of $430 will effectively support partial cost-recovery to fund the second warden and additional administrative staff. Like other courts and tribunals in WA, concession card and pension card holders will incur a $100 fee. Registered Native Title Bodies Corporate and freehold landowners that overlap the application for a mining tenement will have a $0 fee. Under amendments to the Mining…

Rugby league’s biggest stars have thrown their support behind the mining industry in a bid to promote the benefits mining jobs have on local communities and the economy more broadly. Jobs for Mining Communities (JMC), a new advocacy body headed by Grant Wechsel and Darren Lockyer, has launched a Queensland-wide campaign to promote mining’s role in powering Australia’s industrial strength and economic prosperity. JMC founder and managing director Grant Wechsel says JMC provides a new platform to promote the interests of those living in mining communities by advocating for job creation, economic development and investment in amenity. “I’ve been involved in the mining industry for over 20 years,” he said. “I’m passionate about our industry and the benefits it provides…

Pilbara Ports has notified Red Hawk Mining (ASX: RHK) that an annual throughput of 1mtpa at the Utah Point Bulk Handling Facility in the Port of Port Hedland, WA, will be available for allocation in 2026.  The forecasted throughput allocation is consistent with Red Hawk’s Pre-Feasibility Study which has export volume in year one of 1.2mt, increasing to 5mtpa over five years.  Red Hawk managing director Steven Michael says the company has been in discussions with Pilbara Ports for the past year to secure a port allocation at Utah Point, which is the only multi-user bulk commodities berth in the Pilbara.   “The berth has a 24mtpa capacity catering predominantly for iron ore juniors and other smaller bulk mineral export companies,” he…

EQ Resources’ (ASX: EQR) Mt Carbine tungsten operations in Queensland hit a new monthly production record of 9,040mtu for August, with a new daily record of 571mtu.  These results are driven by improving ore grade and equipment upgrades at Mt Carbine and come as the company transitions from contract mining to owner-operator mining in the Andy White open pit.   Improvements include the upgrade to the TOMRA XRT Ore Sorter #2 topped with increased recovery at the gravity plant due to the installation of a scavenger jig.   Mining operations also recorded a higher-grade feed supplied to the gravity plant, well in line with the recent drilling results showing a grade improvement at depth of the Andy White open pit.  These improvements…

The future success of Australia’s manufacturing industries is dependent on accelerated investment in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, the Australian Steel Institute (ASI) annual national convention in Brisbane, Queensland will hear. Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub founder and chief executive Professor Cori Stewart will argue AI and robotics not only save time, but also potentially save lives by minimising human error and ensuring a safer working environment. Professor Stewart will deliver the presentation to the peak body on September 10. Professor Stewart says continued growth in the manufacturing industry including steel is likely because of the baked-in demand for green energy. However, accelerated AI and automation is required to ensure Australia’s competitiveness. “In the highly competitive steel industry, AI…

Westgold (ASX: WGX) has commenced mining at its South Junction Lode within the Bluebird-South Junction mining complex at Meekatharra, WA. The ramp up targets a 100kt per month run rate for the Bluebird-South Junction mine by Q3 FY25. The drilling results have returned significant intersections from both the Polar Star and South Junction Lode positions. Of great significance is an intersection of 8.83m at 15.31g/t gold being the most southern hole drilled to date with the mineralised system remaining open to the south. Westgold managing director and chief executive Wayne Bramwell says drilling continues to unlock value and point to the potential scale of the mining complex. “The commencement of mining on the South Junction Lode is a company milestone,…

The Queensland Government and the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) have partnered to increase ESG capability, awareness and knowledge sharing within the state’s critical minerals sector. The Queensland Government will invest $1m, as part of the Queensland Critical Minerals Strategy, to establish a formal ESG Advisory Panel comprising representatives from government, industry, academia and the community. Key initiatives of the panel include reviewing domestic and international trends in ESG; baselining Queensland’s critical minerals industry ESG capability; developing capability uplift strategies, tools and guidance materials and establishing an ESG industry excellence award. Queensland Resources and Critical Minerals Minister Scott Stewart comments on the partnership. “As the resources industry navigates an increasingly ESG-conscious landscape, it’s essential that we not only prepare…

Mining and processing preparations for Genesis Minerals’ (ASX: GMD) Laverton mill re-start in WA are running ahead of schedule, enabling the company to capitalise on strong gold prices. The re-start is running six months ahead of schedule with re-start expected in October 2024, marking the first step in an accelerated growth strategy aimed at achieving a 325kozpa target. Following the progress, Genesis has increased its forecast FY25 production at Laverton to 35-35,000oz from 14-16,000oz. Total FY25 production outlook also increased to 190-210,000oz from 162-188,000oz. Genesis Minerals managing director Raleigh Finlayson says the expedited start of production at Laverton will deliver significant cashflow benefits this financial year and is particularly valuable given our strong exposure to the high spot gold price.…

The transformation of Alpha HPA’s (ASX: A4N) Gladstone, Queensland, project into the largest single-site ultra-high purity aluminium materials refinery in the world is officially underway. Alpha HPA managing director Rimas Kairaitis says he is pleased to announce that construction of the Stage Two HPA First Project has now commenced, with extensive funding support in place to progress to full scale production. Alpha HPA’s 10ha, state-of-the-art Stage Two facility will leverage the established Stage One operation and Alpha HPA’s novel, Australian owned and developed, process IP. At full scale, the site will be capable of producing over 10,000t of high-purity aluminium products per year, creating 120 ongoing local jobs on top of the 300 jobs during construction. “Today marks a significant…