Author: Chloe Coutinho

NSW’s new planning framework to fast-track clean energy future The NSW Government has developed a new Renewable Energy Planning Framework to promote faster planning decisions, provide investment certainty for industry and host communities and boost economic benefits for regional communities. The framework includes a suite of guidelines and tools that will play an important role in supporting the NSW Government’s legislated Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap and emissions reduction targets. According to the NSW Government, while there is broad support for renewable energy across the state, there have increasingly been calls from local communities for greater certainty and transparency on how renewable...

Australia’s first commercial graphite micronising plant International Graphite (ASX: IG6) has secured funding to construct the first purpose-built commercial graphite micronising plant in Australia. The company has entered into a funding agreement with the WA Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (JTSI) on behalf of the WA Government for $4.5m. International Graphite managing director and chief executive Andrew Worland says the company is excited to be pushing ahead with the construction of the new plant at Collie....

Lynas: Australia's first rare earths processing plant opens Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King has officially opened the Lynas Rare Earths (ASX: LYC) processing plant in Kalgoorlie, WA. The new Lynas plant will create around 115 direct jobs in the Goldfields region by processing ores from the nearby Mt Weld mine to create a mixed rare earth carbonate. This...

Liontown sets its sights on long-term lithium Liontown Resources (ASX: LTR) has updated its Kathleen Valley production guidance for H2 FY25 in an attempt to better adapt to a low-price lithium environment. The company’s revised mine plan is designed to deliver 2.8mtpa production rate from the end of FY27, with a focus on high margin tonnes and expected reduction in development and fixed costs. Liontown managing director and chief executive Tony Ottaviano says when market conditions change, companies need to quickly adapt to meet the market. “Through the business optimisation work done by our team, the revised mine plan and guidance...

NMR acquires advanced Queensland gold projects for $18.9m Native Mineral Resources (NMR) (ASX: NMR) has signed an agreement with Collins St Convertible Note to acquire a suite of advanced, near-production gold projects in northern Queensland as part of a deed of company arrangement approved by creditors. The $18.9m deal includes the Far Fanning and Black Jack deposits. Positioned in the mineral-rich Ravenswood-Charters Towers region, the acquisition provides extensive exploration potential, a clear path to gold production and significant upside through resource growth opportunities. NMR managing director Blake Cannavo comments on the agreement....

Equinox Resources: high-grade antimony at Alturas Rock chip samples from Equinox Resources (ASX: EQN) Alturas antimony project in British Columbia, Canada, have returned ultra-high-grade assays, notably 69.98% antimony. The company has increased its total land holding interests to 6.31km2 on the Alturas project. Historically, 105t of antimony ore, averaging 57.20% antimony has been sold from the Alps-Alturas antimony mine on this property. Since the execution of the option agreement for the Alturas project, the price for antimony has reached $54,000 (US$36,000) per metric ton...

Metso: efficient fine and ultra-fine particle recovery Metso is expanding its flotation portfolio with modular Concorde Cell™ Plant Units, a new solution consisting of prefabricated and pre-installed containerised units, which streamlines the setup process and minimises on-site installation work. Metso flotation and thickening product manager Tatu Miettinen comments on the advancement. “Concorde Cell™ Plant Units feature a complete sampling and automation portfolio, along with a modular basic design that conveniently accommodates add-ins,” he said. “This flexibility allows for tailored solutions that meet the diverse needs of our end customers and EPCMs alike.” Metso launched the groundbreaking Concorde Cell™ flotation technology...

Anglo American sells its slice of Jellinbah for $1.6b Anglo American has agreed to the sale of its 33.3% minority interest in Jellinbah Group (Jellinbah) to Zashvin for cash proceeds of $1.6b as part of the company’s larger plan to restructure its business by shedding unwanted assets. The Jellinbah Group is a joint venture that owns a 70% interest in the Jellinbah East and Lake Vermont steelmaking coal mines in Queensland. Zashvin is an existing 33.3% shareholder in Jellinbah alongside Anglo American and Marubeni. This deal follows the rejection of BHP’s (ASX: BHP) third unsolicited, non-binding and...

Big caps go global with battery technology Innovation is revving up in the mining industry, with several big caps rolling out revolutionary battery technology overseas, including Rio Tinto, Fortescue and Newmont. Rio Tinto will partner with China’s State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) to demonstrate battery swap electric haul truck technology at the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in Mongolia. Battery swapping technology allows a battery-electric vehicle to quickly exchange a discharged battery pack for a fully charged one, instead of recharging the vehicle at a static charging...

BHP backs WA community development BHP (ASX: BHP) has released its 2024 Community Development Report, showcasing ways the company is generating social value for its people, partners, communities, local economies and the environment. In FY24 BHP’s total community development expenditure in WA was over $894m, the highest on record for the company. BHP says it has been focused on creating new opportunities for its supply chain over recent years, including Traditional Owner and Indigenous businesses. “Our WA Iron Ore (WAIO) asset spent nearly $465m with 113 Indigenous vendors in FY24, surpassing our WAIO Indigenous and Traditional Owner direct spend target,”...

OD6 acquires one of Australia’s highest-grade, historical copper mines OD6 Metals (ASX: OD6) has announced the proposed acquisition of the Historic Gulf Creek copper project — a high grade volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposit in New South Wales. Historic underground mining, over 100 years ago, for the high-grade copper-zinc VMS style deposit averaged 2-6.5% copper with +100m vertical and +300m strike open in multiple directions. There is significant greenfield and brownfield exploration potential with over 3km of untested strike in the immediate mine-stratigraphy, and over 10km across the tenement, according to OD6. OD6 managing director Brett...