Author: Chloe Coutinho

Alcoa teams up with Clontarf Coodanup Academy

Alcoa teams up with Clontarf Coodanup Academy

Alcoa Australia (ASX: AAI) will provide a grant of $250,000 to the Clontarf Foundation’s Coodanup Academy to help young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men complete Year 12 and enter employment. Alcoa WA mines manager Darrin Strange says the partnership with Coodanup Academy is an important step in the company’s mission to further strengthen relationships and enhance respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. “We are very proud to work closely with the Clontarf Foundation and to announce our three-year partnership to support the boys here at the Coodanup Academy,” he said. “We are committed to sharing value with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by improving employment outcomes and this exciting partnership with the Clontarf Foundation’s Coodanup Academy…

(Image source: CSIRO)

Unlocking our energy potential

Australia’s critical minerals processing As demand for the energy transition grows, so does the demand for critical minerals that make renewable energy generation and storage possible. The demand for energy transition materials has doubled in the past five years to $484b (US$320b) led by the exponential growth of electric vehicles (EVs) and the continued deployment of solar and wind energy, according to CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency. At present, a concentration in supply chains may inhibit the pace at which Australian industry can accelerate its energy transition with these technologies. Australia needs to build resilience in its critical minerals supply chains, as highlighted in CSIRO’s From Minerals to Materials: An Assessment of Australia’s Critical Minerals Mid-Stream Processing Capabilities report. The…

Glencore partners up on copper with $40m loan

Glencore partners up on copper with $40m loan

Glencore will provide a $40m senior loan facility to Cyprium Metals (ASX: CYM) to execute the copper cathode and concentrate offtake agreements. This new loan completes the refinancing of Cyprium’s near-term maturities. With refinancing completed, the company will now focus on bringing copper products to market. Cyprium executive chair Matt Fifield says the company’s commercial strategic partnership with Glencore continues to gain momentum. “First, our offtake agreements for copper products are in final form,” he said. “We expect to execute them alongside the loan facility in the coming weeks. “Next, we’ve been working with Glencore to streamline our access to their downstream processing facilities — the Townsville copper refinery and the Mt Isa smelter . “We have already executed…

Newmont says its purpose is to create value and improve lives through sustainable and responsible mining.

Newmont giving back to its people and communities

Newmont (ASX: NEM) has made a number of strides in its commitment to engagement and inclusion, from supporting improved regional health access to empowering female staff. The company has partnered with the Charles Sturt University Foundation to establish a rural health simulation centre near its Cadie operation in Orange, NSW. Newmont Mines Cadia Valley operations provided a generous donation of $1.4m for the centre which will be used to train regional doctors and encourage them to remain in country areas. The centre will ensure the University’s medical, allied health and nursing students have access to world-class simulated learning facility to support the ongoing development and training needs of regional medical and health professionals, as well as the broader Central West…

(Image source: Bravus Mining & Resources) Details about how the technology was used have been published in the international journal Animal Biotelemetry, which will help conservationists learn more about other less-tracked species.

Bravus black-throated finch project takes flight

A high-tech research project between Bravus Mining and Resources and Queensland scientists has created a new model to uncover the secrets of rare bird species. The joint project with researchers from ecology consultancy E2M has provided new information about the habitat and daily movements of the black-throated finch, using an AI-supported radio tracking program. Bravus Mining and Resources chief operating officer Mick Crowe says the latest findings from the research project are an important part of Bravus’ commitment to the environment. “We are using innovative scientific research that is delivering on our commitment to operate the Carmichael mine according to our detailed environmental plan,” he said. “This research is building an in-depth profile of the black-throated finch through long-term research…

(Image source: Bravus Mining and Resources) (L-R) WRC Mayor Ry Collins and BRC general manage Brendan Lane at the official opening of the Collinsville pump track.

Collinsville kids ride high at Bowen Rail Company-funded ‘pump’ bike track

There were plenty of thrills and a couple of spills as Bowen Rail Company and Collinsville residents celebrated the official opening of the Queensland town’s eagerly anticipated $300,000 ‘pump’ bike track. Located in Darcy Munro Park, the Collinsville pump track is designed for skateboarders, bike and scooter riders to make their way over a series of rollers, jumps and berms by generating momentum through up and down body movements, instead of pedalling or pushing. Bowen Rail Company fully-funded the $300,000 cost for the first stage of the circuit as part of a 2019 Infrastructure Access Agreement signed with Whitsunday Regional Council for the construction of the Carmichael Rail Network. The Carmichael Rail Network entered operation in 2022 and connects the…

CuFe says it will focus on progressing its suite of prospective assets including the advanced Tennant Creek copper and gold project and the Yarram iron ore project in the Northern Territory as well as a raft of prospective exploration projects.

CuFe to sell iron ore mine to Newcam Minerals

CuFe (ASX: CUF) will sell the iron ore rights to its WA JWD iron ore mine to Newcam Minerals for $12m cash, citing challenging conditions in the iron ore market. The JWD mine will suspend operations while the ownership transition occurs to preserve the value of ore in the ground. Iron ore prices have been declining all year from a peak of $141.45 per tonne at the start of CY24. As of August 19, 2024, iron ore was trading at $98.05 per tonne. CuFe executive director Mark Hancock comments on the transaction. “We are pleased to have entered this agreement with Newcam Minerals to divest the JWD project,” he said. “CuFe has been operating at JWD since 2021 and the…

The terms agreed with NAIF include a commitment by De Grey to continue to engage closely with the Kariyarra People, the Native Title holders of the land on which Hemi is located.

$150m boost for De Grey’s Hemi gold project

De Grey (ASX: DEG) is progressing on the development of the WA Hemi gold project after receiving a $150m loan from the Federal Government’s Northen Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF). De Grey managing director Glenn Jardine says the company appreciates the strong support for the development shown by NAIF and acknowledges the important role played by the Federal Resources and Northern Australia Minister Madeleine King and the Federal Northern Australia Special Envoy Luke Gosling. “Hemi is an important project for the Pilbara region which will help provide commodity diversification and new mineral processing skills in what is already a mining heartland of WA,” he said. “The Hemi processing facility will be a strategic long-term piece of regional infrastructure with potential to…

Pilbara Minerals’ strategic objective to enter lithium chemical manufacturing also progressed as planned, with production commencing at the POSCO Pilbara Minerals JV chemical plant in South Korea.

‘Disciplined Delivery’: Pilbara Minerals FY24 results

Pilbara Minerals (ASX: PLS) made significant strides in safety and production and is set to capitalise on several promising projects, despite a softer lithium pricing environment. Spodumene concentrate production increased 17% to 725.3kdmt from FY23. Safety metrics also improved with the Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate reduced by 27% to 3.4 compared to FY23. These results follow the opening of Pilbara Minerals new crushing and ore sorting facility at its Pilgangoora operation in WA, the final component in the P680 project. The P1000 project also progressed on schedule and budget. Pilbara Minerals managing director and chief executive Dale Henderson says the successful completion of the P680 primary rejection facility was a significant milestone, enabling record production and sales. “The operating…

(Image Source: The University of Queensland) Professor Esteban Marcellin at the AIBN lab.

Transitioning the world’s biggest companies to net zero

A new $60m Biosustainability Hub at The University of Queensland will use synthetic biology to help the world’s biggest businesses transition to net zero. Funded by government, industry and UQ, the Biosustainability Hub aims to be a one-stop-shop for big companies to transform their production practices and create carbon neutral economically viable products and materials. UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) Biosustainability Hub director Professor Esteban Marcellin says the facility is the first of its kind in Australia and co-locates research groups and industry who share a vision to transition society to net zero. “We will be using the process of synthetic biology which develops new materials, fuels, foods, chemicals or medicines from waste by using biological processes,”…

(Image source: Komatsu) The launch of the program coincides with the start of National Skills Week, which runs from August 19-23.

Komatsu youth program showcases STEM skills for heavy industries

Komatsu Australia has launched a program which will help develop young talent and showcase the diverse range of opportunities available in the mining and construction sectors around the country. The program targets school and university students and recent school leavers and will include initiatives like promoting STEM directly through schools, technical workshops and seminars tailored to students and educators, work experience and placements throughout Komatsu. Komatsu Australia general manager for people experience Zara Carey says the program will help prepare the next generation of industry leaders with the skills they need for a future in heavy equipment or mining. “Often people think the only jobs available in heavy industries are for mechanics or service technicians, but as our sector embraces…