Author: Chloe Coutinho

Liebherr-Australia and BHP (ASX: BHP) recently celebrated the commissioning of the first electric excavator to join the BHP fleet. The R 9400 E is a 400t class backhoe excavator is equipped with Liebherr’s cable reel — an autonomous cable management solution for Liebherr’s electric excavators that offers improved machine manoeuvrability and operator safety. Due to the dynamic and versatile nature of iron ore mining compared to traditional cable electric excavator applications, the added mobility offered by the cable reel will help maintain optimal productivity during operation. Liebherr-Australia sales and marketing executive general manager Brian Boitano says Liebherr has more than 40 years of experience in the development and manufacturing of electric excavators, so electrification is part of its DNA. “In fact, we…

BHP (ASX: BHP) has taken another important step on its operational decarbonisation journey with the first electric excavator in its fleet now operational at the Yandi iron ore mine in the Pilbara, WA. Instead of a diesel engine, the R 9400 E Liebherr electric excavator has an electric motor, with power fed to the machine by a trailing cable. Equipped with Liebherr’s autonomous cable reeler for optimal on-site mobility, this innovation boosts productivity and operator safety. WA Iron Ore (WAIO) asset president Tim Day says a reduction in diesel is essential to reduce operational greenhouse gas (GHG) Scope 1 and 2 emissions by at least 30% by FY30 from FY20 levels and achieve net zero operational GHG emissions by CY50.…

The Victoria Government has announced an almost $9m funding package to boost skills in environmental sustainability and the clean economy. The investment will support TAFEs, universities, training providers and industry to establish practical Skills Labs where innovative short courses called Skill Sets can be developed. The funding package announced includes $3.45m to establish three Clean Economy Skills Labs — hosted at TAFE Gippsland and Melbourne Polytechnic — to develop training in offshore wind, circular design, manufacturing and meeting net-zero emissions targets. As part of the package, RMIT will receive $970,000 to co-design three new Skill Sets in sustainable building practices. These Skill Sets are currently being piloted with industry professionals and students. Victoria Skills and TAFE Minister Gayle Tierney says she is…

WA’s regional energy provider Horizon Power has signed its first Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) with the Nyul Nyul people of Beagle Bay in the Kimberley. The agreement, which will support the region’s transition to a clean energy future, allows Horizon Power access to a four-hectare area of land in Beagle Bay for the development of a future energy system that will deliver increased renewable energy for the community. The renewable energy development is in its planning stages and is expected to draw on the region’s significant solar resource. WA Energy Minister Reece Whitby says the WA Government is committed to sharing the benefits of the decarbonisation journey with the community. “We are proud to be working closely with Traditional…

Monadelphous Group (ASX: MND) reports a revenue of $2.03b for FY24, citing continued strong demand for maintenance services and higher levels of activity in the engineering construction sector. This follows Monadelphous’ announcement of $340m in new construction contracts for the iron ore and renewable energy sectors. In total, more than $3b in new contracts and extensions in lithium, iron ore and renewable energy sectors have been secured by Monadelphous in FY24. Within the lithium sector, Monadelphous secured contracts at Talison Lithium’s Greenbushes project, Liontown Resources’ (ASX: LTR) Kathleen Valley lithium project and Albemarle’s Kemerton expansion project all in WA. Monadelphous also experienced strong demand in the WA iron ore sector, securing new contracts and extensions with long-term customers Rio Tinto…

Perenti (ASX: PRN) has delivered another year of strong financial results, headlined by record revenue and underlying earnings and free cash flow of $184m. The acquisition of DDH1 in October was a major highlight for Perenti. Following the acquisition, Perenti created its Drilling Services Division, combining Ausdrill with four DDH1 brands: DDH1 Drilling, Ranger Drilling, Strike Drilling and Swick Drilling. Perenti also drilled down on its safety and sustainability initiatives, reporting a Serious Potential Incident Frequency Rate (SPIFR) of 2.6, down from 2.7 in FY23. Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) was 5.3, down from 5.4 in FY23. The Perenti board now has 57% female representation, with plans in place to increase female participation across all areas, according to Perenti.…

The Federal Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek has made a declaration of protection over part of the approved McPhillamys gold project site owned by Regis Resources (ASX: RRL). Minister Pilbersek says her decision is not to stop the mine and that protecting cultural heritage and development are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary, Regis says this decision impacts a critical area of the project, making it non-viable. Regis Resources chief executive Jim Beyer says Regis is extremely surprised and disappointed that, after a nearly four-year, protracted Section 10 assessment process, Minister Plibersek has concluded there are grounds to block the development of the McPhillamys gold project. “This has effectively overridden the conclusions on this question that were already determined…

BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) is set to become the first Australian operations at BHP (ASX: BHP) to run under renewable power arrangements for 100% of its electricity needs following the signing of a new power purchase agreement (PPA) for its Queensland operations. The seven-year PPA commencing from FY27 is expected to allow BMA to meet all its forecasted electricity needs from sources such as solar, wind and pumped hydro. The new agreement, when combined with another renewable PPA signed with CleanCo in 2023, is expected to allow BMA’s Queensland assets to have 100% of its forecasted operational electricity demand supplied by renewable PPAs from 2027. BHP Australia president Geraldine Slattery says BHP has committed to a target of reducing its…

The WA Mining Club (WAMC) has announced that Dani Tamati, Resources Hub managing director and long-time committee member, has been elected the Club’s new President for FY25. With a career spanning more than 30 years in the mining and resources industry, commencing FIFO then residential in the Pilbara, Ms Tamati is aware of the challenges that FIFO and remote living can bring to the workforce. The WAMC says Ms Tamati works tirelessly with clients and candidates to develop long-term bonds despite the challenges of a dynamic market. “Dani has always been a people person and wants to grow the WAMC community by continuing to connect good people with great opportunities,” the WAMC said in its announcement. “One of her many…

Monadelphous (ASX: MND) has been awarded about $340m in new construction contracts for the iron ore and renewable energy sectors. In iron ore, Mondium — Monadelphous’ engineering, procurement and construction joint venture with Lycopodium — has been awarded a design and construct contract by Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO). The contract includes construction of a new sampling facility at a port operation in the Pilbara region of WA. Work is expected to be completed in mid-2026. Monadelphous has also been awarded a multidisciplinary construction contract under BHP’s (ASX: BHP) WA Iron Ore Asset Panel Framework Agreement. The contract is associated with the dewatering of surplus water from Orebody 32 in Newman, WA. Work is expected to be completed in the second…