Author: Chloe Coutinho

Argent Minerals’ (ASX: ARD) reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at the Kempfield project is set to commence in September 2024 following approval from the NSW Regulator. The program comprises 3,3000m across 51 RC drill holes and will confirm newly discovered Kempfield NW and Sugarloaf Hill prospects across copper, lead, zinc, gold and silver deposits. The Kempfield silver deposit mineral resource estimate for all categories has been upgraded to 63.7mt at 69.75 g/t silver equivalent for 142.8moz of gold equivalent, containing of 65.8moz silver; 125,192oz gold; 207,402t lead and 420,373t zinc. Argent Minerals managing director Pedro Kastellorizos says the company is pleased to receive NSW Regulator & Crown Lands approval for the RC drilling campaign. “Recent work in the project area…

The Queensland Government and Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) will work together under a partnership to support investment in renewable energy projects. The agreement represents an important step towards securing a long-term future for Australia’s second-largest aluminium smelter, Boyne Smelters Limited (BSL) and thousands of jobs in central Queensland supported by the operations. The partnership supports Queensland’s vision to establish Gladstone, Queensland, as a renewable energy hub and strengthens the electricity grid as Australia transitions to a cleaner energy future. Through its Energy and Jobs Plan, the Queensland Government will support BSL’s financial viability from 2029 as the smelter transitions to renewable energy. Rio Tinto will invest to maintain BSL’s full operational capacity, supporting Australia’s ambition to remain a major exporter…

Australia’s Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) has approved the Ardea Resources (ASX: ARL), Sumitomo Metal Mining and Mitsubishi Corporation joint venture to develop the Kalgoorlie nickel project (KNP) in WA. The KNP and its sub-set the Goongarrie Hub, are a globally significant series of nickel-cobalt and critical mineral deposits which host the largest nickel-cobalt resource in the developed world at 854mt, according to Ardea. In addition to FIRB approval, Ardea has been informed that the Consortium has obtained merger control clearance from the Korea Fair Trade Commission, successfully satisfying two of the four conditions precedent to the transaction. The remaining conditions are expected to be satisfied during Q3 2024. Ardea managing director and chief executive Andrew Penkethman comments on the…

Pilbara Minerals (ASX: PLS) will acquire 100% of the shares in Latin Resources (ASX: LRS) after entering a binding scheme implementation agreement. The Latin Resources board has unanimously recommended the scheme in the absence of a superior proposal. Pilbara Minerals managing director and chief executive Dale Henderson comments on the acquisition. “This acquisition is on-strategy, diversifying the business with what we believe is a counter-cyclical, accretive extension that further builds out Pilbara Minerals’ position as one of the leading lithium materials suppliers globally,” he said. “The acquisition will deliver our second 100% owned, Tier 1, hard rock lithium asset, which is expected to be low-cost and accretive for our shareholders. “It provides Pilbara Minerals with optionality to sequence new supply…

The chemical properties of liquid metals are at the heart of a new research project at Monash Engineering that aims to produce a paradigm shift in catalyst technology for the chemical industry. Liquid metal-based alloys have recently been shown to have great potential as catalysts at low temperatures across a wide range of applications, including the conversion of carbon dioxide and methane into value-added carbon-based chemicals and the breakdown of biofuels and liquid hydrocarbons like canola oil into propylene. Dr Md. Arifur Rahim, who recently joined the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Monash, has been awarded a four-year Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellowship worth $883,000 to support research on the development of liquid metal-based artificial nanozymes. Dr…

Ground has been broken on upgrades to support the Pilbara Hydrogen Hub at Port Hedland in WA. The upgrades to the Lumsden Point access road and Pinga Street intersection will support the import of wind turbine and renewable energy components into the Pilbara, as well as the export of battery metals such as lithium and copper concentrates. The new intersection is expected to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion at Lumsden Point and Pinga Street, while also facilitating the safe movement of oversize vehicles out of Lumsden Point. These projects follow the Federal and WA Government’s $140m agreement to build a hydrogen hub in the Pilbara. The combined investment will help build infrastructure to support hydrogen exports as well as…

ABB and Komatsu have signed a Strategic Collaboration Agreement to develop heavy industrial machinery solutions that can bring net zero emissions a step closer to reality. The collaboration brings two global leaders together to share industry expertise and products in a bid to create world-class solutions, ranging from renewable energy generation to fully electrified mining equipment. ABB and Komatsu’s collaboration is geared towards reducing diesel consumption and ultimately eliminating it through the electrification of mine operations. Komatsu Surface Haulage senior vice president Dan Funcannon comments on the agreement. “We’re pleased to embark on this collaboration with ABB and are excited to leverage one another’s industry leading products and technological expertise to help move mining operations toward net zero emissions, empowering…

MACA has signed a five-year agreement with Emerald Resources NL (ASX: EMR) to continue partnering on current and all future mine developments. Under the agreement, MACA has earned the first right of refusal to deliver a full range of mining services, construction and establishment works for future Emerald Resources operations. Australia West group executive David Greig comments on the agreement. “Founded upon MACA’s safe delivery of strong operational results for Emerald Resources at the Okvau Gold Project in Cambodia, this agreement is a testament to our long-standing reputation in the market as a trusted partner,” he said. “With a substantial pipeline of developments ahead, it signals an exciting period of growth for both businesses across Australia and Cambodia and a…

Following trial results at one of the largest underground gold and copper mines in the world, Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) will be expanding the use of next generation 5G wireless networks to improve safety in underground mining. In February last year, Newmont announced a trial of 5G in partnership with Ericsson and Telstra Purple at its Cadia mine in NSW. Before the trial, Cadia was limited to upload speeds of 20-30mbps using wi-fi to operate autonomous equipment such as ore loaders and remote-controlled mining machines. With unreliable and unpredictable wi-fi connections under load, there was insufficient capacity to operate the required number of machines in the one area at the same time, particularly with the amount of video upload involved,…

Image Resources (Image) (ASX: IMA) has received final approval for commencement of construction at its 100%-owned Atlas mineral sands project in WA. Image received approval of the project from the Federal Government, as well as EPA approval for the Offset Environmental Management Plan and the Banksia Woodland Rehabilitation Environmental Management Plan. Approval is anticipated in the coming weeks for the groundwater operating strategy (GOS). Approval of the GOS does not prevent commencement of on-ground construction of the processing plant and related infrastructure. Image managing director and chief executive Patrick Mutz comments on the approvals. “Receipt of these penultimate approvals for Atlas from the and EPA serve as the trigger for mobilisation of contractors and equipment to Atlas starting…

The Federal Court of Australia will stay the decision to refuse renewal of the Jabiluka mineral lease, following legal proceeding launched by Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) (ASX: ERA) over the decision not to renew its lease for the uranium mine. This follows action to establish a Reserved Land area, which will prevent future mineral titles over Jabiluka. The Reserved Land area will come into effect when ERA’s current lease expires on August 11. Jabiluka sits alongside the Ranger uranium mine, which ceased mining in 2021, marking the end of four decades of uranium oxide production. ERA is progressing a staged rehabilitation strategy that focuses upon adherence to the rehabilitation objectives as stated in the authorisation to operate. ERA believes…