Author: Chloe Coutinho

Federal government approves largest solar salt project The Federal Government has granted environmental approval for BCI Minerals’ (ASX: BCI) Optimised Mardie project (OMP) in the Pilbara region of WA. The OMP will be the largest solar salt project in Australia and the third largest globally, producing 5.35mtpa of high-quality industrial salt for export with an operating life expected to exceed 60 years. The approval allows operations to commence and enables further construction in the northern area of the project footprint. BCI Minerals will commence operations by filling...

Kincora secures new ground on Australia’s premier porphyry copper-gold province Kincora Copper (ASX: KCC) has been awarded the Nyngan West, Nyngan South and Nevertire South projects in central west NSW. These new projects double Kincora’s position on the Macquarie Arc’s Northern Junee-Narromine Belt (NJNB) and provide continuous landholding along more than 100km strike of the Arc. This consolidates the immediate extensions of the Nyngan and Nevertire projects held in partnership with AngloGold Ashanti Australia. Kincora president and chief executive Sam Spring says...

Flight of capital risky for Australian mining: Northern Star’s Stuart Tonkin Northern Star Resources (ASX: NST) managing director Stuart Tonkin spoke on the company's record FY24 at the WA Mining Club August luncheon. The gold producer saw record cash earnings in FY24 of $1.8b plus revenue of $4.92b, crediting these results to the strong operational performance across its Kalgoorlie and Yandal production centres in WA, plus its Pogo production centre in Alaska. Looking forward, Mr Tonkin says one of the biggest threats...

New fee for mineral title objections 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,...

Rugby league stars sign on to support the mining industry 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...

Pilbara Ports forecasts 1mtpa capacity for Red Hawk  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...

EQ Resources hits tungsten production records  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...

Success of manufacturing depends on AI and robotics 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...

Westgold begins mining at Bluebird 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...

Queensland invests $1m to boost critical minerals ESG standards 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...

Genesis ahead of schedule at Laverton mill 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...