Author: Chloe Coutinho

Lift the uranium ban: Cauldron Energy’s Jonathan Fisher Cauldron Energy chief executive Jonathan Fisher advocated for uranium mining in Australia at the WA Mining Club July luncheon. Mr Fisher argues uranium mining is essential to decarbonisation and cites the Federal ban on nuclear energy and WA ban on uranium as roadblocks in achieving emissions reduction goals. “The nuclear industry globally is now awake,” he said. “That is driven by decarbonisation because other than hydro, nuclear is the only mass available, baseload generating, zero carbon source which is on 24/7.” Following the triple nuclear pledge signed at COP28 — which saw 22 countries pledging...

Alcoa acquires Alumina Alcoa Corporation (ASX: AAI) has completed its acquisition of Alumina, cementing itself as a leading pure play, upstream aluminium company. Alcoa president and chief executive William F. Oplinger says the company is proud to announce the completion of its first major acquisition. “The acquisition of Alumina strengthens Alcoa's position as one of the world’s largest bauxite and alumina producers and is expected to result in long-term value creation from greater financial and operational flexibility,” he said. “I want to thank both the Alcoa and Alumina teams,...

Westgold and Karora complete merger Westgold Resources (ASX: WGX) and Karora Resources have completed their merger to create a leading mid-tier gold producer and international gold company. This follows Westgold’s acquisition of 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Karora. Westgold managing director and chief executive Wayne Bramwell says this marks the next phase of Westgold’s evolution into a larger, unhedged and well-funded Australian gold producer. “Our value proposition is significantly enhanced with an expanded team, quality operating assets and an enviable pipeline of exploration prospects across two of Australia’s most productive gold fields,” he said. “The merger with Karora upsizes our WA operating...

WA CME: Agility needed for energy edge The WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) has released its report on risks to WA’s investment-readiness, highlighting the need for turnkey industrial areas. The Australian Venture Consultants report commissioned by the WA CME examined a range of industrial precincts in competing jurisdictions. The report found the lack of fully equipped strategic industrial areas (SIAs) was severely hampering WA’s ability to attract investment. WA CME chief executive Rebecca Tomkinson says the intense global competition in critical minerals and clean energy supply chains means that investment incentives and project-ready industrial precincts offer a significant competitive advantage. “One of the key factors hindering WA’s agility to respond to market needs and have projects up and...

Orica to halve Yarwun emissions Orica (ASX: ORI) announced a project to eliminate about 50% of greenhouse emissions at its Yarwun manufacturing facility in Queensland. By deploying tertiary abatement technology Orica expects to eliminate about 200,000t of carbon dioxide equivalent annually. The installation of two tertiary abatement reactors is expected to reduce Australia’s overall industrial chemical sector emissions by 4% and Queensland’s emissions for the same sector by about 16%, according to Orica. (Image source: Orica) Orica says this tertiary abatement will provide customers with lower carbon intensive products and enable...

Poseidon pivots to gold Poseidon Nickel (ASX: POS) has identified promising gold targets at all three WA projects as the company looks towards production. A large gold anomaly was defined at Lake Johnston, following the terminated Mineral Resources (ASX: MIN) deal. The 1.2km by 0.9km gold in soil anomaly remains open and untested by drilling. Gold rock chip samples at Windarra returned up to 0.37g/t gold and 12.9g/t gold. Windarra contains strike extensions to the main mineralised gold trend which controls nearby gold camps. A potential 6.5km gold corridor was also identified at Black Swan. A metal detecting program has recovered several small gold...

Fortescue and COSCO SHIPPING’s MoU for decarbonisation Fortescue (ASX: FMG) and COSCO SHIPPING signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding to work together on decarbonising shipping. The companies will explore the construction and deployment of COSCO SHIPPING vessels, or co-owned vessels, powered by green ammonia to reduce the Australia-China iron ore green shipping corridor’s emissions. Fortescue Metals chief executive Dino Otranto comments on the agreement. “The shipping industry plays a vital role in global trade however also contributes significantly...

UGL reaches milestone in connecting Collie UGL has completed commissioning and readiness for energisation for the construction of Neoen Australia’s Collie Battery Stage 1 in WA. The battery will connect to Western Power’s Shotts Terminal substation, enhancing the region’s power distribution network. Work at Collie battery Stage 1 commenced in April 2023 and is expected to finish later this year. The project encompasses the installation of 219MW/877MWh battery of Tesla Energy Megapacks, coupled with the establishment of a new 33/330kV High Voltage Substation. UGL project manager Diego Cortes Ferrer comments on the progress. “This...

MinRes: record lithium shipments in Q4 Mineral Resources (MinRes) (ASX: MIN) reports a productive Q4, with record lithium shipments and high lithium prices across all operations. WA lithium operations Wodgina and Mt Marion both reported record shipments up 41% and 46% respectively from Q4 of 2023. Lithium operations benefitted from high prices, with a weighted average realised price across all operations of about $1479/dmt (US$970/dmt) in Q4, an increase of 15% from Q3. Total quarterly iron ore shipments increased by 6% from Q3 to 18.1Mwmt within guidance, with MinRes delivering its first iron ore on ship ahead of schedule from Onslow iron in WA. MinRes...

No more mining at Jabiluka Energy Resources of Australia’s (ASX: ERA) (ERA) lease for the Jabiluka uranium mine in the Northern Territory will not be renewed, based on advice from the Federal Government. ERA applied for a 10-year renewal for the mine, which it previously held for 42 years. A planned Reserved Land area prevents future mineral titles over Jabiluka, according to a May announcement from the Northern Territory Government. The Reserved Land area will come into effect when ERA’s current lease expires on August 11. Northern Territory Mining Minister Mark Monaghan comments on the decision. “We have gone through...