Author: Chloe Coutinho

‘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...

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...

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...

‘Electrification is part of our DNA’: Liebherr 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...

BHP's first electric excavator operational at Yandi 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...

Building Victoria’s clean economy workforce 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...

Indigenous agreement secures WA’s clean energy future 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...

Major contracts mark a successful year for Monadelphous 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...

Perenti reports record year of earnings 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...

McPhillamys gold project blocked 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...