Author: Chloe Coutinho

Rio Tinto consumes about 1.6b litres of diesel annually, around two-thirds in the Pilbara.

Rio Tinto flags Middle East conflict after strong Q1

Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) posted a 9% year-on-year increase in copper equivalent production and its second-highest Q1 Pilbara iron ore production since 2018, up 13% year-on-year.

The MCA says progression of critical mineral projects requires policy settings that enable investment to proceed at scale, support skilled workforce development, maintain local and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business participation and ensure that long-life projects can anchor the population levels, services and infrastructure that communities rely upon.

MCA calls for critical minerals reform

The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) has called on the Federal Government to reform critical minerals project approvals, warning that opportunities will only translate into regional economic strength if projects can move from approval to construction and into long-term operation.

In Q1 CY26, the Geelong Refinery operated at full production with a crude intake of 10.2MBBL.

Geelong refinery fire forces output cuts

Viva Energy’s (ASX: VEA) Geelong refinery will operate at reduced capacity in the short term following a fire last week, with diesel, jet fuel and petrol production all impacted.

Alcoa expects 2026 total alumina segment production and shipments to remain unchanged from its prior projection, ranging between 9.7-9.9mt and between 11.8-12.0mt respectively.

Middle East conflict weighs on Alcoa shipments

Alcoa’s (ASX: AAI) first quarter aluminium shipments fell 8% while alumina shipments fell 31%, partly due to shipping delays linked to war in the Middle East and Cyclone Narelle.

NRW successfully completed the acquisition of Fredon Industries in September 2025.

NRW’s Fredon books $160m in contracts

Fredon, a wholly owned subsidiary of NRW Holdings (ASX: NWH), has secured five electrical and mechanical contracts with a combined value of about $160m.

The refinery supplies more than 50% of Victoria’s and 10% of Australia’s fuel and can process up to 120,000bbls of oil per day, according to Viva Energy.

Fire breaks out at one of Australia’s two oil refineries

A major fire broke out at Viva Energy’s (ASX: VEA) Geelong oil refinery just after 11pm last night, with the blaze now contained to the area of origin.

Geoscience Australia has received more than 2300 reports of tremors.

Record-breaking quake halts operations at NSW gold mine

Newmont (ASX: NEM) has halted underground operations at its Cadia gold mine following a 4.5-magnitude earthquake in the area last night.

KCG indirectly owns 100% of KCR. KCR holds an 80% participating interest in the unincorporated joint venture that owns the Kestrel coal mine, with the remaining 20% held by Mitsui Kestrel Coal Investment.

Yancoal to acquire Queensland coal mine for $2.5b

Yancoal (ASX: YAL) will acquire an 80% interest in the Kestrel coal mine as part of its acquisition of KCG.

The expansion will enable Butcherbird to supply manganese concentrate feedstock for Element 25’s planned battery high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM) processing facility in Louisiana, US.

Element 25 brings in $18m for Butcherbird

Element 25 (ASX: E25) has secured commitments for an $18m share placement to fund the expansion of its Butcherbird manganese project in WA to 1.1mtpa of manganese oxide concentrate.

Lakewood will process 100% Black Cat ore from Fingals and Majestic.

Black Cat kicks off processing at Kal East

Black Cat Syndicate’s (ASX: BC8) Lakewood processing facility has begun processing ore from its Fingals open pit and Majestic underground mines in WA.

The engineering company has been providing services to Queensland Alumina for more than 30 years.

Monadelphous secures $145m in contracts

Monadelphous (ASX: MND) has been awarded new contracts and contract extensions with Rio Tinto, BHP, Queensland Alumina and Harmony Gold.