Author: Chloe Coutinho

Rio Tinto continues to improve in Q2 Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) has released its Q2 production results, emphasising significant upgrades to safety and operations. The report highlights investments in HSE, the energy transition and decarbonisation. Rio Tinto also reported improving iron ore production in the Pilbara for Q2, with 79.5mt produced, up 2% from Q1 of 2024. Safety Rio Tinto chief executive Jakob Stausholm says the company’s operational performance is continuing to progress. “While there are still significant improvements ahead, we are beginning to see a step-change in production, including from our Queensland bauxite business following the roll-out of the Safe Production System...

Rio Tinto moves forward with $9.2b Simandou investment All conditions have now been satisfied for Rio Tinto’s (ASX: RIO) investment to develop the Simandou high-grade iron ore deposit in Guinea. This investment will be the largest greenfield integrated mine and infrastructure investment in Africa. More than 600km of new co-developed rail with port facilities will allow the export of up to 120mtpa of mined iron ore by Simfer and WCS from their respective Simandou mining concessions. Rio Tinto Guinea and copper executive committee lead Bold Baatar says they are thankful for the Government of Guinea, Chinalco, Baowu and...

Rio Tinto to power the Pilbara with 80MW solar farm Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation (NAC) and Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) will develop an 80MW solar farm on Ngarluma Country near Karratha, WA. The project will supply renewable energy to Rio Tinto’s iron ore operations in the Pilbara region and is expected to be located next to Rio Tinto’s Yurralyi Maya power station. This marks an essential step in Rio Tinto’s energy transition. Rio Tinto estimates 600MW to 700MW...

SuperGrid cadetships open to high schoolers in remote and regional Queensland The Queensland Government is inviting high school students to apply for a cadetship on Queensland’s SuperGrid. Following a successful pilot across South West Queensland this year, Ergon Energy Network and Energex, in partnership with TAFE Queensland, are expanding the program across regional and remote Queensland in 2025. Through the Ergon Energy Network and Energex 2025 Pre-apprenticeship Program, students will learn from experienced TAFE Queensland trainers and Ergon Energy Network and Energex experts during weekly online workshops and on-campus practical days, complemented by real-world experience...

Liontown secures another key offtake deal Liontown Resources (ASX: LTR) has secured a 10-month offtake agreement with Beijing Sinomine International Trade Co. (BSIT) to purchase ramp-up volumes. The 100,000dmt supply of spodumene concentrate will come from Liontown’s Kathleen Valley lithium project in WA. This agreement is in addition to existing long-term offtake contracts with Tesla, LG Energy Solution and Ford which will be progressively brought into effect over the next 12 months as Liontown ramps-up Kathleen Valley to full-production. Liontown managing director and chief executive Tony Ottaviano says...

BHP pauses WA nickel BHP (ASX: BHP) will temporarily suspend WA nickel operations citing the global oversupply of nickel. Despite significant capital investments since FY20, BHP states they have not been able to overcome the sharp decline in nickel prices driven by increased international competition and reduced demand. BHP intends to review the temporary suspension by February 2027. The transition period will commence from July 2024, with operations to be suspended in October and handover activities for temporary suspension completed by December this year. During the transition, BHP...

MinRes shines at mine emergency rescue competition Mineral Resources (MinRes) (ASX: MIN) won the firefighting event in the surface mine emergency rescue competition run by the WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) in Coolgardie. The event allows teams to compete in vehicle extrication, hazardous material response, confined space rescue, rope rescue, team skills, theory, mass casualty first aid and incident management. This was the first year MinRes had entered a team in the competition, winning the firefighting event in which participants worked...

Impact Minerals progressing $1.3b high-purity alumina project Impact Minerals (ASX: IPT) has confirmed the WA Lake Hope high purity alumina (HPA) pre-feasibility study (PFS) is on schedule for completion by the end of 2024. In a recent update to its PFS, Impact Minerals identified significant progress on the mine, the process plant and product development, offtake and marketing. The project has an estimated post-tax net present value of about $1.3b with a benchmark production of 10,000tpa of HPA which would make it one of the lowest-cost producers globally by a significant margin. Location of the Lake...

Rio Tinto contributes $40m towards WA hospitals Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) will contribute an additional $20m to the WA Government to redevelop the Paraburdoo hospital in the Pilbara region. Rio Tinto’s contribution to the Paraburdoo Hospital will come from the company’s $250m commitment to the WA Government’s Resources Community Investment Initiative (RCII). The major redevelopment of the Paraburdoo Hospital is the first project through the RCII to receive funding. The partnership will see the ageing Paraburdoo Hospital upgraded with contemporary purpose-built facilities to support medical services for the local community, including new rooms for the GP. The project will be packaged with Rio Tinto’s previous $20m commitment to a new Tom Price hospital. Rio Tinto rail, ports and core services...

JL Mag invests $7m in Hastings Chinese JL Mag Rare-Earth will own 9.8% of Hastings (ASX: HAS) as well as a seat on its board following a $7m investment in the company. The investment proceeds will be used to advance the Yangibana rare earths project in WA toward production and supplements the $16m previously raised in April 2024. Hastings has already completed the construction of the mine infrastructure for the Yangibana project. The company plans to complete the project debt funding and start construction of its beneficiation plant in Q4 2024. The plant...

XRF to achieve 100% ownership of Orbis WA based XRF Scientific (ASX: XRF) will acquire the remaining 50% of Orbis Mining in an acquisition valued at $3.91m. XRF states this is a low risk, bolt-on acquisition with highly complementary products as the majority of XRF’s existing customers require laboratory jaw crushers like those produced by Orbis. XRF acquired its initial 50% shareholding for $800,000 in 2021. Since then, Orbis has grown significantly and continues to gain market share. In FY21, Orbis produced unaudited...