Author: joanne@australianminingreview.com.au

WesTrac launches global operator challenge WesTrac has announced its WA and NSW 2025-2026 global operator challenge (GOC) dates, providing aspiring participants the opportunity to cement their place as a world-leading machine operator. The challenge sets the stage for the world’s best construction industry machine operators to showcase their skills and put new technology to the test in front of industry peers. The competition, organised by Caterpillar, consists of eight events testing a range of operator techniques from manoeuvrability to balance, providing the ultimate test of skill, control and determination. More than 140 Cat dealer competitions were held during the last challenge in 2022-2023, which attracted more than 10,000 operators from 32 countries. Goulburn’s Jack Divall and Kalgoorlie’s Jake Myers were…

Liontown (ASX: LTR) shares its quarterly activities report as ramp up continues to deliver strong performance at its Kathleen Valley lithium operations in WA. Production, cost and shipments performed well in line with expectations, with four shipments departing the port of Geraldton totalling 81,34dmt of spodumene concentrate, resulting in net cash from operating activities of $16.7m and $192.9m. The milestone of first cargo to long-term foundational customer LG Energy Solution (ASX: LGI) was achieved with the balance of shipments made to existing offtake customers and spot sale clientele. Sales revenue of $89.8m was recognised during the quarter with saleable concentrate inventories standing at almost 25kt. Open pit mining operations moved a total of 2.6mt of material, including clean ore, ore…

The Alcoa Foundation is partnering with the city of Bunbury and Gnaala Karla Boodja (GKB) Aboriginal Corporation to establish a dedicated Noongar arts space in Bunbury’s city centre, WA. This transformative grant from the Alcoa Foundation will enable the creation of a vibrant hub for First Nations art and culture, the first space of its kind in the south west region. The new Noongar arts space will serve to develop and disseminate First Nations art, building on existing support from the Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support (IVAIS) program and the WA Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSCI). By empowering First Nations artists to create sustainable livelihoods, this arts space will provide a vital platform for truth-telling and…

The NSW resources regulator has released its key compliance priorities outlining proactive assessment programs for January – June 2025. It aims to increase transparency, community and industry confidence in its regulatory activities and increase levels of voluntary compliance. Mine safety assessment programs for coal and metalliferous mines will focus on fire and explosion, air quality, roads and electrical engineering. Mining act assessment programs will concentrate on revegetation, landform establishment and decommissioning. Strategic projects outlined in the priorities include a review of the NSW mining competency system and development of the adverse vehicle interaction technical reference guide. The regulator’s approach is guided by a strategic plan and compliance enforcement strategies to ensure consistent and effective oversight. This process is in place…

Liebherr (ASX: LGL) will display more than 70 future-focused exhibits from its product segments at the ‘Hands on the future’ 2025 bauma event in Germany. This includes earthmoving machinery, material handling technology, mining, mobile and crawler cranes, tower cranes, deep foundation machines, concrete technology and components. Some of these products are already in operation, but many will be unveiling to the public for the very first time in a booth stretching more than two football pitches at bauma. The group’s earthmoving product segment proudly presents the world premiere of the T 38-7— the new generation 6 of the telescopic handler at bauma— setting new benchmarks in the segment up to 4.2t. This year, Liebherr also marks its entry into the…

Anglo American Dawson mine in Moura, Queensland held its first family and community day on January 15, 2025. Across the state, it hosted over 900 general community members and families of its workers to experience first-hand some of the labour conducted on site and to witness how the mine is investing in the future. Loved ones in matching high-vis vests were bussed in to explore massive dump trucks, a dozer and other equipment in the workshop. Visitors also got to travel to the mine’s lookout to view the pits and draglines in action. Along with being fed and watered, tents were set up for family-friendly fun activities such as kicking soccer balls through nets, operating mini diggers and scavenging for…

BHP (ASX: BHP) begins 2025 with strong underlying operational performance with copper production up 10% in H2 CY24. This boost is driven by Escondida achieving a 10-year production record, more than offsetting the impact of a weather-related power outage at Copper SA. Western Australian Iron Ore (WAIO) also shipped record tonnes through its port. This is enabled by supply chain improvements following the completion of major debottlenecking at the port. Steelmaking coal tonnes from the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) operations are also up 14%. BHP chief executive Mike Henry says it delivered safe and reliable performance in the first half. “We made further progress on our growth pathways in future facing commodities,” he said. “In January, we completed the formation…

Pilbara Minerals (ASX: PLS) will receive $15m in grant funding from the WA Government’s Investment Attraction Fund for the Mid-Stream Demonstration Plant Project at the company’s Pilgangoora lithium operation. A joint venture between Pilbara Minerals and Calix (ASX: CXL), aims to construct and operate a demonstration-scale plant featuring the world’s first industrial-scale electric spodumene calciner — decarbonising one of the most carbon-intensive processes in the battery materials supply chain. Delivering a more lithium-enriched mid-stream product has the potential for industry-wide benefits including lower carbon emissions through the reduced transport of waste, greater utilisation of the mineral resource and overall value creation. Pilbara Minerals managing director and chief executive Dale Henderson says ‘he applauds the WA Government for backing innovation and…

One of the rarest elements in the world has been identified as an effective additive to new technologies required for the global energy transition, including solar perovskite cells and lithium metal batteries. Cesium is a scarce but extremely versatile commodity which has made its name in history for developing atomic clocks used as a baseline for global timekeeping. According to the owners of the fourth known pollucite deposit in existence, the potential opportunities for use of the element are growing as demand increases for renewable energy technology. Power Metals chief executive Haydn Daxter says cesium has already found its place in the medical, aerospace and oil and gas industries, but we are starting to see an emergence of new applications…

Whitehaven Coal’s Narrabri underground mine in NSW, has successfully rehabilitated all disturbed land in its Northern Longwall mining area. 193ha brings the completion total to more than 95% of all areas that are available for rehabilitation. Narrabri Mine surface operations manager Ashley Howland says this achievement is an important milestone reflecting Narrabri’s commitment to environmental sustainability. “Progressive rehabilitation is an integral part of the life cycle of our mines as we transition land from its temporary use for mining to its post-mining use; we’re proud of what we’ve achieved,” he said. The successful rehabilitation of the Northern Longwall mining area is the result of many years of hard work by Narrabri’s Surface Civil team, in close collaboration with the Environmental…

The University of Newcastle will receive a $20.7m investment for the construction of two industrial scale spaces for technology innovation. The Future Industries Facility in Newcastle, NSW, will further establish the city as a hub for innovation, according to the Federal Government. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says this project will boost education, employment and training opportunities for Newcastle and the surrounding region. The facility will enable the university to provide a problem-solving centre for community and small businesses at a purpose-built innovation facility within its Next Gen Precinct. It will accommodate up to 16 academic-industry partnerships for rapid technology co-development from research to market across the energy, resources and manufacturing sectors, and the net zero economy. Focusing on accelerating resource…