Author: Kate Christian

A new copper mine and key enabler projects are edging closer to construction as high commodity prices drive investment in Queensland’s North West Minerals Province. Grand Central Industries’ government-supported Inland Port Project is rapidly approaching financial close and is forecast to commence construction in Q4 2021. The critical 333ha project will significantly debottleneck about $13b of pre-existing Queensland government-owned rail and port infrastructure—the Mt Isa Railway and Port of Townsville. Located 7km east of Cloncurry, the project is expected to have a material economic, commercial and environmental impact to the collective benefit of all stakeholders across the supply chain. Grand Central Industries CEO Josip Obajdin said the project provided for an essential, catalytic platform to enable the region’s further economic...

As the worldwide movement towards a zero-emission global economy gathers momentum, hydrogen is increasingly being thrust into the limelight as the new pathway to decarbonisation. On May 5, the Australian Government allocated more than $100m to three ‘green’ hydrogen pilot projects as it aims to position the nation as a clean hydrogen-producing powerhouse by 2030. This followed the release of its Technology Investment Roadmap, which singled out hydrogen as one of five priority technologies to accelerate development and commercialisation of low emission technologies. The private sector is also ploughing money into research and development to improve the economic viability and scalability of the ‘fuel of the future’ with several world-first projects happening around Australia. The Australian Mining Review spoke to...

The latest innovations in mining took centre stage at the Austmine Conference and Exhibition in one of the first major face-to-face events for the resources industry since the pandemic began. Held at the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre on May 25-27, Austmine 2021: Harnessing Intelligence allowed mining leaders to connect over strategic priorities and emerging technologies to drive a sustainable future for the industry. About 1000 local, national and international guests were wowed by cutting edge innovation developed by Australia’s leading Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS) companies as they wondered the corridors of the massive exhibition hall. The brightest minds in the industry explored the intersection between people, processes and technology and how these important elements contribute to leaner,...

Fortescue Metals Group’s diesel usage would exceed one billion litres annually in just a few years if it did not pursue greener energy sources. The staggering figure was highlighted by the company’s Director of Sustainability Alison Terry at WA Mining Club’s May luncheon. Ms Terry said this is why FMG was moving "very rapidly" towards green energy, and particularly green hydrogen, initiatives. These initiatives would be advanced by Fortescue Future Industries, a wholly owned subsidiary of FMG that Ms Terry said was founded, from a business perspective, on the basis of FMG being an export-based business. "Hydrogen and green hydrogen in particular is a massive export opportunity for Australia,’’ she said. "And with decarbonisation, we also have the ability to...

The green energy arm of Fortescue Metals Group is investigating a green ammonia supply chain between Australia and Japan. Fortescue Future Industries, IHI Engineering Australia and IHI Corporation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore export avenues between Tasmania and the world's third largest economy. The parties will jointly assess the economic and technical feasibility of supplying green ammonia produced in Bell Bay to Japan for blending into existing power generation. Work under the MOU is a crucial stepping stone to FFI’s feasibility and development program for the 250MW green hydrogen and ammonia Bell Bay project, which will have capacity to produce 25,000 tonnes of green ammonia each year. Ammonia is considered ‘green’ when it is produced carbon-free...

Hexagon Energy Materials is now fully funded to complete the Pre-Feasibility Study and drilling at the Pedirka Blue Hydrogen Project in the Northern Territory. Hexagon aims to produce the blue hydrogen required to support the conversion to clean energy economies over the coming decades. The plan is to convert the underground coal resource to hydrogen for export and domestic markets. With its proximity to existing oil and gas infrastructure offering advantages for large scale hydrogen production, the company will use a zero-carbon emissions steam reformation process to produce clean hydrogen. Carbon dioxide emissions will be captured and sequestered underground or used for enhanced oil recovery projects. Hexagon has commenced the Pre-Feasibility Study in partnership with Technip Energies. The scope of...

South Australia remains among the world’s most attractive jurisdictions for mining and mineral exploration investment, according to the Fraser Institute’s influential annual survey. The latest survey, released on February 23, ranks the state seventh out of 78 mining regions, with Nevada topping the list and WA coming in fourth place. South Australia ranked eighth on the Best Practices Mineral Potential Index, which rates the jurisdiction based on how much its geology encourages exploration investment. The survey is a massive vote of confidence in the mining industry, which plays a crucial role in driving economic development, investment, exploration and export opportunities for the state. In 2018-2019, the production value of mining contributed $6.9b to South Australia’s economic development, $311m in royalties...

When prospector Edward Hargraves made the first Australian payable gold discovery in Ophir in 1851, it was the making of Orange and many other nearby towns in regional NSW. It triggered the Australian gold rush and an unprecedented jobs boom, which saw the population of Orange balloon from 28 to 2701 in three decades. Fast forward 170 years and gold is still a key source of employment and prosperity in the area with several exciting projects on the horizon. Newcrest Mining is pushing full-steam ahead with stage two of its expansion project at Cadia, which is one of Australia's largest gold mines. The $175m project primarily comprises the addition of a second coarse ore flotation circuit in concentrator one and...

RemSense’s Virtual Plant is a photographic virtual reality platform that enables companies to view their assets in extraordinary high resolution. Accessible on laptops, phones and VR headsets, Virtual Plant creates a visual ‘fabric’ that users can move through, viewing assets in detail as they appear on site, without any rendering or use of 3D models. Virtual Plant has been deployed across several sites in WA, where it has improved maintenance planning, enabled remote pre-inspection and reduced site visits for employees and contractors. With a surprisingly low set-up cost, and fast implementation without the need for any specialised hardware, software or training, Virtual Plant is a quick win for sites looking to improve efficiency without a huge outlay or long payback...