Author: Samantha Bawden

RISE focuses on renewables Twenty Australian startups have been selected for the third round of the India Australia Rapid Innovation and Startup Expansion (RISE) Accelerator program. Delivered by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, the RISE Accelerator helps Australian startups and small to medium enterprises (SMEs) with scalable climate and environmental solutions to test, validate and commercialise their technologies in international markets, with a focus on India. The new round focuses on deployable renewable energy innovations targeting three key challenge areas: Advancing critical mineral and materials processing, recovery...

Advanced Navigation’s autonomous mining breakthrough Advanced Navigation’s Boreas D90 Inertial Navigation System (INS) and Laser Velocity Sensor (LVS) were successfully demonstrated at Europe’s deepest underground mine. As part of BHP’s (ASX: BHP) deep mining challenge, the system was sent to the Pyhäsalmi zinc and copper mine in Finland and operated between 400m and 1,400m depth across 22km of tunnel. The system maintained a position error of less than .1% of distance travelled and, in some instances, exceeded global navigation system (GNSS)-level accuracy. The Hybrid Navigation System demonstrated long-range, infrastructure-free,...

Rio Tinto boosts Indigenous employment Up to 40 Indigenous People from across Perth and the Pilbara enter Rio Tinto’s (ASX: RIO) annual Aboriginal Training and Liaison (ATAL) program for 2025. The eight-week initiative, re-launched in 2023, has been co-designed between Rio Tinto and Traditional Owners to build job-ready skills and provide access to a range of career pathways. The ATAL program combines training in safety, health and wellbeing, cultural awareness, workplace expectations and financial literacy, together with resume support and career planning to help prepare participants for employment within Rio Tinto and beyond. This...

Study to accelerate decarbonisation in Asia An industry consortium is undertaking a pre-feasibility study to assess the development of carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) hubs across Asia. The consortium is comprised of leading steelmakers ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India, JSW Steel, Hyundai Steel Company and other value chain players BHP (ASX: BHP), Chevron and Mitsui & Co. Focusing on the potential to develop large-scale projects which can repurpose, or store, captured carbon dioxide, the study will be the first independent industry-led study of its kind...

Mining begins at Reward underground Vertex Minerals (ASX: VTX) has commenced underground production at its Reward gold mine in NSW following a successful first blast over the weekend. The milestone, targeting the Lady Belmore reef, keeps the company on track to commence processing of high-grade stope ore at the gravity processing plant until full scale operations begin at Reward. The startup mine schedule, as previously announced, includes mining 2,075t at 17.8g/t of gold from a developed airleg stop block with the planned stope width the same as the interpretation of the mineralisation. Reward’s underground mining operation has a current...

Joint venture formed for LieNA tech Mineral Resources (ASX: MIN) and Livium (ASX: LIT) have established a joint venture (JV) for the commercialisation of the LieNA lithium processing technology. The technology has the potential to enhance extraction yields by 50% over current market performance by utilising recovery form fine and low-grade spodumene that is usually discarded as waste streams. Under the terms of the JV, LieNA, both companies will have a 50% stake in the ownership and commercialisation of the LieNA technology following successful pilot plant results. Livium chief executive and managing director Simon...

QRC inspires students to join resources industry The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has launched a new campaign, Shape Our Future, to increase interest in resource industry careers. The campaign aims to inspire Year 12 students and their families by highlighting how early-career professionals are contributing innovation, sustainability and real-world problem solving across the sector. Showcasing real stories, the roles profiled in the campaign include and earth science intern, a critical minerals researcher, a land access manager, a maintenance supervisor...

Innovators break records for WAIOTY 2025 The 2025 WA Innovators of the Year (WAIOTY) Awards program has seen a record number of applications. A total of 91 applications were received across five of the program's categories, representing a broad range of industries and ideas and showcasing the strength and diversity of the local innovation ecosystem. The WAIOTY program, first launched in 2006, continues to support WA startups, entrepreneurs and SMEs by profiling their work, building credibility and connecting them to commercialisation, funding and training opportunities. A total of 24 finalists have been selected by independent evaluation panels including six finalists each from the Rio...

Gold companies sweep up at Diggers & Dealers Awards The current record-breaking gold market was highlighted yesterday at the 34th Diggers & Dealers Awards with gold miners taking home the majority of awards. At the Diggers & Dealers gala dinner, De Grey Mining (ASX: DEG) took home the Dealer of the Year Award for its $5b sale of its Hemi gold project in the Pilbara, WA, to Northern Star Resources (ASX: NST) earlier this year. Ramelius Resources (ASX: RMS) was given the Digger of the Year Award for its consistent delivery on promised production and cost guidance targets consecutively for the last five years....

Liontown’s $226m Kathleen Valley ramp-up Liontown Resources (ASX: LTR) has launched a full underwritten institutional placement to support the underground transition at its Kathleen Valley lithium mine in WA. Underground production began at the site in April and, following the ramp-up, full scale underground operations are expected by September 2026. Part of the placement, which includes about 364.4m shares to raise at $0.73 per share, is a $50m investment from the Federal Government’s National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC). NRFC chief executive Davud Gall says Australia is well-positioned to be a competitive, long-term supplier of lithium to the rest of the world...

WA launches $4m GreenTech Hub The WA GreenTech Hub has formally launched with the aim of strengthening local capability and capacity in green technologies and services across the state. Led by Curtin University Institute for Energy Transition, the stand-alone facility will leverage expertise and oversee collaborations between government, industry, academia and the community by hosting innovation challenges and Curtin’s Accelerate program. The hub’s innovation challenges aim to address an industry challenge and develop solutions through expanding WA’s green technology ecosystem by connecting existing and emerging innovators. The first innovation challenge the hub will focus on is advanced energy...