Author: Samantha Bawden

$4.5b WA wheatbelt wind farm advances Synergy has applied to develop its Tathra wind farm, a 2GW combined solar and wind project, with the WA Government after receiving consent for land usage from nine farm owners. The state-owned company’s proposed project, located 300km north of Perth near Eneabba, includes 140 wind turbines with a generation capacity of up to 1000MW, up to 1,000,000 solar photo-voltaic (PV) panels with 500MW of solar capacity and lithium-ion batteries with a 500MW capacity. Synergy’s planning documents state that by co-locating wind turbines, solar panels and a battery energy storage system...

FMG renews Shooting Stars partnership Fortescue (ASX: FMG) continues to support First Nations girls across regional WA through its partnership with Shooting Stars and the Port Hedland Academy aimed at providing access to life-changing opportunities. Shooting Stars began in Halls Creek as a Netball WA pilot program, now 10 years on, it supports more than 1000 First Nations girls and young women across 21 sites in WA and South Australia. While the program is still part of Netball WA, Shooting Stars has evolved into a holistic social and emotional wellbeing program. By partnering with host schools and providing participants with advocacy,...

Westgold to increase production by 25% Westgold (ASX: WGX) has delivered a high confidence plan that lifts annual gold production at its WA projects from 326koz to 470koz by FY28. Underpinned by the company’s ore reserves of 56mt at 1.93g/t gold for 3.5moz of gold, the plan will see increased output from the company’s four existing processing hubs, currently operating at a 6mtpa capacity, fed from its operating mines and ore purchase agreement. Westgold managing director and chief executive Wayne Bramwell says the outlook provides a baseline for a larger, more...

Weir unveils new ENDURON crushers Weir, a global leader in mining technology, has launched a new range of ENDURON jaw and cone crushers, developed in close collaboration with customers to address their most pressing operational challenges. This customer-first approach has resulted in equipment that enhances safety, boosts productivity, simplifies maintenance, and supports sustainability goals. The updated ENDURON  jaw crushers now feature a redesigned Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU), which allows for true pushbutton control of CSS adjustments. This innovation eliminates the need for manual intervention, significantly reducing safety risks for operators and maintenance teams....

Queensland advances $1.23b graphite project The Queensland Government is advancing a major project in North Queensland with the release of the environmental impact statement (EIS) terms of reference for Graphinex’s Esmerelda graphite project. Subject to approval, the project could extract up to 3.5mtpa of ore to produce about 25mt of graphite concentrate over a 50-year project life, creating up to 100 construction jobs and 113 operational jobs at peak production. Queensland Deputy Premier and State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie says the Queensland Government is committed to backing projects that supercharge the economy...

Weir partners with Viking Analytics Weir has entered a strategic collaboration agreement with Viking Analytics to enhance its digital offering for mineral processing plants. This partnership will significantly enhance Weir’s NEXT intelligent solutions — the company’s comprehensive digital offering designed to transform mineral processing through real-time data, predictive analytics and process optimisation. By integrating Viking’s advanced machine learning technology, Weir will facilitate predictive maintenance solutions, ensuring uptime and production are maximised. Weir senior director Ole Knudsen says the company is committed to building a more sustainable future in mining through strategic partnerships with companies that...

AREEA calls for regulatory red-tape cutting A new forecast has warned of future growth risks in Australia’s mining and energy workforce, underpinned by weakening project pipelines and global competition for investment. Resources and Energy Workforce Forecast: 2025–2030, released today by the Australian Resources and Energy Employer Association (AREEA), shows 96 major projects are expected to commence production between late 2025 and 2030 — valued at $129.5b. These projects are forecast to create demand for 22,279 new operating phase jobs, lifting the national resources and energy workforce by just 7.1% by 2030 — the...

Fleet Space’s off-world exploration target Fleet Space Technologies has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ExLabs to deploy its off-world exploration technologies to survey the asteroid Apophis. The technologies will be used as part of ExLabs’ ApophisExL mission, planned for launch in 2028, representing a step toward advancing the science of off-world exploration and planetary defence while building essential capabilities for the development of a sustainable space resources economy. Apophis, a near-Earth asteroid with an...

Sandvik fleet to drive efficiency in Zimbabwe Sandvik has been contracted by Zimplats, Zimbabwe’s largest platinum group metals producer, to supply 28 pieces of underground equipment for its Ngezi mines. The order, to be booked in the Q3 CY25, includes 12 Toro LH209L loaders, six Sandvik DD211L development jumbos, five Sandvik DS211L-V bolters, three Toro TH545i trucks and two Sandvik TH430L trucks with deliveries scheduled between the Q3 CY25 and Q2 CY26. The agreement also covers parts and services kits to support long-term equipment performance. Located in the Hartley Geological Complex on...

BHP Xplor applications open BHP (ASX: BHP) has officially opened applications for the 2026 cohort for its accelerator program aimed at transforming the discovery of critical minerals — BHP Xplor. Launched in 2024, the program is designed to accelerate participants' exploration opportunities while fostering long-term connections with BHP. Ambitious teams and individuals dedicated to uncovering new sources of critical minerals essential for a sustainable future are invited to apply for the 2026 intake. Participants benefit from up to $750,000 in equity-free funding, expert mentorship and...

FMG launches zero-emissions roadmap Fortescue (ASX: FMG) has launched the third iteration of its climate transition plan at the Global Renewables Summit in New York as part of Climate Week NYC. The event was organised by Climate Group and Fortescue, with support from the Global Renewables Alliance, and was attended by heads of state, government leaders, business executives and financiers discussing ways to accelerate the deployment of zero-emissions technologies and unlock the full potential of the renewable energy transition. Fortescue’s updated plane...