Author: Samantha Bawden

WA to cut mining license rates The WA Government has passed laws to revise the tax status of miscellaneous licenses to ensure they do not attract local government rates. While land held under miscellaneous licences has long been understood to not be rateable under the Local Government Act 1995, the Supreme Court of WA has recently ruled local governments can levy rates on land held under these licences. This ruling has the potential to incur millions of dollars in additional costs for mining and exploration companies throughout the state. As a result, the WA Government is moving to...

BlueScope leading Whyalla steelworks consortium BlueScope (ASX: BSL) will lead an international consortium with global steelmakers to participate in the sale process of Whyalla Steelworks in South Australia. Under a collaboration agreement, BlueScope will work with Japan’s Nippon Steel Corporation, India’s JSW Steel and South Korea’s POSCO. Collectively the companies boast a steelmaking capacity of more than 130mt and have a $115b value in market capitalisation. BlueScope will leverage its extensive knowledge of the Australian steel industry as the consortium reviews potential options, opportunities and capital requirements. The consortium has identified Whyalla as a prospective location for future production of green iron in Australia,...

UNSW wins funding for next-gen mining methods The University of NSW (UNSW) Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering School has received $5m in funding, from the Federal Government, to establish its ARC Research Hub. The funding will aid in the development of the hub for next generation mining methods (NextGenMIN), which will focus on delivering innovative and sustainable approaches to extracting critical and strategic minerals. The Federal Government, as part of the industrial transformation research hubs scheme, announced funding for 13 new research hubs and training centres this...

Liebherr delivers complete trolley solution Liebherr Mining has commissioned a full trolley solution at Collahuasi copper mine in northern Chile. The entire solution, from infrastructure to the four T 284 trucks retrofitted with pantograph connections, was supplied by Liebherr and marks the first fully operational trolley line in Chile. Four Liebherr T 284 360-tonne mining trucks are now operating under the project’s one-kilometre trolley line. The Collahuasi site posed unique challenges when it came to designing the trolley line as it is situated at 4,500m above sea level, where it is subject to...

Image celebrates Atlas’s successful debut Image Resources (ASX: IMA) has reported a successful Q4 FY25 for its flagship Atlas mineral sands project in WA. During Q4, the project generated positive cashflow of $5m and produced 45,900dmt of heavy mineral concentrate (HMC) from 674,000t of ore processed with shipments totalling 35,359dmt — exceeding forecasts of 30,000-35,000dmt. The company recorded revenue of $22.2m, averaging $624/t, with operating costs totalling $17.1m, averaging $396/t. Image Resources chief executive Patrick Mutz says achieving positive operating cash flow in Atlas’ first quarter of operations gives the team renewed confidence...

Bowen Coking Coal enters administration Bowen Coking Coal (ASX: BCB) has announced it is closing its Burton mine complex and entering voluntary administration following unsuccessful capital raise attempts. The decision was made following the rejection of the company’s most recent submission to the Queensland Revenue Office (QRO) for the short-term deferral of royalties and the inability to secure fresh capital or negotiate alternative commercial arrangements with creditors. Bowen’s move reflects the challenging environment the Queensland coal industry is facing with higher costs, lower global coal prices and increased royalty rates introduced in 2022. The company’s...

Kalamazoo secures golden future Kalamazoo Resources (ASX: KZR) has fast-tracked a scoping study at its 1.44moz Ashburton gold project in WA. Following the conclusion of an option agreement held by De Grey Mining, acquired by Northern Star Resources (ASX: NST), Kalamazoo now wholly owns the Ashburton project and has commenced a scoping study for the optimal developmental pathway at the Mt Olympus deposit. Kalamazoo is leveraging the substantial technical work completed at the site, by De Grey and Northern Star, to accelerate the completion of the study targeted for Q4 CY25. Recent re-optimisation studies conducted at the deposit utilising the...

Warradarge wind farm enters second stage Construction has commenced on the $400m expansion of Warradarge wind farm near Eneabba, continuing WA’s clean energy transition. The expansions will create more than 120 jobs and includes the construction of 30 additional wind turbines, taking the farm’s capacity to 283MW — a 103MW increase. Warradarge has been operating 51 turbines, with a tip height of 152m and blades 67m long, and producing reliable, renewable energy since 2020. The expanded wind farm will generate significant energy for the South West Interconnected System (SWIS), powering 164,000 households each year — making it the largest wind farm in WA. WA Energy and...

WA Government greenlights Karlawinda expansion Capricorn Metals (ASX: CMM) has received regulatory approval for the development of the Karlawinda expansion project in the Pilbara region of WA. The approval allows Capricorn to undertake all expanded mining activities at the Bibra, Southern Corridor and Berwick open pits, construction and development of a new tailing storage facility, construction works of the expanded processing plant and other infrastructure development. The expansion project was developed in late 2024, and construction is expected to be completed by Q4 FY26. The project will include the installation of a new parallel three-stage crushing and ball mill circuit to increase...

NT unlocks resource rich region The Northern Territory Government is advancing major projects by opening permitting access to high-quality extractive resources at Gunn Point. Following revision of the Reserved Land status of the NT Portion 4476 (RL34137) parcel of land, the large area has been made available for new development permits. This will allow local civil and construction industries to access the materials they need to deliver critical infrastructure across the greater Darwin area, reducing costs, securing supply chains and pushing economic growth. Northern territory Mining and Energy Minister Gerard Maley says the decision eliminates red tape and superfluous processes to deliver a practical outcome....

Landmark International Graphite agreement International Graphite (ASX: IG6) is set to develop an expandable graphite facility (EGF) in Europe as an equal part joint venture with Arctic Graphite. The company has noted Germany as its preferred location for the EGF which has proposed production rates of 3,000t/y and a capital cost estimate of $8.8m. Graphite Investment Partners (GIP), a major shareholder of Arctic, has committed to arranging at least 50% of the EGF capital cost estimate in non-dilutive funding and has issued a non-binding letter of interest to arrange up to $10m in funding. Produced...