Category: Companies

Metro Mining had completed 17 shipments from its Bauxite Hills mine by September. Image: Metro Mining. BY AMY BLOM METRO Mining is continuing its successful ramp up of Bauxite Hills mine, bolstered by strong alumina prices and high Chinese demand.  Metro Mining is shaping up to finish the year on a strong note following a number of major successes coming out of its flagship Bauxite Hills mine in QLD. The miner began first production at Bauxite Hills in April, 10 months after construction commenced, with most construction taking place in just five months. First shipment left the Port of Skardon in early May. Then in August, Metro was named the leading emerging company at the 2018 Diggers and Dealers Mining Forum. At…

The final Cliffs iron ore shipment in June. BY ELIZABETH FABRI RECORD lithium exports coupled with an eleventh hour purchase of Cliff’s closing Koolyanobbing iron ore mine has put the Southern Ports Authority – particularly Esperance – in the spotlight through 2018. Moving into the new year, opportunities are expected to continue across its diversified commodity mix. Since the amalgamation of the ports of Albany, Bunbury and Esperance in 2014, it’s been full steam ahead for the Southern Ports Authority. In FY18 total exports came to 30.9mt as the ports continued to benefit from WA’s growing economy, with newcomers such as bauxite coming on board. Iron ore, mineral sands, and nickel have been key contributors to the ports for some…

All images: Bounty Mining  BY: JESSICA CUMMINS In 2015, Bounty Mining found itself in voluntary administration; now the company has become a miner to watch, recently relisting on the ASX, with an expanded portfolio in central and far north QLD. SINCE completing the landmark acquisition of Cook Colliery and Minyango in late 2017,  metallurgical coal miner and developer Bounty Mining has gone from strength to strength. After a tough couple of years, on 15 June the miner was readmitted to the ASX, raising $18 million in an IPO at an issue price of $0.35 per share. The listing represented a turnaround for the company, and a shot in the arm for its projects in the development pipeline, including Cook North,…

All images: Iluka Resources  BY: JESSICA CUMMINS It’s been a year of delivery for Iluka Resources, with completion of its $275 million Cataby mineral sands project edging closer, and expansion plans moving forward across its Jacinth-Ambrosia and Sierra Leonean operations. PERTH based major mineral sands company Iluka Resources has its hands full with construction works in the final stages at Cataby, and development works progressing on four expansion projects. The miner finished the first half of the calendar year in a strong position, with net profit after tax of $126 million; underlying group EBITDA up 80 per cent to $279 million compared to the first half of 2017; strong free cash flow of $226 million; and a 21 per cent…

All images: Saracen Minerals  BY: JESSICA CUMMINS  Capping off FY18 with record breaking results and hitting 2.5 million ounces in gold reserves brings Saracen Minerals closer to reaching its goal of 400,000ozpa within the next five years. Saracen Minerals managing director Raleigh Finlayson speaks with The Australian Mining Review about its achievements and plans for the rest of the year. GOLD miner Saracen Minerals is in good stead with a FY18 net profit surge of 166 per cent to $75.6 million; an increase from $28.4m a year prior. Saracen Minerals managing director Raleigh Finlayson said the strong results were particularly pleasing given the miner was in a growth phase. Mr Finlayson said profit and free cash flow surged as the…

All images: Western Areas Panorama view of Western Areas Flying Fox processing plant. BY: JESSICA CUMMINS WESTERN Areas has a lot to look forward to with development pushing ahead at its new Odysseus prospect and continued exploration opportunities across its Forrestania operation, and newly acquired Western Gawler tenements. Nickel-focused miner, Western Areas, doubled its net profit from $4.8 million to $8.3 million in the second half of FY18 in line with improved nickel prices. With free cash flow of $19.1 million as of 30 June, Western Areas managing director and chief executive Dan Lougher said the company’s midterm outlook was to utilise cash on hand to accelerate exploration. Mr Lougher also had high hopes for its newly commissioned Mill Recovery…

All images: Kirkland Lake Gold  BY: JESSICA CUMMINS  KIRKLAND Lake Gold’s  Fosterville mine reported more than 140,000 ounces of gold production for the first half of 2018, representing a 33 per cent year on year increase in output. The Australian Mining Review speaks with Kirkland Lake Gold Australia vice president Ian Holland about the company’s exploration plans and outlook for the remaining of the year. Q. Since acquiring Fosterville, Kirkland Lake has managed to boost production by 70 per cent and increase the projects reserves by 210 per cent rising to 1.03 million ounces. Can you explain the key drivers behind this success?? The growth in both production and reserves at Fosterville has been directly attributable to the substantial lift…

Images: Matsa Resources BY: JESSICA CUMMINS  WITH the commencement of mining operations at its Red Dog gold mine in the Goldfields in September, junior mining company Matsa Resources has ambitions to become a large gold producing company. Jessicia Cummins spoke with Matsa Resources executive chairman Paul Poli about the miner’s plans for the near-term and its partnership with AngloGold Ashanti. Q. How does it feel to now be mining at Red Dog, and how do you respond to those that may scoff at something this size? Last year we mined the Fortitude trial pit which was the precursor for us to go to the full scale of stage two mining at Fortitude, which we hope to kick off early next…

All images: Anglo American. BY AMY BLOM AUSTRALIA’S coal industry has faced difficult times in recent years, but as coal prices stabilise, companies such as Anglo American are beginning to thrive. Less than three years ago Anglo American looked set to exit the Australian coal industry, but now its coal operations are stronger than ever, with its Moranbah mine in QLD posting record production. Anglo American metallurgical coal business chief executive Tyler Mitchelson said the company was pleased with the performance of its metallurgical coal business as the company continued to find opportunities to improve productivity. “Moranbah North five years ago was producing about 5 million tonnes (mt) of run-of-mine coal  per year, and with the same equipment and mine it…

All images: Rio Tinto. BY ELIZABETH FABRI IRON ore continues to be a key driver for Rio Tinto, delivering more than 65 per cent of its underlying earnings in the first half of 2018. Now, with coal out of the picture, the miner has plans to grow its Pilbara business and – if the right opportunity presents itself – dip its toes in the battery metals space. Rio Tinto has shed almost $US5 billion in assets from its portfolio over the last year, letting go of its Kestrel, Hail Creek and Winchester South coal projects in QLD, as well as one of its European aluminium smelters; Dunkerque. It’s a new era for the dual-listed Anglo-Australian miner. Coal has been a…

All images: Boss Resources. BY ELIZABETH FABRI BOSS Resources is the proud owner of the Honeymoon project, one of the few Australian uranium projects ready to participate in the early stages of a new bull market. We spoke with Boss Resources managing director and chief executive Duncan Craib about the mine’s restart plan, technologies chosen for processing, and his outlook for the uranium market in the near-term. Q. Take us through the re-start strategy for Honeymoon. In July 2018 the company launched the re-start strategy for the Honeymoon uranium project in South Australia, as categorised into three key phases; Phase 1: The generation of the final input data required for the DFS including the drilling program to deliver the measured…