Category: Features

Occurring exclusively in the Earth’s crust and core, nickel is one of the most versatile metals found on the planet. It’s used in various alloys, including stainless steel, electroplating and most recently, lithium-ion batteries. Nickel is corrosion and oxidation resistant, fully recyclable and highly ductile. It plays a critical role in enabling the transition required to reduce CO2 emissions. Nickel can be found across the entire spectrum of clean energy technologies, including geothermal, batteries for electric vehicles, energy storage, solar, wind and hydro. According to the International Energy Agency, nickel demand is expected to increase 2.1 times by 2040 to meet the need for energy storage and electric vehicles. Due to the rise in electric vehicles, the International Nickel Study…

Since its founding 20 years ago, Fortescue (ASX: FMG) has become one of the world’s largest iron ore producers and is the country’s major supplier of iron ore to China’s steel industry. Since its first shipment of iron ore departed Port Hedland, WA, to China in 2008, Fortescue now ships over 190mt of iron ore per year, with more than 2bt of iron ore delivered to its customers since its inception. Fortescue’s iron ore operations include two hematite mining hubs in the Pilbara — Chichester Hub and Western Hub — and the Iron Bridge magnetite mine, all of which are in WA. Operations Chichester Hub Fortescue’s Chichester Hub includes the Cloudbreak and Christmas Creek mines, and it has an annual…

At least 80,000 Australian mine sites remain inactive and unrehabilitated, posing unaccounted risks to the environment and safety. Efforts to ensure rehabilitation throughout the life of mining operations and to promote an effective transition to post-mining landscapes are critical for Australia to achieve its goals of being a world leader in the energy transition and in ESG standards. The Australian Mining Review speaks with The University of Melbourne’s Professor Tim Werner and Monash University’s Professor Mohan Yellishetty to understand current gaps in mining data and opportunities for disused mine sites. The mining industry is experiencing growing pains — with agility and flexibility becoming key operating requirements as demands for various minerals and materials quickly transform. The industry, which once was…

Regis Resources (ASX: RRL) reports a third consecutive year where underground growth outpaced depletion at its Duketon and Tropicana mines in WA, with major plans to ramp up and optimise its current undergrounds. Notably, Regis intends to build sustainable capacity with four or more underground mines, by identifying and testing underground and open pit targets, to reach a target of 500kozpa combined production across its Duketon and Tropicana. Regis has an operating set of infrastructure with three mills at the Duketon greenstone belt, totalling about six years of mine life. Significant underground growth potential has been identified across Duketon, driving development of underground operations through Garden Well Main and the extension at Rosemont Stage 3. In a May 2024 announcement…

Australia’s critical minerals processing As demand for the energy transition grows, so does the demand for critical minerals that make renewable energy generation and storage possible. The demand for energy transition materials has doubled in the past five years to $484b (US$320b) led by the exponential growth of electric vehicles (EVs) and the continued deployment of solar and wind energy, according to CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency. At present, a concentration in supply chains may inhibit the pace at which Australian industry can accelerate its energy transition with these technologies. Australia needs to build resilience in its critical minerals supply chains, as highlighted in CSIRO’s From Minerals to Materials: An Assessment of Australia’s Critical Minerals Mid-Stream Processing Capabilities report. The…

Steel is one of the most important and commonly manufacturered materials in the world and turning iron ore into steel is an energy intensive process that accounts for around 7% to 9% of the world’s global CO2 emissions. As one of the world’s largest iron ore producers, Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) is aiming to find more sustainable ways to produce steel whilst meeting climate objectives and reducing emissions. It’s doing this by exploring three different pathways: lowering the carbon impact of existing blast furnace technologies; speeding up emerging technologies; and researching innovative low CO2 technologies. One of Rio’s most promising options is BioIronTM. What is BioIronTM? Traditionally, iron ore and coking coal are processed and charged into a blast furnace.…

Bellevue Gold (ASX: BGL) is aiming to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2026 at its namesake Bellevue Gold project in WA. One of Australia’s highest-grade gold mines, the Bellevue gold project has a mineral resource of 3.1moz and is one of the country’s newest gold producers with first production achieved in late 2023 and only ramping up from there. Bellevue expects the project to produce more than 1.8moz of gold over its initial 10-year mine life. The Australian Mining Review spoke with Bellevue Gold managing director and chief executive Darren Stralow about the company’s namesake project and its ambitious goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions much earlier than its competitors. “Bellevue is a brand new mine…

Pantoro (ASX: PNR) has announced an 85,000m growth drilling program for FY25 at the Norseman goldfield in WA, in what promises to be an impactful year for the miner. The $25m program aims to develop four key areas to establish a third underground mine or substantially increase the size of the Scotia and OK mines during FY26. The growth program includes combined diamond and reverse circulation (RC) drilling over its existing mines, Southern mainfield, Central mainfield and Polar Bear Peninsula. Additionally, Pantoro will conduct detailed magnetic surveys in Lake Cowan to identify future exploration targets. The Australian Mining Review speaks with Pantoro managing director Paul Cmrlec about the 2025 growth program. “This is a very exciting period in the development…

Element 25 (ASX: E25) is expanding its Butcherbird processing facility in WA to 1.1mtpa of manganese oxide concentrate. This follows the release of its January 2024 feasibility study (FS) which demonstrated potential for robust economic returns and rapid capital payback. Element 25 has commenced detailed design, planning and procurement for the Stage 2 expansion project. Expansion of the Butcherbird processing facility is an important step in providing feedstock for the planned battery-grade high purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM) project to be built in Louisiana, USA. The refinery will be the first ever north American HPMSM facility in partnership with General Motors and Stellantis, two leading global manufacturers of future-facing electric vehicles (EVs). The Australian Mining Review speaks with Element 25…

Last month, the Australian Mining Review focused on Whitehaven Coal’s (ASX: WHC) existing mines, while this month the focus shifts to the recently acquired Blackwater and Daunia mines. In April 2024, Whitehaven acquired the Blackwater and Daunia mines from BHP (ASX: BHP) and Mitsubishi Development (MDP). Both mines were part of the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) metallurgical coal joint venture in Queensland. Whitehaven paid BMA a cash consideration of $3.03b (US$2b) on completion, plus a preliminary completion adjustment of $66.72m (US$44.1m) for working capital and other adjustments. There remains a $1.66b (US$1.1b) cash payment, payable by Whitehaven to BMA over three years post completion, plus a potential additional amount of up to $1.36b (US$900m) in a price-linked earnout may also…

Effective mine waste management isn’t simply about containment. It’s a complex relationship between science, technology and economic considerations which aims to minimise environmental impact, mitigate risks to human health and foster sustainable practices that endure beyond the life cycle of a mine. Whilst mining has been conducted for millennia, the storage and handling of associated waste has only in recent decades been the focus of government and public scrutiny according to Associate Professor Anita Parbhakar-Fox from the Sustainable Minerals Institute at the University of Queensland. Prof Parbhakar-Fox says if waste materials are not appropriately managed, then a wide range of related environmental issues can easily arise. “For example, if mine waste contains sulphide minerals like pyrite (FeS2) then under surficial…