Category: Features

Gold Fields is tracking well against the 2030 environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets for its six priority ESG areas – three of them related to its people and stakeholders and the other three to the environmental impacts of its mines. The Australian Mining Review speaks with Gold Fields executive vice president of sustainable development Mariette Steyn about the company’s notable ESG achievements across its St Ives, Agnew, Granny Smith and Gruyere joint venture (JV) gold mines in WA. What are the latest updates to Gold Field’s ESG targets – and why? MS: Gold Fields is targeting a stronger representation of women across our workforce, with a 30% target by 2030. We are getting close to achieving this, with 25%…

For the second year running, FS Sustainability has released the Power50 list which lists the 50 most influential environmental, social and governance (ESG) leaders in Australia from ASX-listed companies who act on a wide variety of sustainability issues. Entrants in this year’s list are addressing challenges that need urgent attention, such as climate change, with emphasis on renewable energy and net zero targets. The professionals listed come from a wide range of companies, including financial, mining and consumer goods, just to name a few. The Australian Mining Review speaks with Bellevue Gold (ASX: BGL) chief sustainability officer Luke Gleeson about his and Bellevue’s sustainability journeys. AMR: What does it mean for you to be included in the Power50 list? LG:…

A future tier one solar evaporation project, the Mardie salt and potash project will become the first major salt project developed in Australia in over 25 years. Owned by Mardie Minerals, a wholly owned subsidiary of BCI Minerals (ASX: BCI), the project will also become the only Australian operation to produce commercially saleable salt and sulphate of potash (SOP) fertiliser. With its location on the West Pilbara coast of WA, Mardie will harness a natural seawater resource concentrated through solar and wind evaporation. Mardie has the critical characteristics for establishing a large-scale solar evaporation project, including an optimum climate, a large area and minimal environmental and heritage sensitivities. Since speaking to BCI managing director David Boshoff in January 2024, development…

Australia’s leading coal producer Whitehaven Coal (ASX: WHC) operates seven mines — six open cut and one underground — in the Gunnedah Coal Basin in NSW and Bowen Basin in Queensland. Due to its unique properties, including the fact it delivers among the lowest carbon emissions per tonne of coal consumed in the seaborne trade, Whitehaven’s coal is highly sought after across international markets, particularly Asia. Along with metallurgical coal, Whitehaven produces a premium thermal coal product, which is also high-energy, low-ash and low-sulphur, for use in high-efficiency, low emissions coal fired power stations. In the first of a two-part series on Whitehaven Coal, the Australian Mining Review looks at some of the company’s operations and development plans in NSW…

Containing more than 500mt of coal, the New Acland Coal Mine is located 35km northwest of Toowoomba in Queensland. It is operated by New Acland Coal (NAC), a subsidiary of New Hope Group. New Hope Group purchased the mine in 1999 and for the past 25 years the mine has economically contributed to the Darling Downs region. Operations at New Acland began in 2002 with the mine officially opening in March 2003 by then Queensland Premier Peter Beattie. It expanded to stage two in 2005 and by 2012 the mine produced 5.09mtpa of thermal coal. New Acland Stage Three For the past 17 years, New Hope has been advocating and fighting for the progression of stage three work and in…

With 2023 production totalling 277,694oz, Agnico Eagle Mines’ Fosterville mine in Victoria is the largest gold producer in the state. Previously owned by Kirkland Lake Gold, Angico acquired Fosterville in February 2022 following the completion of the merger between the two companies. Spanning an area of 1400km2, Fosterville hosts numerous brownfield and greenfield exploration targets. Exploration programs to date have traced only 20km of potential gold bearing structures, highlighting untapped exploration potential. Notably, the presence of visible gold becomes increasingly significant at depth and is observed more frequently below a depth of 800m within the Lower Phoenix and Harrier gold systems. History of Operations Gold was first discovered at Fosterville in 1894 with operations continuing until 1903 where the mine…

When ship hits the fan With supply chains facing ongoing severe disruptions, such as global pandemics, climate events, floods, bushfires, hostility in the Red Sea, industrial action at shipping ports, ongoing military conflicts and more, the downstream effect on businesses, consumers and the global mining industry are significant. The Australian Mining Review speaks with Dr Elizabeth Jackson, Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management at Curtin University, about the current state of global and Australian supply chains, including the big issues and big trends facing these complex logistics systems, as well as how they impact our mining sector. Sustainable supply chains Q&A with Dr Elizabeth Jackson, Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management at Curtin University AMR: Can you give us a…

Business and investment leaders have taken a pivotal step by committing to a new best practice standard in the management of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage. The Dhawura Ngilan Business and Investor Guides were launched in Canberra on March 19 by the First Nations Heritage Protection Alliance (FNHPA). Dhawura Ngilan means ‘Remembering Country’ in the Ngunnawal Language. The Guides are inspired by, and take the name from, the Dhawura Ngilan Vision, drafted by Heritage Councils across the country with the backing of the FNHPA. This Vision sets the course for First Nations heritage over the next decade. Dhawura Ngilan offers practical steps for the mining industry to integrate local knowledge and cultural heritage practices throughout a mine’s lifecycle.…

A new world-class Australian automation and robotics testing facility serving the mining sector is continuing to expand as a range of organisations, from Tier 1 miners to startups, increasingly utilise the site outside Perth. The Australian Automation and Robotics Precinct (AARP) was established by the WA Government with a goal to create a collaborative environment that nurtures the development of cutting-edge technologies and techniques to accelerate sector-wide growth and competitiveness. Test and development activity at the site ramped up significantly in 2023 and is set to continue to grow in 2024 with the opening of the Precinct Headquarters later this year. Automation and robotics in Australia’s mining sector is expected to add $74b and create 80,000 new jobs by 2030…

Located around 4km southwest of Muswellbrook in the Hunter Valley region of NSW, the Bengalla coal mine plays a significant role in supplying thermal coal to domestic and international markets. The mine is operated by the Bengalla Mining Company (BMC), which is a joint venture between New Hope Group (80%) and Taipower (20%). Operations Bengalla is a single pit open cut, multi-seam mine with product extracted using dragline, truck and excavator methods, with employees working in shifts to keep the mine operating 24hrs a day, seven days a week. In 1996, Bengalla received an initial 21-year development consent which was renewed in March 2015 and extended mining through to 2039. Once the coal is extracted, it is processed at the…

Australia’s resources industry is a pillar of the country’s economy with Australia being one of the largest exporters of coal, iron ore and bauxite. As the demand for materials grows, Australia’s drilling industry will play a key role in ensuring supply can keep up with demand. The Australian Mining Review sat down with Australian Drilling Industry Association (ADIA) chief executive Jeff Miller who provided some insight into Australia’s drilling industry and its future. AMR: Can you tell us about the current situation within Australia’s drilling industry? JM: Drilling is a bit of a mixed bag at the moment. There are some sectors that are doing really well and there are other areas that are struggling. It would be no surprise…