Category: Headline

AS the world’s largest industrial auctioneer, Ritchie Bros conducts hundreds of unreserved public auctions around the world each year, selling billions of dollars worth of heavy equipment for clients in the mining, construction, transportation and other industries. Ritchie Bros takes pride in getting big results for sellers: its average auction features more than 1200 equipment items from 175 consignors. The selection of equipment available, together with Ritchie Bros’ reputation for conducting fair, honest unreserved public auctions, attracts an average of almost 1500 local, national and international bidders to each auction. Competing on-site and online bidders from around the world ensure sellers achieve global market value for their assets. Sellers also benefit from certainty of sale, with every item sold to…

AS the complexity of mining project developments increase, finding an accurate balance between a project’s scope and budget without compromising safety or quality is crucial. HRES provides cost engineering and project management solutions tailored to the mining and construction industries, government agencies, engineering consultants, project owners and financiers at all stages of a project. HRES’s employees boast a range of independent expertise gained during many years of scope definition, estimating, planning, controlling, managing and delivering an array of construction and business solutions. This experience and strong knowledge base is supported by the company’s extensive and innovative development and use of a range of specialist scoping, estimating, scheduling, project control and project delivery software. HRES has an impressive client base including…

THIS year marks a significant milestone for Broome Aviation, with the company celebrating its thirtieth year in operation. The company maintains a large fleet of 23 aircraft, including Australia’s largest single holding of Cessna 208 Remove Grand Caravan aircraft, and undertakes constant system improvements to ensure it remains at the forefront of service and safety. Broome Aviation’s fleet includes aircraft suitable for remote land or water-based use, including twin engine and turbo powered planes designed to land on short airstrips and uplift large payloads. The company also provides on-site maintenance and the only comprehensive aviation stores facility in the region. Broome Aviation has operated continuously since 1982, making it the longest established aviation company in Broome.

FOR most people with a ‘bucket list’, seeing the Great Pyramids of Egypt is a travel priority. A tribute to the greatness of one of the world’s oldest civilisations, the beauty, size and sheer magnificence of these monuments is breathtaking, and while the Pyramids are usually the first thing that comes to mind when people think of Egypt, there is so much more that the wonderful destination has to offer. Despite a politically turbulent 2011, the situation in Egypt in 2012 has dramatically stabilised, allowing the country to confidently welcome back travellers and provide the level of safety, comfort and genuine hospitality that has previously been enjoyed in the past. Families, couples and solo travellers alike are flocking back to…

A new partnership between UGM Group Australia and Mines Rescue, a division of Coal Services, will provide would-be miners with better hands-on experience through a specialised induction. The CoalStart program, launched on June 26 by Resources and Energy minister Christopher Hartcher, is a three week course based in Newcastle, NSW, that takes place on the Teralba mine site and is overseen by a statutory mine manager. UGM Group training centre manager Brad Phillips, who has worked in underground mines for more than 21 years, said the program was developed by experienced miners. “Our program is very consistent with how a mine site actually works. I was very instrumental in the design in a lot of the program,” Mr Phillips said.…

Canadian miner Barrick Gold has named Ammar Al-Joundi as executive vice president and chief financial officer. Mr Al-Joundi has more than 20 years of experience in corporate finance and banking within the mining industry, with extensive expertise in capital markets, business strategy, financial controls and mine operations. Mr Al-Joundi spent 11 years at Barrick before leaving in 2010 to take on the roles of senior vice president, finance and chief financial officer for Agnico-Eagle Mines. In his new role with Barrick Mr Al-Joundi succeeds Jamie Sokalsky, who was recently promoted as the company’s president and chief executive. Iron ore explorer Centrex Metals has announced a change to its senior management team: Former general manager, commercial Phillip Staveley has assumed the…

BASE and precious metals explorer Silver City Minerals took its name from Broken Hill’s famous Silver City, home to one of the world’s largest natural accumulations of silver, lead and zinc. Silver City’s primary targets are high grade silver, gold and base metal deposits close to the town of Broken Hill in NSW. The district was originally known for its numerous small, but very high grade, silver vein deposits known as Thackaringa type veins, where very high grades of silver were often reported. The rocks that host the historic Broken Hill deposit, made famous for its association with BHP Billiton (originally named Broken Hill Proprietary), are known collectively as the Willyama Supergroup. They underlie much of the district and host…

THE Pilbara region of WA contributed more than $49 billion to Australia’s economy in 2010, and this figure is set to quadruple within 10 years as further mega resource projects come online. The Pilbara has become an export powerhouse in its own right, but with a population of 50,000 people spread across an area that covers more than 500,000 square kilometres – twice the size of Victoria – exponential growth has created a number of pressures on the local economy that require solutions from all facets of industry, government and the community. The Karratha and Districts Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KDCCI) is an independent not-for-profit organisation that promotes the interests of members and the business community in the Shire…

BUSINESSES needing to grow their workforce should look no further than Apprenticeships Australia (AA): the organisation produces high quality, skilled and safe individuals who can meet any organisation’s needs. AA is a registered Group Training Organisation that provides professional apprentice and trainee recruitment and employment services. It supports employers throughout Australia operating across a diverse range of industries and occupations, with a focus on facilitating employment, managing training and offering extensive support and advice to both companies and employees. For nearly 20 years, AA has demonstrated a track record of delivering the best outcomes for business and individuals by assisting apprentices and trainees and helping employers build skilled workforces. Workforce development is more than simply filling a skills need: it…

WITH an outstanding track record of supplying large projects since its inception, Mobile Concreting Solutions (MCS) has gone from strength to strength and is well placed for further growth in coming years. A proudly Australian-owned ISO9001 Quality and NATA accredited company that has serviced the WA construction industry since 2008, MCS has capitalised on the growth in WA’s North West to become a prominent concrete supplier for remote area projects throughout the state. MCS operates a reliable fleet of agitator trucks, road trains, mobile batching equipment and ancillary support plant to handle large resource projects. The company has the capacity, staff and management systems to service several major projects at once. Currently Mobilised at Fortescue Metals Group’s Solomon Hub project,…

CURRENTLY ranked by Forbes as the third-richest person in Australia, Fortescue Metals Group chairman Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest has achieved a number of milestones during his career. He pioneered the discovery of more than 10 billion tonnes of iron in WA’s Pilbara; undertook the largest non-investment grade high-yield project finance bond ever raised in the Asia Pacific region; and facilitated the construction of a multi-user deepwater port, the world’s heaviest haul railway and two mines. He has been a strong advocate of job creation for indigenous Australians and has taken on the cause of fighting the Minerals Resource Rent Tax (MRRT). Mr Forrest began his career in stockbroking and mining: founding Anaconda Nickel (now known as Minara Resources) and becoming the…