Category: Developments

AUTONOMOUS excavators have begun work in Queensland in an Australian first, digging pipeline trenches across the Surat Basin. It follows a successful trial by MPC Kinetic in late 2019 of a 30t excavator operating fully-autonomously and guided by artificial intelligence (AI). MPC Kinetic will partner with Built Robotics, the developer of the AI technology, to roll out a fleet of fully-automated excavators. MPC Kinetic business unit leader Richard Butler said the move to autonomous equipment is part of a progressive step for the wider industry. “We see autonomous earthmoving equipment as the key to building a new era of construction here in Australia,” he said. “It’s not about replacing our people, it’s about freeing up our skilled workers from simple,…

A $189M new high purity alumina (HPA) plant will be established in Kwinana, WA, by FYI Resources, with about 30pc of the financing secured from a European private fund. Luxembourg’s GEM Global Yield, a US$3.4b alternative investment group, will be financing $80m or about 30pc of the cost to build the proposed Kwinana plant. First production of HPA is targeted in the second quarter of 2022, with the company aiming to produce up to 8000tpa. FYI Resources managing director Roland Hill says the company is pleased to secure significant equity funding, which will de-risk the project by providing funding access at critical development stages. “Our definitive feasibility study outcome was outstanding, with results within five pc of our pre-feasibility study…

PERTH Mint’s client holdings has topped $5b amid share market volatility resulting from the coronavirus outbreak. The amount equates to almost 50t of fine gold and 1020t of fine silver that Perth Mint is managing for its clients. Perth Mint chief executive Richard Hayes said investors are looking to gold as a safe haven asset to protect their wealth. “We expect fears about COVID-19 and its impact on the world economy could support the price of gold into the foreseeable future,” he said. “We refine more than 90pc of Australian’s newly mined gold and in excess of 10pc of global production. “The increased demand for precious metals is welcome news for a vital sector of Australia’s economy, the gold mining…

THE WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CMEWA) will today host the first crisis meeting among WA’s biggest resource companies to coordinate a response to the risk of coronavirus affecting the State’s mine sites and regional and remote areas. The mining industry is aiming for a unified position should a worker test positive or an outbreak occur at one of the sites, without the risk of government quarantining entire camps or suspending lucrative operations. The meeting will be attended by senior representatives from the WA Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS), industry associations and large mining companies. Other attendees include the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies, the Australian Petroleum Production…

THE first lithium carbonate for Argosy Minerals’ Rincon project in Argentina will be shipped out later this month, marking a significant development milestone for the Australian junior miner. This is the first high quality export to come out of the project with 99.5pc lithium carbonate, adding Argosy to the small group of international lithium carbonate exporters. The first lithium batch from the plant was produced in 2018, after site work commenced in 2016, and the company is ramping up to a production level of 2000t of battery grade lithium carbonate pa. The Rincon project is located in the world class so-called “Lithium Triangle” in the Salt Province in Argentina and has a predicted life of 16.5 years. Argosy own 77pc…

ONE of Australia’s previous largest single mine gold producers has restarted operations in the Murchison, WA, with plans to bring it back to its former glory. Westgold Resources (ASX: WGX) yesterday announced underground sub-level mining has recommenced at its Big Bell mine, located within the company’s Cue Gold operations. Westgold executive chairman Peter Cook said this was a major milestone for the company and paves the way for planned ramp-up in mine output, targeting steady-state production rates by the end of 2020. “Big Bell will become our largest single mine in the Murchison region and restarts with a 10-year mine life with excellent resource extension potential,” he said. The first mass cave blast broke about 103,000t at 3g/t of gold…

FLY-IN, fly-out workers may undergo a special coronavirus screening as part of new measures to protect rural and remote communities from the spread of the virus. The Australian Principle Health Committee will present a management plan to the Federal Government, which will include special measures for FIFO employees. Chief medical officer Brendan Murphy said the health risks posed by the virus affected metropolitan and rural areas differently. “In metropolitan areas the health system would be able to cope… but in isolated communities this could have pretty devastating consequences,” he said. “They present a particular risk and so we’re planning a range of approaches to staffing and screening of people coming into community so that we can prevent it coming…

WA iron ore operator Roy Hill has plotted a path toward full automation. Leading global mining equipment and services provider Epiroc, in partnership with automation specialist ASI Mining, is set to convert Roy Hill’s mixed fleet of 77 haul trucks from manned to autonomous use. Epiroc/ASI Mining will meet Roy Hill’s requirements to deliver a safe, inter-operable solution for its truck fleet. There is also scope to expand to other mining vehicle types and manufacturers, as well as capability to integrate with existing and future Roy Hill systems. As part of this project, Epiroc/ASI Mining will work closely with Hitachi/Wencomine on truck conversion and integration of Roy Hill’s existing Wenco fleet management system. Roy Hill CEO Barry Fitzgerald said the…

WITH another three years’ grace to process rare earths in Malaysia, Lynas is surging ahead with its cracking and leaching plant in Kalgoorlie, WA. Lynas managing director, Amanda Lacaze, said  the company has confirmed its commitment to the 97pc Malaysian workforce with the renewal of the licence to operate. “We have created over 1000 direct jobs, 90pc of which are skilled or semi-skilled, and we spend over RM600m ($217 million) in the local economy each year,” she said. The plant is now ensured to be operational until at least July 2023. The licence includes the development of a permanent disposal facility in the first year. The construction of the cracking and leaching plant will be the company’s first step in…

WITH a record $219b invested in resource exports in WA in 2019, the state is the world leader in attracting mining investment. This is reflected in the record number of workers currently employed by mining and resource companies as exploration and production ramps up. Fraser Institute senior policy analyst Ashley Stedman said that a sound regulatory regime coupled with competitive taxes are key to making a jurisdiction attractive to investors. The comprehensive Fraser Institute mining survey assessed 76 jurisdictions across the world, with WA coming out on top on the Investment Attractiveness Index. “We consider both policy and mineral potential in the Investment Attractiveness Index,” Ms Stedman said. Apart from NSW, Australian states and territories showed mostly positive moves. South…

BHP has announced a profit of $7.3b, an increase of 29pc, for the half year ending December 31, 2019. Shareholders received a higher interim dividend with a payout of 97c per share, though it was lower than estimated. BHP chief executive Mike Henry said that the company was in good shape, though it was keeping an eye on effects from the coronavirus outbreak, trade policy and global political uncertainties. “We remain convinced by the positive fundamentals of our commodities,” he said. The company reported that with $5.5b in free cashflow, it was on track to meet full-year production guidance. Higher iron ore prices and strong performance across operations has had a positive effect on results. The company expects an increase…