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The Queensland Government and the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) have partnered to increase ESG capability, awareness and knowledge sharing within the state’s critical minerals sector. The Queensland Government will invest $1m, as part of the Queensland Critical Minerals Strategy, to establish a formal ESG Advisory Panel comprising representatives from government, industry, academia and the community. Key initiatives of the panel include reviewing domestic and international trends in ESG; baselining Queensland’s critical minerals industry ESG capability; developing capability uplift strategies, tools and guidance materials and establishing an ESG industry excellence award. Queensland Resources and Critical Minerals Minister Scott Stewart comments on the partnership. “As the resources industry navigates an increasingly ESG-conscious landscape, it’s essential that we not only prepare…

Mining and processing preparations for Genesis Minerals’ (ASX: GMD) Laverton mill re-start in WA are running ahead of schedule, enabling the company to capitalise on strong gold prices. The re-start is running six months ahead of schedule with re-start expected in October 2024, marking the first step in an accelerated growth strategy aimed at achieving a 325kozpa target. Following the progress, Genesis has increased its forecast FY25 production at Laverton to 35-35,000oz from 14-16,000oz. Total FY25 production outlook also increased to 190-210,000oz from 162-188,000oz. Genesis Minerals managing director Raleigh Finlayson says the expedited start of production at Laverton will deliver significant cashflow benefits this financial year and is particularly valuable given our strong exposure to the high spot gold price.…

Asra Minerals (ASX: ASR) has executed a binding sale and purchases agreement for Red 5 Limited (ASX: RED) to acquire the Tarmoola pastoral lease, livestock and relevant equipment in the Goldfields, WA, for $3m cash. Asra will retain the exploration camp comprising the accommodation camp, kitchen, laundry, ablution facilities and access road, all located in an area approximately 10km2 and the subject of miscellaneous licence applications, 37/271 and 37/272, currently with the WA Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety Department (DEMIRS). Proceeds from the sale will be used to support Asra’s upcoming exploration and drilling campaign across both its Mt Stirling and Kookynie gold projects. Asra executive chairman Paul Summers comments on this. “When the Tarmoola pastoral lease was first…

BHP has awarded Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions a major contract for three additional underground continuous mining systems for its Jansen potash Stage 2 project in Saskatchewan, Canada. The Jansen project has the potential to be the largest potash-producing mine in the world. This contract follows several years of close collaboration and the ongoing execution of the Jansen potash Stage 1 project, for which BHP awarded Sandvik a contract to supply four potash underground continuous mining systems in 2022. Deliveries of the systems for Jansen Potash Stage 2 are expected to begin in 2028 and continue through 2029. Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions president Mats Eriksson says “we are proud to continue our partnership with BHP and strengthen our collaboration…

From September 13 to 20, two Anglo American teams are set to compete at the 60th International Mines Rescue Competition in Colombia, Brazil. In October 2023, the company’s team from the Grosvenor and Moranbah North mines won first and second place, respectively, at the competition. This marks the third consecutive time the Moranbah North mine rescue team has competed at an international level, having previously competed in the US in 2022 and Russia in 2018. The Grosvenor team debuted on the international stage in the US in 2022, with Colombia to be the team’s second competition. Mines rescue competitions provide an opportunity for teams to respond to simulations of real-life emergency situations to demonstrate agility and teamwork. Moranbah North mine…

Liontown Resources (ASX: LTR) has produced more than 10kt of spodumene concentrate since beginning operations at its Kathleen Valley lithium project in WA. The concentrate produced to-date has a weighted average grade of 5.2% lithium oxide and the concentrate stockpile is currently split between site and port. Around half of the stockpile is already at the port with the remaining to be progressively transported to the port ahead of first shipment planned for September. Liontown managing director and chief executive Tony Ottaviano commented on the milestone. “Reaching significant levels of concentrate stockpiles at Kathleen Valley is another remarkable achievement from our team and the plant design, especially considering it’s only one month since we announced first production,” he said. “The…

Community programs and projects aimed at enhancing education and community resilience in the Pilbara have received a funding boost through Pilbara Minerals’ (ASX: PLS) community grants program. This program is part of Pilbara Minerals’ commitment to making a difference in the world by supporting grassroots community initiatives. The funding will support projects such as the remote art school at Strelley, the Hedland Economic Forum, a trauma care workshop for 21 local emergency services volunteers and a program to develop leadership and entrepreneurial skills in Aboriginal women. Successful applicants include: Strelley Community School – Strelley songbook Port Hedland Chamber of Commerce – Hedland Economic Forum Spinifex Hill Studio – remote art school CareFlight – trauma care workshop Port Hedland Seafarers Centre…

The transformation of Alpha HPA’s (ASX: A4N) Gladstone, Queensland, project into the largest single-site ultra-high purity aluminium materials refinery in the world is officially underway. Alpha HPA managing director Rimas Kairaitis says he is pleased to announce that construction of the Stage Two HPA First Project has now commenced, with extensive funding support in place to progress to full scale production. Alpha HPA’s 10ha, state-of-the-art Stage Two facility will leverage the established Stage One operation and Alpha HPA’s novel, Australian owned and developed, process IP. At full scale, the site will be capable of producing over 10,000t of high-purity aluminium products per year, creating 120 ongoing local jobs on top of the 300 jobs during construction. “Today marks a significant…

BHP has opened applications for the 2025 cohort of its six-month accelerator program, Xplor, which focuses on uncovering new sources of critical minerals. This follows the success of the 2023 and 2024 cohorts, with participants receiving up to $500,000 in equity-free funding, mentorship with technical, business and operational development, as well as connections within BHP’s extensive network of suppliers and service providers. Since inception BHP has entered partnerships with three of program’s alumni. BHP Xplor and exploration vice president Sonia Scarselli comments on this. “Xplor in 2024 was an unforgettable journey filled with growth, innovation, and discovery,” she said. “The program applications doubled from 2023 to 2024, and we are excited to see who will come forward for our 2025…

Bellevue Gold (ASX: BGL) has announced a maiden net profit of $75m for FY24 following the start of production at its Bellevue gold mine in WA. Bellevue generated free cash flow of $41m in the June 2024 quarter from production of 42,705oz, highlighting the cash flow potential of the project as production continues to grow. Bellevue managing director Darren Stralow says the company has achieved many major milestones during the year as it made the transition to gold producer. “Production commenced in October 2023, and we are pleased to report profit of $75m for FY24 over the subsequent eight-month production period,” he said. “This demonstrates the substantial cash flow generating capacity of the project as we grow production and reduce…

The June 2024 quarterly statistics on mineral exploration show spending across Australia’s exploration sector has produced another record year. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), expenditure in the June quarter reached $1.01b, an 11% increase from the $909.6m from the March quarter. Annual expenditure across the country totalled a record $4.2b for FY24, a 1.6% increase on FY23. Metres drilled for both greenfield and brownfield exploration rose in the June quarter by 33.8% to 656.7km and 29.5% to 1934.7km, respectively. Annually however, greenfield exploration metres drilled decreased 14.2% and brownfield metres drilled decreased 10% due to a softer second half. Association of Mining and Exploration Companies chief executive Warren Pearce commented on the results. “With many challenges and…