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Rio Tinto begins biofuel crop farming trial for renewable diesel production As part of a new biofuels pilot, Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) will develop Pongamia seed farms in Australia to explore the potential of Pongamia seed oil as a feedstock for renewable diesel. The pilot program aims to determine if Pongamia seed oil can contribute to Rio’s renewable diesel needs while potentially contributing to the growth of a new biofuel sector in Australia. Currently, Rio is in the final stages of acquiring around 3000ha of cleared land near Townsville in north Queensland to establish farms to study growth conditions and measure seed...

Curtin University partners with CO2CRC for carbon capture technology Curtin University has entered a three-year, $2.4m agreement with carbon capture and storage research organisation, CO2CRC. Researchers from the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences will apply their seismic monitoring expertise and geophysics knowledge to monitor thousands of tonnes of CO2 to be injected underground at the Otway International Test Centre in Victoria. The team from Curtin will use new fibre optic sensors to monitor how the gas behaves during the next stage of the Otway project. A pioneering initiative, the Otway...

Gonneville recognised as strategic project by WA Government Chalice Mining’s (ASX: CHN) Gonneville project in WA has been awarded Strategic Project status from the WA Government under WA’s Lead Agency Framework. The Lead Agency Framework was designed to focus the efforts of the government towards projects that need to procced first to deliver on the State’s decarbonisation and economic diversification agenda. Environmental approvals for Gonneville will be subject to assessment through the new Green Energy Assessment Unit. A dedicated team within the WA Department of Water and Environmental Regulation...

Whitehaven Coal and Viva Energy donate $30k for Walhallow infrastructure Whitehaven Coal (ASX: WHC) has partnered with VIVA Energy (ASX: VEA) to contribute to the Walhallow community infrastructure project, continuing the company’s commitment to supporting local communities and empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups. Whitehaven donated $20,000, and Viva Energy added a further $10,000, boosting the efforts of the Walhallow Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) to upgrade critical infrastructure within the community. These donations are in conjunction with a grant from the NSW Government’s Growing Regions Program. The infrastructure upgrades will include improvements to existing buildings, such as the...

First oxide ore delivered from Wallace North True North Copper (ASX: TNC) has marked a significant milestone at its Cloncurry copper project (CCP) in Queensland with the first oxide ore delivered from the Wallace North deposit. Last week, True North began transportation of the ore from Wallace North to the Great Australian Mine (GAM) crushing facility with irrigation of the ore to begin in October. True North managing director Bevan Jones commented on the milestone. “Our team at Wallace North has continued to advance mining activities on schedule with the current CCP mine plan,” he said. “TNC’s progress towards becoming Australia’s next copper producer has...

Mining and resources sector on notice, 27,000 jobs on the line over 5 years The Australian Resources & Energy Employer Association (AREEA) has identified 107 new projects, worth about $131b and creating almost 27,000 jobs over the next five years. WA alone accounts for 48 new projects, or 44% of the investment pipeline, requiring at least 11,000 new workers by the end of 2029. AREEA’s new report, Resources and Energy Workforce Forecast: 2024-2029, breaks down the estimated labour required to operate new,...

UNSW Sydney to lead Australia and Germany green metals collaboration Researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) have released the first report exploring the feasibility of collaboration on hydrogen and green metals. As part of the Federal Government’s Green Metals for Sustainable Steel from Australia and Germany (SuSteelAG) initiative, the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) are exploring the potential of creating a sustainable green iron and steel value chain between the two countries. Australia and Germany are strengthening...

Rio Tinto celebrates cultural stories with 19th Colours of our Country exhibition Art enthusiasts from WA and beyond are invited to experience the stories and culture of Pilbara Aboriginal artists at the annual Colours of our Country exhibition. Now in its 19th year, the exhibition will be held at the Central Park building in Perth, from Monday, September 16, to Friday, September 27. It will showcase a vibrant collection of 160 unique Aboriginal artworks from 43 artists. This year's line-up features independent artists and art centres across...

Factory acceptance testing completed for vanadium flow battery Australian Vanadium (ASX: AVL) has completed factory acceptance testing (FAT) of a vanadium flow battery (VFB) to be deployed at a Horizon Power site in Kununurra, WA. The 220kWh VFB, which can deliver up to 78kW of power, was purchased by Horizon Power for a long duration energy storage project. The battery contains vanadium electrolyte manufactured by AVL at its electrolyte manufacturing facility in Perth and this marks the first instance of AVL’s vanadium electrolyte being used in an operation VFB. AVL chief executive Graham Arvidson says this...

Westgold scales up production and exploration Westgold (ASX: WGX) has increased its FY25 production guidance as its WA mines Beta Hunt, Bluebird - South Junction and Great Fingall begin to deliver increased outputs. FY25 guidance is 400,000-420,000oz, a substantial increase from its 220,000-235,000oz FY24 guidance. The company is gearing up for a peak investment year, as Southern Goldfields assets are integrated and optimised, the Murchison operating assets are expanded and Great Fingall commences production. Westgold managing director and chief executive Wayne Bramwell says FY25 sees a substantial step change in...

Alcoa to sell interest in Ma’aden JV for $1.1b, expands drone tech Alcoa (ASX: AAI) will be selling its 25.1% interest in the Ma’aden joint venture (JV) to Saudi Arabian mining company Ma’aden for $1.1b. The transaction comprises around 86m Ma’aden shares (valued at $950m) and $150m cash. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, Alcoa will hold its Ma’aden shares for a minimum of three years, with one-third of the shares becoming transferable after the third, fourth and fifth anniversaries of closing the transaction. Created in 2009, the JV comprises two entities, the Ma’aden Bauxite (MBAC, the bauxite mine and alumina refinery)...