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Mineral Resources (MinRes) (ASX: MIN) won the firefighting event in the surface mine emergency rescue competition run by the WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) in Coolgardie. The event allows teams to compete in vehicle extrication, hazardous material response, confined space rescue, rope rescue, team skills, theory, mass casualty first aid and incident management. This was the first year MinRes had entered a team in the competition, winning the firefighting event in which participants worked through a scenario where a fire had spread from a vehicle to an excavator. MinRes emergency management principal advisor and CME mine rescue committee chair Daniel Goss says he is proud of the MinRes team. “The team was well managed by Chris O’Halloran and…

Impact Minerals (ASX: IPT) has confirmed the WA Lake Hope high purity alumina (HPA) pre-feasibility study (PFS) is on schedule for completion by the end of 2024. In a recent update to its PFS, Impact Minerals identified significant progress on the mine, the process plant and product development, offtake and marketing. The project has an estimated post-tax net present value of about $1.3b with a benchmark production of 10,000tpa of HPA which would make it one of the lowest-cost producers globally by a significant margin. Impact Minerals managing director says Kwinana, WA, has been selected for the location of the process plant. “We have selected Kwinana as the site for the processing plant and our proprietary Low-Temperature Leach as the…

Queensland Pacific Metals (ASX: QPM) has received an $8m grant from the Federal Government under the International Partnerships in Critical Minerals program. The company has been working with the Government and stakeholders to secure independent funding to advance its TECH project in Queensland and this grant represents a significant step towards achieving this. The TECH (Townsville Energy Chemicals Hub) project will be a modern and sustainable battery materials refinery, processing imported, high-grade laterite ore to produce nickel and cobalt sulphate as well as other valuable co-products. It has been declared a prescribed project by the Queensland Government, meaning it is of significance to the State and is economically and socially important to a region. It has a nameplate capacity of…

Following drilling and survey contracts being finalised, Adavale Resources (ASX: ADD) is one step closer to drilling at the Marree Embayment in South Australia. Around 3000m of aircore drilling will target paleochannel extensions and uranium redox boundaries at the MacDonnell Creek and George Creek prospects. Both prospects highlighted uranium potential with historical drill intercepts of 1m at 263ppm triuranium octoxide and 0.65m at 235ppm triuranium octoxide. Heritage surveys have been designed to extend localised areas previously cleared at MacDonnell Creek and George Creek. Adavale executive director David Riekie commented on the upcoming program. “We are finalising the heritage clearances and associated administration requirements to enable us to shortly commence a cost effective aircore drilling program at MacDonnell and George Creek,”…

Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) will contribute an additional $20m to the WA Government to redevelop the Paraburdoo hospital in the Pilbara region. Rio Tinto’s contribution to the Paraburdoo Hospital will come from the company’s $250m commitment to the WA Government’s Resources Community Investment Initiative (RCII). The major redevelopment of the Paraburdoo Hospital is the first project through the RCII to receive funding. The partnership will see the ageing Paraburdoo Hospital upgraded with contemporary purpose-built facilities to support medical services for the local community, including new rooms for the GP. The project will be packaged with Rio Tinto’s previous $20m commitment to a new Tom Price hospital. Rio Tinto rail, ports and core services managing director Richard Cohen says they have…

Chinese JL Mag Rare-Earth will own 9.8% of Hastings (ASX: HAS) as well as a seat on its board following a $7m investment in the company. The investment proceeds will be used to advance the Yangibana rare earths project in WA toward production and supplements the $16m previously raised in April 2024. Hastings has already completed the construction of the mine infrastructure for the Yangibana project. The company plans to complete the project debt funding and start construction of its beneficiation plant in Q4 2024. The plant is expected to produce 37,000tpa of mixed rare earth concentrate with first production in H1 2026. Hastings executive chairman Charles Lew says they are pleased to welcome JL Mag as a long-term, strategic…

WA based XRF Scientific (ASX: XRF) will acquire the remaining 50% of Orbis Mining in an acquisition valued at $3.91m. XRF states this is a low risk, bolt-on acquisition with highly complementary products as the majority of XRF’s existing customers require laboratory jaw crushers like those produced by Orbis. XRF acquired its initial 50% shareholding for $800,000 in 2021. Since then, Orbis has grown significantly and continues to gain market share. In FY21, Orbis produced unaudited revenue of $2.3m and profit before tax of $0.34m. In FY24, Orbis generated unaudited revenue of $5.8m and profit before tax of $1.7m. Orbis is fully integrated into XRF’s operating structure, and the business will continue to be led by co?founder and general manager…

BHP (ASX: BHP), Pan Pacific Copper (PPC) and Norsepower have completed the installation of a Norsepower rotor sail onboard the M/V Koryu. A combination carrier, operated by Nippon Marine and JX Advanced Metals, will carry copper concentrates from Chile to Japan and sulphuric acid from Japan to Chile. Installation of the Norsepower rotor sail was carried out in June 2024 and the M/V Koryu is en route on its maiden voyage. The rotor sail stands at a height of 35m with a diameter of 5m and a tilting foundation allows it to be lowered down to facilitate cargo loading and discharge operations at ports. The technology for the sail is based on the Magnus effect which harnesses wind to improve…

The Northern Territory Government is continuing to invest in battery storage to ensure Territorians reap the benefits from renewable energy. The Power and Water Corporation has secured conditional support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency for 16 community batteries which will be located in various locations on the Darwin-Katherine electricity grid. Once online, the batteries will have a significant impact on local network constraints and will expand rooftop solar capacity, reduce emissions and keep power prices affordable. Work on the remote power system strategy, which will deliver an average of 70% renewable energy to 72 remote communities, is continuing. Northern Territory Renewables and Energy Minister Kate Worden commented on the Territory’s battery storage. “Investing in battery technology ensures Territorians will…

Ground has been broken at Powerlink Queensland’s CopperString 2032 project with construction beginning on the project’s first and largest workforce accommodation site. The accommodation site will house those charged with building the nearly 1000km high voltage transmission line that will unlock renewable resources and critical minerals to the State. ATCO structures will deliver the workforce accommodation which is due to be completed by early 2025. At the ceremony in Hughenden, Powerlink Queensland was officially welcomed by Traditional Owners, the Yirendali People. Queensland Energy Minister Mick de Brenni commented on the start of construction. “CopperString is supercharging North Queensland jobs, industry and economic future, and today’s ground breaking is a further demonstration of why having a plan for Queensland’s future really…

The NSW Resources Regulator has launched new compliances priorities for H2 CY24 for safe and sustainable mining across the State. These include: risk management and supervision in open cut coal mines; airborne contaminants in metalliferous mines; mobile plant work platform attachments; safety management systems for Tier 2 quarries; revegetation, surface and groundwater management, and tailings dam management; and compliance with exploration licence conditions, including community consultation and rehabilitation signoff. NSW Resources Regulator executive director Peter Day says the priorities have been developed in response to incidents and feedback from industry and the community. “By listening to industry and analysing incident data, we can implement targeted strategies that enhance operational safety, protect the environment, and promote sustainable practices across the resources…