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Sandvik-BHP partnership on Jansen potash mining systems in Canada 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...

Anglo American mine rescue teams to compete on world stage 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...

Liontown produces more than 10kt of spodumene concentrate from Kathleen Valley 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. [caption id="attachment_34400" align="alignright"...

Pilbara Minerals makes a difference through community grants program 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...

Construction of world’s-largest high purity alumina facility begins 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,...

Seeking innovators for critical minerals exploration in 2025: BHP Xplor 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...

Bellevue Gold shines with $75m maiden net profit 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...

Record year for mineral exploration expenditure 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...

WA EPA releases scoping document for Alcoa’s bauxite mining The WA Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has released its environmental scoping document (ESD) for Alcoa’s bauxite mining on the Darling Range in southwest WA for 2022-2026 and 2023-2027. While both mining and management programs (MMP) are referred separately, the EPA is considering them under a single ESD as they relate to Alcoa’s mining operations within the Huntly and Willowdale areas, about 100km southeast of Perth. They also include the production, processing and transport of wet bauxite ore, the abstraction of water, exploration drilling and rehabilitation works. EPA deputy chair Lee McIntosh says a “bespoke approach” to scoping...

Granny Smith’s day in the sun: Gold Fields expands solar farm Gold Fields will be more than doubling the capacity of the solar farm at its Granny Smith mine in Laverton WA, with completion scheduled early next year. The gold mine’s hybrid system, comprising 8MW on-site solar, a 2MW battery power system and gas plant, generated 7% of its electricity supply from renewables in CY23. Now, in a continuous bid to reduce the mine site’s energy costs and carbon intensity, Gold Fields will expand solar capacity at Granny Smith to a total of 19MW, an...

Independent review recommends reforms to opal industry An independent review into the statutory framework for small-scale title for opal mining has issued its final report, with 81 recommendations to enhance and support the sustainability and efficacy of the industry. NSW Natural Resources Minister Courtney Houssos commissioned the review following a departmental review of administrative processes which uncovered 3343 minerals claims in Lightning Ridge and White Cliffs were impacted by invalid decisions. The review was undertaken by former Land and Environment Court Judge and NSW Attorney General Terry Sheahan with support of law firm Norton Rose...