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Alcoa Corporation has appointed Elsabe Muller as operations vice president – Australia and Alcoa Australia president, effective October 2024. Ms Muller will be responsible for Alcoa’s bauxite mining rehabilitation, alumina refining and aluminium smelting activities in WA and Victoria. After more than 30 years with BHP (ASX: BHP), currently serving as its group HSE officer, Ms Muller brings considerable local and international resources sector expertise to Alcoa. Alcoa executive vice president and chief operations officer Matt Reed says Ms Muller has extensive leadership experience within both operational and commercial settings and a passion for developing people in a diverse and inclusive environment. “ has a track record of delivering results across many areas of focus for Alcoa including environmental…

A pre-feasibility study has determined production capacity at Pilbara Minerals’ (ASX: PLS) Pilgangoora operation in WA could exceed 2mtpa. This expansion is expected to result in the first 10 years of production averaging around 1.9mtpa spodumene concentrate, with production of more than 2mtpa over the first six years after ramp up. This expansion project will be named the P2000 project and it would further extend Pilbara Minerals’ position as the largest pure play lithium producer in the world. It also revises the mine life to 23 years. P2000 requires the construction of a new whole of ore flotation plant at Pilgangoora which will complement existing processing flowsheets currently in use at the operation. The plant will be designed to manage…

Australian Vanadium (ASX: AVL) has received a $14.7m grant from the Federal Government as part of the Modern Manufacturing Initiative – Manufacturing Collaboration Stream. In May 2023, Australian Vanadium and the Federal Government executed a Commonwealth grant agreement to the value of up to $49m. The grant will assist AVL, in collaboration with industry partners, to create an Australian vanadium battery industry. The grant funds eligible activities to construct and commission a crushing, milling and beneficiation plant and high-purity vanadium processing facility capable of using green hydrogen to partly fuel the extraction process for the project. The critical mineral extraction process is a key precursor for vanadium electrolyte manufacturing which Australian Vanadium is already undertaking at its vanadium electrolyte facility…

Mineral Resources (MinRes) (ASX: MIN) will cease Yilgarn Hub iron ore shipments by the end of the year following a viability assessment that confirmed the site is not financially viable beyond 2024. MinRes cites limited remaining mine life across five operating mines and significant capital cost and lead time required to ensure continuity of supply as driving factors in the decision. Yilgarn Hub operations will safely ramp down over the next six months, with up to 4mwmt expected to ship by the end of 2024. Mining operations will then transition into care and maintenance from early 2025. About 1,000 employees will be impacted by the shutdown. The MinRes Yilgarn Hub team will be prioritised for open positions and retraining. MinRes…

An Aboriginal heritage survey has been scheduled for Lycaon Resources (ASX: LYN) Stansmore project in the West Arunta region of WA. The survey has been booked with the Central Desert Native Title Services and is scheduled to begin on July 11, 2024, with the aim of clearing targets for ground-based geophysics and drilling in Q3. Lycaon technical director Thomas Langley commented on the survey. “We would like to thank the Central Desert Native Title Services and the Parna Ngururrpa traditional owners for their efforts and cooperation to schedule this survey as soon as possible,” he said. “We look forward to completing this survey with the Parna Ngururrpa people with the intent to clear targets for ground-based geophysics and drilling within…

EQ Resources (ASX: EQR) has been granted an Exploration Permit for Minerals (EPM) for critical minerals at the Wolfram Camp in Queensland’s Far North. The EPM approval allows EQ Resources to begin drilling, geological mapping, and soil and rock sampling over a 480 km2 area to unlock tungsten resources at the site, which includes the former Wolfram Camp and Bamford Hill mines. EQ Resources chief executive officer Kevin MacNeill says they are excited to get boots on the ground. “At EQ Resources, we understand the importance of responsible and sustainable mining practices,” he said. “As we did with the Mt Carbine mine, we are committed to engaging closely with all local communities around Wolfram Camp to create shared prosperity and opportunities. “Our team of experienced professionals will apply modern…

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hosted a three-day visit by Chinese Premier Li Qiang and China’s high-level delegation in June as part of efforts to foster improved Australia-China trade relations. Premier Li’s visit, the first by a Chinese Premier since 2017, featured a tour of a lithium hydroxide plant in Kwinana, WA, and Fortescue’s green technology and test facility in Hazelmere, WA. In what Prime Minister Albanese calls “renewed engagement”, this visit strengthens the existing trade between the two countries, with China being Australia’s biggest trading partner at a record $327b in 2023, or 27% of Australia’s total goods and services trade. “Premier Li’s visit is another important step in stabilising Australia’s relationship with China,” he said. A lithium bridge Premier…

The NSW Government is making additional investments in mine safety and rehabilitation in the 2024-25 NSW Budget. A total strategic investment of $37.7m will support mining communities, ensure rehabilitation of mines and support health and safety for mine workers in NSW. This includes $13.6m over four years for mine rehabilitation, a key priority for regional communities. This funding package increases dedicated regulatory resources to ensure compliance with rehabilitation requirements and provide support for local communities. Inspectors at the NSW Resources Regulator will oversee a projected increase in rehabilitation activities. This is particularly important at the State’s 39 coal mines, 32 of which are expected to close by 2040. The Resources Regulator will be supported with $1.6m to monitor and enforce…

A preliminary study into the potential carbon dioxide emissions from Impact Minerals’ (ASX: IPT) Lake Hope high purity alumina (HPA) project in WA show Scope 1 and 2 emissions will be significantly lower than competing processes that produce HPA. The low emissions apply to both sulphate and low-temperature-leach (LTL) processes that are being considered by Impact to produce HPA as part of the pre-feasibility study for Lake Hope. The emissions study showed that using WA’s current electricity supply, likely emissions are 4.38t of carbon dioxide per tonne of HPA produced via the sulphate process and 3.44t of carbon dioxide per tonne of HPA for the LTL process. This is on par with or lower than competing processes globally. The largest…

Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions has introduced the AutoMine Interoperable Access Control System (ACS) for autonomous underground mining. Designed to improve productivity and increase operational flexibility, the AutoMine Interoperable ACS builds on the AutoMine flexible safety zone by enabling non-Sandvik, third-party autonomous equipment to operate seamlessly in AutoMine access-controlled isolated zones. With AutoMine Interoperable ACS, a fleet of underground loaders, trucks, drills and auxiliary equipment can now be managed with one safety system. It increases the flexibility between Sandvik and third-party automated equipment by allowing access to a shared automated zone at different times. Each machine can be independently controlled by its own system while operating within the unified AutoMine Interoperable ACS system. Sandvik product line manager, automation Robert McEwan…

Thiess Group has been awarded a four-year contract extension with BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) for the Caval Ridge Operations in Queensland. With a revenue of $580m, the contract sees Thiess continuing to provide mining services at the Caval Ridge mine, operating and maintaining mining equipment to move overburden to support BMA’s production requirements. Thiess executive chair and chief executive officer Michael Wright says the extension is a contributing factor in Thiess’ continued success. “We are very pleased that our ongoing commitment to safe and sustainable mining has resulted in BMA awarding us a four-year extension at Caval Ridge,” he said. “Both our working relationship and the increasing diversity within our workforce are driving factors for our continued success.” Thiess Australia…