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FIRB approves major Australian-Japanese critical minerals collaboration Australia’s Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) has approved the Ardea Resources (ASX: ARL), Sumitomo Metal Mining and Mitsubishi Corporation joint venture to develop the Kalgoorlie nickel project (KNP) in WA. The KNP and its sub-set the Goongarrie Hub, are a globally significant series of nickel-cobalt and critical mineral deposits which host the largest nickel-cobalt resource in the developed world at 854mt, according to Ardea. In addition to FIRB approval, Ardea has been informed that the Consortium has obtained merger control clearance from the Korea Fair Trade Commission, successfully satisfying two of the four conditions...

Pilbara Minerals to acquire Latin Resources Pilbara Minerals (ASX: PLS) will acquire 100% of the shares in Latin Resources (ASX: LRS) after entering a binding scheme implementation agreement. The Latin Resources board has unanimously recommended the scheme in the absence of a superior proposal. Pilbara Minerals managing director and chief executive Dale Henderson comments on the acquisition. “This acquisition is on-strategy, diversifying the business with what we believe is a counter-cyclical, accretive extension that further builds out Pilbara Minerals’ position as one of the leading lithium materials suppliers globally,” he said. “The acquisition will deliver...

Liquid metals: A new class of shapeshifting catalysts The chemical properties of liquid metals are at the heart of a new research project at Monash Engineering that aims to produce a paradigm shift in catalyst technology for the chemical industry. Liquid metal-based alloys have recently been shown to have great potential as catalysts at low temperatures across a wide range of applications, including the conversion of carbon dioxide and methane into value-added carbon-based chemicals and the breakdown of biofuels and liquid hydrocarbons like canola oil into propylene. Dr Md. Arifur Rahim, who recently joined...

Construction begins on Pilbara Hydrogen Hub road upgrades Ground has been broken on upgrades to support the Pilbara Hydrogen Hub at Port Hedland in WA. The upgrades to the Lumsden Point access road and Pinga Street intersection will support the import of wind turbine and renewable energy components into the Pilbara, as well as the export of battery metals such as lithium and copper concentrates. The new intersection is expected to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion at Lumsden Point and Pinga Street, while also facilitating the safe movement of oversize...

Evolution Mining has record FY24 Evolution Mining (ASX: EVN) has tabled record net statutory profit, underlying profit and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) in FY24. Statutory profit was up 158% from FY23 to $422m, underlying profit increased 135% to $482m and EBITDA was 67% higher to $1.51b. Evolution managing director and chief executive Lawrie Conway commented on the results. “The record financial performance and excellent progress we have made on deleveraging the balance sheet and the more than doubling of the final dividend, while continuing to invest in our various project opportunities, are testament to our strategy and...

Maiden ore reserve released for South Junction A maiden ore reserve has been released for Westgold Resources’ (ASX: WGX) South Junction mine, part of the Bluebird – South Junction mining complex in WA. The South Junction maiden ore reserve reads 2.6mt @2.7g/t gold for 225koz. As a result of the South Junction ore reserve, the overall ore reserve for the Bluebird – South Junction complex has increased 233% from the FY23 ore reserve to 3mt @2.8g/t gold for 277koz. This increased ore reserve is underwritten by an updated mineral resource estimate for Bluebird – South Junction of...

Hydrogen-powered haul truck prototype at Fortescue’s Christmas Creek in the Pilbara, WA Fortescue’s (ASX: FMG) hydrogen-powered haul truck prototype, Europa, has arrived at the Christmas Creek mine in the Pilbara, WA, where it will complete site-based testing over the next few months. The Liebherr T 264 haul truck travelled 1,100km from Perth to site to undergo testing in a real-life mining environment in order to inform the mining giant’s future fleet of zero emission haul trucks. Once commissioned on site, Europa will be refuelled with liquid hydrogen from a...

Failure to act now risks Australia’s $250b future green iron industry: Climate Energy Finance A report released by Climate Energy Finance (CEF) highlights that failure to electrify and decarbonise WA’s Pilbara region risks Australia’s $250b future green iron industry. The report, SUPERPOWERING-UP: Accelerating the electrification and decarbonisation of the Pilbara, said a single common-user electricity grid infrastructure (CUI) is the critical key to decarbonising the region and reaping the economical benefits for Australia’s green transition. As stated in the report, a CUI would unlock up to $100b of new investment in renewables, battery firming and transmission, ensuring the Pilbara’s critical minerals, strategic metals and...

Queensland jobs to be supercharged with $15m skills and training facility The Queensland Government will build a new $15m electrotechnology training facility in Rockhampton over the next three years to upskill workers. The CQ Renewable Energy Training Facility in Rockhampton will give local workers the skills needed for the jobs being created under the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan as well as Queensland’s Clean Energy Workforce Roadmap. Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke commented on the investment. “This new training facility will help upskill, reskill and train new and existing workers to deliver and maintain critical energy infrastructure to...

ABB and Komatsu collaborate on net zero innovations ABB and Komatsu have signed a Strategic Collaboration Agreement to develop heavy industrial machinery solutions that can bring net zero emissions a step closer to reality. The collaboration brings two global leaders together to share industry expertise and products in a bid to create world-class solutions, ranging from renewable energy generation to fully electrified mining equipment. ABB and Komatsu's collaboration is geared towards reducing diesel consumption and ultimately eliminating it through the electrification of mine operations. Komatsu Surface Haulage senior vice president Dan Funcannon comments on...