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Komatsu has introduced the WA475-10, 26t wheel loader to Australia, boasting 30% more fuel efficiency for quarry operators. Perfect for any hauling or loading jobs, the versatile WA475-10 promises to be the right combination of efficiency, productivity and ease of operation. Komatsu Australia national business manager Nick Vrontas says the significant upgrades on the WA475-10 make it an appealing addition to quarry fleets. “The WA475-10 features the newly developed Komatsu’s Hydraulic Mechanical Transmission (KHMT), an innovative solution that makes the loader more powerful and more fuel-efficient,” he said. “Variable speed control allows operators to adjust the machine’s top speed to meet specific site requirements, and the adjustable variable traction control also limits wheel spin on unstable and slippery ground conditions…

Liontown Resources Limited (ASX: LTR) has awarded an EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contract worth about $71m to GR Engineering Services Limited (ASX: GNG). The contract is for the delivery and commissioning of its paste plant facility for underground mining operations at Kathleen Valley. The paste plant will include two trains capable of producing up to 160m3/hr of paste and has been designed to accommodate future expansion of mining operations to 4mtpa. Liontown managing director and chief executive Tony Ottaviano says the paste plant will further derisk the planned underground production rates at Kathleen Valley. “GRES has designed and constructed multiple paste plant facilities throughout WA  and the GRES team has mobilised and commenced initial works at Kathleen Valley,” he…

The Queensland Government is investing $448.2m from the Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund to boost Stanwell’s big battery. This funding enables the battery planned for the Stanwell power station double in size, becoming the State’s largest committed battery project. Storage will increase from 150MW / 300MWh (2hr duration) to a 300MW / 1200MWh (4hr duration) battery system. The mega battery system will be constructed within the Stanwell power station near Rockhampton as part of the site’s transition to a clean energy hub. Stanwell chief executive Michael O’Rourke commented on the battery. “Dispatchable energy assets like the Stanwell BESS (battery energy storage system) are essential to a successful transformation of our energy system,” he said. “This large-scale battery can…

Alliance Nickel Ltd’s (ASX: AXN) flagship NiWest nickel cobalt project near Leonora, WA, is the first nickel project to be awarded Major Project Status by the Federal Government since nickel was added to the Critical Minerals List in February 2024. The project is expected to create approximately 600 jobs during the construction phase and an additional 300 operational jobs. Alliance Nickel managing director and chief executive Paul Kopejtka is pleased with the recognition. “We are delighted NiWest has been recognised by the Government as a project of national significance,” he said. “NiWest is the first nickel project to be awarded MPS since nickel was added to the Critical Minerals List earlier this year. “The NiWest project is now recognised…

A Bill strengthening WA’s petroleum legislation and supporting the State Government’s commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 has passed the WA Legislative Council. The Petroleum Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 provides WA-based industries with opportunities to decarbonise by providing a legislative framework for the transport and geological storage of greenhouse gases. Carbon capture and storage is being used across the world by industries to decarbonise their operations. The Bill also enables the exploration for naturally occurring hydrogen through the concept of a regulated substance, which is an element that occurs within a natural geological formation. Additional amendments support the insertion of polluter pays provisions, royalty metering, underground storage of petroleum and blending of additives in pipelines. WA Mines and…

The Queensland Government has given the green light to a major phosphate mine in northwest of the State with the granting of mining leases for North West Phosphate’s Paradise South complex. Located 130km northwest of Mount Isa and adjacent to Glencore’s Lady Loretta zinc mine, the complex is expected to create 200 jobs during construction and 245 jobs once operational. Northwest Phosphate executive chairman John Cotter thanks the Queensland Government for their support. “We have worked very closely with the State Government in bringing this very difficult and complex project to fruition in the North West and we are excited to reach this significant milestone for our Paradise South project,” he said. “A big thank you to the Queensland Government…

The WA State Government has made another major step towards streamlining the regulatory approvals process for the resources sector. Introduced in 2022, the Fast-Tracking Mining Approvals Strategy aims to transform the regulation of resource projects through multiple work streams. The WA Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS) is inviting stakeholder feedback on the draft Eligible Mining Activity (EMA) Regulations. The EMA framework will increase the efficiency of applications by introducing a new form of authorisation for certain activities that involve minimal disturbance. Under the EMA, tenement holders will be able to notify the DEMIRS that they will be undertaking certain eligible activities. These activities can be undertaken following the successful lodgement, resulting in significantly shorter approval timeframes.…

Leveltec has been designing and manufacturing tilt switches in Australia since the 1980s but in 2013 the company expanded to become a trusted partner and service agent for a number of world class brands, offering customised solutions for bulk handling control across the mining, steel and Ports industries. They have grown from initially providing switches and hardware to building and implementing systems to monitor the flow of bulk solids, gather data through mainly wireless networks and provide failsafe shutdowns in emergency situations. 2024 marks the company’s 10th anniversary and they are set for exciting new levels of growth and product development in the near future. Tilt switches are used in bulk materials transfer applications to trigger alarms arising from blocked…

WA Mining Conference & Exhibition is Western Australia’s leading mining technology event, returning to the PCEC this 9 – 10 October. Join thought leaders, experts and academics as they showcase the technological and digital evolution shaping Western Australia’s mining industry. Featuring a highly targeted paid conference, a free-to-attend seminar, a networking function and 100+ solution providers across the entire value chain – WA Mining is a must-attend event to experience the forefront of mining innovation. Key themes include: Future Technology Innovative Technology ESG Decarbonisation Cyber & Analytics Tickets launching soon – pre-register now. WA Mining Conference & Exhibition Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre (PCEC) 9 – 10 October 2024 www.waminingexpo.com.au

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced this morning landmark funding of $566m to drive critical mineral exploration around Australia over the next 10 years. An additional $100m will go towards speeding up the current environmental approvals process across states and territories for renewables and critical minerals. Prime Minister Albanese says next week’s Federal Budget will invest in a new era of mineral exploration. “We will fund the first comprehensive map of what’s under Australia’s soil – and our seabed,” he said. “Meaning we can pinpoint the new deposits of critical minerals and strategic materials we need for clean energy and its technology. “As well as traditional minerals like iron ore and gold. “And potential storage sites for hydrogen.” Primes Minister Albanese…

Fortescue (ASX: FMG) has successfully completed propulsion and manoeuvrability trials of the Fortescue Green Pioneer in the Port of Singapore. The trials were undertaken over a 10-day period using 6.4m3 of liquid ammonia, in combination with diesel and hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO), a second-generation biofuel, as marine fuel. The vessel was loaded on April 23, 2024, at Vopak Banyan Terminal, Jurong Island while the vessel was at anchor. The Fortescue Green Pioneer was subject to testing of the ammonia storage systems, associated piping, gas fuel delivery system, retrofitted engines and seaworthiness. The propulsion and manoeuvrability trials also included tests to validate the management of nitrogen-based emissions and the assessment of the ship’s engine capacity to operate on varying amounts of…