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Fortescue’s (ASX: FMG) recently deployed electric excavator has moved 1mt of material since it became operational three months ago. In December 2023, the excavator was deployed at Fortescue’s Cloudbreak mine in WA and since then, it has been running at partial capacity while the site team familiarised themselves with the new machine. Now operating at full speed, its performance continues to steadily improve with the excavator performing better than its diesel equivalent, at times. The site team will now focus on ensuring a consistent performance. Fortescue chief executive Dino Otranto says this is an exciting milestone for the company. “This is such an exciting milestone for Fortescue and our decarbonisation journey. Importantly, we’ve been able to achieve this while maintaining…

Develop (ASX: DVP) has taken a key step towards securing project funding and production restart at its Woodlawn mine in NSW. After acquiring Woodlawn in mid-2022, Develop begun an aggressive exploration and infill drilling program to extend the mineralised lenses at depth and along strike, convert the inferred resources to indicated and drill test electromagnetic conductors. This work resulted in the addition of 4mt of resources, including a further 60,000t of copper and 235kt of zinc metal. Woodlawn now has a mineral resource estimate of 11.3mt at 1.8% copper, 5.8% zinc, 2.1% lead, 46g/t silver and 0.5g/t gold. This increase paves the way for a significant increase in Woodlawn’s existing 3.4mt of reserves and an extension of the mine life…

Critical minerals explorer Litchfield Minerals Limited (ASX:LMS) has announced that preparations for its maiden drilling program are well underway at the Silver King prospect within the Mount Doreen tenement, about 350km from Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. This significant step follows the company’s successful listing on the ASX on March 15 and marks the commencement of its planned drilling and exploration program, targeting notable copper, silver, and lead occurrences. In a recent development, the maiden Induced Polarisation (IP) survey conducted in May 2023 has delineated a discrete, strong chargeable zone near the historic copper workings. This finding suggests a potential vertical, pipe-like structure that could extend to significant depths, laying a solid foundation for the identification of drill targets.…

Collinsville in Queensland will be “pumping” thanks to Bowen Rail Company and construction of a new $300,000 bike track for local bike riders, scooter enthusiasts, and skateboarders. Whitsunday Regional Council has announced that works on the Darcy Munro Park Pump Track will begin on 2 April, with stage one of the four-stage circuit expected to be ready for locals young and old to showcase their riding, cornering, and jumping skills by early May. Bowen Rail Company has fully-funded the first stage of the bike track, which is a circuit designed for users to apply a push-and-pull technique rather than pedalling to make their way over a series of rollers, jumps, and berms. Council will manage the construction works. Bowen Rail…

BCI Minerals (ASX: BCI) has signed a binding offtake agreement for the supply of salt from the Mardie salt and potash project on the West Pilbara coast in WA. Over the next three years, BCI will supply Mardie salt to a subsidiary of Indonesian-based PT Chandra Asri Pacific Tbk. Subject to certain conditions being met, Chandra Asri has the right to extend the term for a further three years. In year one, BCI will supply 300kt of salt, with this figure increasing to 600kt in years two and three. BCI managing director David Boshoff says the company is delighted to enter the agreement with Chandra Asri. “BCI is delighted to have entered into an offtake agreement with Chandra Asri, one…

Fortescue (ASX: FMG) has completed the world’s first use of ammonia, in combination with diesel in the combustion process, as a marine fuel onboard the Fortescue Green Pioneer, in the Port of Singapore. The vessel was loaded with liquid ammonia at Vopak Banyan Terminal on Jurong Island for the trial. In completing this trial, the Fortescue Green Pioneer has received approval from the Singapore Registry of Ships and ‘Gas Fueled Ammonia’ notation by classification society DNV to use ammonia, in combination with diesel, as a marine fuel. The Fortescue Green Pioneer began its journey toward becoming the world’s first ocean-going ammonia-powered vessel in 2022 when Fortescue successfully converted a four-stroke engine to run on ammonia, in combination with diesel, at…

Lion Energy (ASX: LIO) has obtained approval from the Queensland State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA) for its Port of Brisbane hydrogen hub. This facility will be able to generate and dispense green hydrogen and load compressed hydrogen onto tube trailers for transport to other sites and depots. The hydrogen hub is geared towards heavy mobility fleets with an early focus on supplying hydrogen to domestic public bus fleets, truck fleets and fuel cell gensets for the mining and construction industries. This approval represents a key milestone for the project which can now proceed to the construction phase and Lion expects construction to begin in Q2 2024 with commissioning of the facility by H2 2024. Key equipment has been obtained,…

Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in the critical minerals industry have been invited to apply for a research and development (R&D) program. Created by CSIRO, the Innovate to Grow program helps SMEs acquire valuable business insights and strategic plans to leverage R&D to meet their business needs. The program is sponsored by the Australian Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub, a collaboration between CSIRO, Geoscience Australia and ANSTO. Australian Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub manager Lucy O’Connor says SMEs play an important role in driving innovation in critical minerals supply chains. “Scaling up and commercialising critical minerals projects requires strategic collaboration to address technical challenges and drive sustainable growth and innovation in this sector,” she said. “This program is…

Mineral and petroleum exports have increased by 14.3% to more than $5b in 2023, according to figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Of the $17.9b in exports recorded in 2023, the resources sector contributed $5b, however, this doesn’t include an additional $2b in confidential energy and mineral goods. More than $3b came from iron and steel, refined copper and lead — highlighting the significance of the energy and mining sectors driving South Australia’s export growth. Furthermore, iron ore exports reached almost $1.2b for the year. South Australian Energy and Mining Minister Tom Koutsantonis commented on the exports. “We are seeing the resources sector thrive as we focus on the global energy transition. Shifting towards exporting more value-added products,…

Underground mining services company Metarock has entered into a binding agreement to sell PYBAR for $65m to Thiess as the global company looks to grow its underground hard rock contracting division. Estimated net proceeds to Metarock will be about $36.3 after deducting PYBAR’s outstanding debt and estimated transaction costs. Post transaction, Metarock will comprise the Mastermyne, Wilson Mining and MyneSight business units, with the PYBAR brand remaining and continuing to be operated by Thiess. Metarock group executive chair Jon Romcke says the agreed transaction represents a great outcome for Metarock shareholders. “The purchase consideration represents compelling value for the PYBAR business, which will continue to grow as part of Thiess’ global mining services platform,” he said. “The transaction significantly strengthens…

Alcoa is on the hunt for graduates in electrical, geotechnical and mine engineering, chemical, mechanical and environmental science for its 2025 graduate program. This three-year program offers graduates job opportunities at Alcoa’s bauxite mines and alumina refineries in the Peel and Upper South West regions, as well as its Australian headquarters in WA. Former graduate program recruit Vani Gupta says one of the greatest benefits of the program was the immersive nature of the role and the support it offered. “Through the graduate program, I really got to experience what refinery life was like,” she said. “You’re not just working at a computer, you’re going into the field, seeing what changes you need to make, and then troubleshooting on bigger…