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Australia and the EU will work together to strengthen the supply of critical minerals.

Australia and the EU strengthen critical minerals partnership

Australia and the EU strengthen critical minerals partnership Australia and the European Union (EU) will work closer together to strengthen the supply of critical minerals. A memorandum of understanding was signed by Federal Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell, Federal Resources Minister and Northern Australia Minister Madeleine King, EU executive vice president and commissioner for trade Valdis Dombrovskis and EU commissioner for the internal market Thierry Breton. The partnership provides a platform for deeper links between Australia and the EU’s critical and strategic materials supply chains, greater science, technology and innovation collaboration, plus the development of environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards....

(Image source: Mineral Resources) Mineral Resources managing director Chris Ellison and RRKAC chairperson and RRS director Kelly Slattery.

Robe River Services receives first major contract

Robe River Services receives first major contract Mineral Resources (ASX: MIN) has awarded Robe River Services (RRS) its first major contract as part of the Onslow Iron project in WA. The five-year contract is for the lease of four 57-seat coaches to transport Mineral Resources’ workforce at the Ken’s Bore mine site. Robe River Services is 100% owned by Robe River Kuruma Aboriginal Corporation (RRKAC) and was established to drive economic opportunities for local people and community. RRKAC chairperson and RRS director Kelly Slattery says she hopes the partnership will be replicated with other resource companies. “We are...

(Image source: Mineral Resources) Mineral Resources executive general manager corporate development James Bruce accepting the awards.

Mineral Resources receives recognition at Australasian Reporting Awards

Mineral Resources receives recognition at Australasian Reporting Awards Mineral Resources (ASX: MIN) has received recognition at the 2024 Australasian Reporting Awards (ARA) presentations in Sydney. Open to organisations in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, the ARA provides companies with an opportunity to benchmark their reports against specific ARA criteria based on best practice. The awards aim to improve the quality of annual reporting and raise public awareness of the purposes of the organisations and their achievements. For the third year in a row, Mineral Resources received gold award recognition in the sustainability award category for its 2023 Sustainability Report and...

South32 has the option to acquire up to 80% interest in the Isa Valley project.

Hammer Metals and South32 execute earn-in agreement for Isa Valley

Hammer Metals and South32 execute earn-in agreement for Isa Valley Hammer Metals (ASX: HMX) and South32 (ASX: S32) have executed a letter agreement, providing South32 an option to earn an 80% interest in the Isa Valley project in Queensland. During the earn-in period, South32 can achieve up to an 80% interest in the project by free-carrying Hammer Metals to the completion of a pre-feasibility study. The earn-in period is in a stage process with stage one comprising of South32 funding an initial screening ionic leach soil sampling and field assessment of Isa Valley. Costing ranges between $20,000 and $25,000 and must...

BHP and Rio Tinto partner for battery-electric haul truck technology

BHP and Rio Tinto partner for battery-electric haul truck technology

BHP and Rio Tinto partner for battery-electric haul truck technology BHP (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) have partnered to test large battery-electric haul truck technology in WA’s Pilbara region. The companies will work with manufacturers Caterpillar and Komatsu to conduct independent trials of the battery-electric haul truck, including testing of battery, static and dynamic charging systems to assess performance and productivity in the Pilbara. The collaboration reflects BHP’s, Rio’s, Caterpillar’s and Komatsu’s commitments made to support Rio Tinto’s and BHP’s shared ambition of net zero operational greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Two Cat 793 haul trucks will be trialled from the second half of 2024, while two Komatsu 930 haul trucks will be tested from 2026 at mine...

The strategy aims to further develop WA’s industries to contribute to global decarbonisation efforts.

WA releases refreshed battery and critical minerals strategy

WA releases refreshed battery and critical minerals strategy The WA Government has released a refreshed battery and critical minerals strategy to help guide future investment and create new jobs. Since the last refresh in 2020, WA’s value-adding and critical minerals industries have grown substantially. There have also been changes in the international investment environment, including significant global policy shifts in the critical minerals and renewables industries. The refreshed strategy outlines the State Government’s vision to grow WA’s internationally competitive, ethical and value-adding industry into 2030. It also aims to further develop the State’s industries to contribute to global decarbonisation efforts, diversify the...

Monadelphous team and guests at the unveiling of “Rubino”.

Monadelphous unveils “Rubino”: the newest and largest crane to join the fleet

Monadelphous unveils “Rubino”: the newest and largest crane to join the fleet This week, Monadelphous (ASX: MND) unveiled the largest and newest crane — “Rubino” — to join the company’s fleet. Named in honour of former Monadelphous chairman John Rubino, members of the Rubino family were joined by Monadelphous executives, staff members, customers in Port Hedland for the unveiling. Monadelphous was joined by Tadano president and chief executive Toshiaki Ujiie and executive officer Takashi Fuki at the unveiling. “Rubino” is a Tadano CC88.1600-1 crane with a load capacity of 1600t and is capable of lifting the equivalent of three Boeing 747 airplanes at a radius of 42m....

The strategy is designed to harness Australia’s experience in battery technology.

Australia’s first national battery strategy released

Australia’s first national battery strategy released The Federal Government has released the country’s first national battery strategy, supporting a Future Made in Australia and boosting Australia’s resilience and security. The global demand for batteries is set to quadruple by 2030 as the world transitions to net zero. The strategy identified four high-value strategic opportunities: Stationary storage – building energy storage systems to firm renewable power generation in the national grid and for communities, businesses and homes Provide battery active materials to the world by upgrading raw minerals into processed battery components to strengthen battery supply chains Leveraging world-leading knowledge to build safer and more secure...

Navigating the AI Boom Ensuring IT Infrastructure Readiness in Mining

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Navigating the AI Boom: Ensuring IT Infrastructure Readiness in Mining

Navigating the AI Boom: Ensuring IT Infrastructure Readiness in Mining In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, the proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping industries worldwide. According to Forbes' AI Statistics And Trends, digital technologies, including AI, are projected to contribute significantly to the Australian economy, with estimates suggesting a value of $315 billion by 2028. In the industrial, mining and manufacturing sectors in particular, the emergence of AI and the utilisation of data are transforming how businesses operate at every level. From predictive maintenance to autonomous vehicles, the ability to handle massive data influxes and future-proof critical IT systems is now more important than ever. The resilience and scalability of underlying IT infrastructure is dependent upon specific components that accommodate...

The video explains what a minerals explorer does, the techniques they use, how they select a site and how it is restored.

First instalment of minerals exploration video series released

First instalment of minerals exploration video series released Resources Victoria has released the first instalment of a video series helping to explain important and misunderstood aspects of the State’s resources sector. Minerals exploration and mining are often confused. Though both are essential stages along the path to developing a resource, the process and scales are very different. In the video series — Minerals Exploration Explained — a Victorian minerals explorer outlined in their own words what they do, the techniques they use, how they select a site and how it is restored. Mineral explorers...

(Image source: Fortescue) Fortescue’s hydrogen-powered truck prototype, Europa, has operated off hydrogen for the first time.

Fortescue’s hydrogen-powered truck operates off hydrogen for first time

Fortescue’s hydrogen-powered truck operates off hydrogen for first time Fortescue’s (ASX: FMG) hydrogen-powered haul truck prototype — Europa — has operated off hydrogen for the first time. This development marks a major step in Fortescue’s mission to decarbonise heavy industry as well as its partnership with Liebherr Mining. In partnership with Liebherr, Europa is a T 264 Liebherr haul truck that contains a 1.6MWh battery and 500KW of fuel cells. The prototype can store over 380kg of liquid hydrogen. Fortescue chief executive Dino Otranto says the company is excited to have Europa operating. “Following the success of our battery electric...