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Whopping $16.1b spend on Australian suppliers by mining giant Rio Tinto has spent more than $16.1b with suppliers and local Australian businesses in CY23, an increase of 5% from CY22. It was spent with more than 5,800 businesses, including Australian owned and operated businesses and locally owned and managed branches of global companies. As part of the mining giant’s ongoing commitment to support communities where it operates, the spend has contributed to tens of thousands of Australian jobs and delivered a significant economic contribution to communities across the country. Rio Tinto chief executive for Australia Kellie Parker says it is important for the company to assist the communities where...

Construction to begin on one of Queensland’s biggest battery energy storage systems Construction will soon begin on one of Queensland’s biggest battery energy storage systems (BESS), following the Supernode project reaching financial completion. With a capacity of 250MW/2hr, the energy storage system will enable the efficient storage of surplus solar and wind energy and aid in the displacement of coal and other emissions-intensive generation sources. The Supernode project is located near the South Pine electricity substation in Brendale. Origin Energy has committed to the full capacity of stage one of works which involves the construction of the system. Following stage one, a data storage facility...

Rio Tinto to invest in technology start-ups for mining sector Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) is partnering with a global venture studio and start-up investor to back the development and commercialisation of breakthrough technologies in the mining sector. Partnering with Founders Factory, Rio will invest $14.4m in global pre-seed and seed stage start-ups over the next three years with a focus on technologies in safe mine operations, decarbonisation, exploration processing and automation. Each of the start ups will receive a cash investment and take part in a four-month accelerator program run by Founders Factory to support product development and commercialisation. Rio iron...

World-leading cleantech MCi Carbon breaks ground at Orica site Australian clean technology developer MCi Carbon held a foundation ceremony for its carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) plant ‘Myrtle’, currently under construction at Orica’s (ASX: ORI) Kooragang Island site. Funded by a $14.6m Federal Government grant, the plant is aimed at scaling up the development and demonstration of an engineering process called mineral carbonation, which transforms captured carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into building products and other valuable materials. The technology has the potential to provide a cost-competitive solution for decarbonising hard-to-abate industries globally and contributing to the circular economy. Orica managing director and chief executive Sanjeev Gandhi says the innovative project, which...

QCoal Foundation helps preserve the Yangga language in QLD Members of the Jangga community recently gathered in Townsville, Queensland, to launch the Let’s Talk Yangga Language Resurgence Project, developed with the support of the QCoal Foundation. Wodjawodja bimbi Yangga, Let’s Talk Yangga, is the culmination of a nearly 18-month collaboration to safeguard the rich cultural and linguistic heritage of the Jangga people in Central Queensland. Revered Jangga Elder, Col McLennan, the last fluent speaker of his language, worked closely with linguist Angela Terrill and archaeologist Liz Hatte, powered by the support of the QCoal Foundation, to meticulously...

Metallurgical testwork advances at Wingellina Metallurgical testwork is advancing at NiCo Resources’ (ASX: NC1) Wingellina nickel-cobalt project in WA with aims to underpin a definitive feasibility study. Hosting an initial reserve of 1.56mt of contained nickel, Wingellina is capable of producing around 40,000tpa of nickel and 3000tpa of cobalt in a mixed hydroxide precipitate for at least 42 years. The project is the largest undeveloped nickel-cobalt project in Australia and is one of the largest nickeliferous pure oxide limonite accumulations in the world. Results from comprehensive testwork undertaken to date shows ore from Wingellina is well suited to...

WesTrac celebrates 20 years of service WesTrac is celebrating 20 years of service and support in NSW and the Australian Capital Territory, with more than 16,000 Cat machines delivered during this time. When WesTrac became the official Cat dealer for NSW and the Australian Capital Territory, work began immediately on fitting out the first purpose-built branch in Bathurst, NSW. Today, there are 18 WesTrac branches across NSW and the Australian Capital Territory, six click and collect lockers and more than 1500 staff members providing services to more than 6500 customers a year. WesTrac NSW...

BCI Minerals granted two mining leases BCI Minerals (ASX: BCI) has been granted two mining leases for its Optimised Mardie project (OMP) on the Pilbara coast of WA. The leases were granted by the WA Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety and are key drivers in progressing the necessary approvals to finalise the Mardie salt and potash project. Furthermore, BCI also received approval for its Groundwater Monitoring and Management Plan (GMMP) from the WA Department of Water and Environmental Regulation. This approval requires BCI to update the groundwater modelling using data collected while the first three evaporation ponds are being filled....

Fortescue opens Gladstone electrolyser facility Fortescue (ASX: FMG) has opened its electrolyser facility in Queensland which is one of the first in the world to house an automated assembly line. The 15,000m2 manufacturing facility has the capacity to produce over 2GW of proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser stacks per year. Fortescue Energy chief executive Mark Hutchinson says the facility establishes the company as an original equipment manufacturer. “The process of splitting hydrogen and oxygen isn’t new – but the innovative ways the world is looking to use green hydrogen to decarbonise are, and that means demand for green hydrogen and for the electrolysers to produce it is growing...

Westgold and Karora to merge and form +400kozpa gold mining company Westgold Resources (ASX: WGX) and Karora Resources have agreed to combine and create a +400kozpa gold mining company. Under the agreement, Westgold will acquire all Karora shares with Karora shareholders to receive 2.52 Westgold fully paid ordinary shares, 68¢ in cash and 0.30 of a share in a new company to be de-merged from Karora for every Karora share held. Upon completion of the transaction, Westgold will have a portfolio of assets capable of producing more than 400kozpa exclusively from a WA asset base, high quality exploration targets and a clear pipeline...