Latest News

Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) and cable solution provider Prysmian have partnered up to build a more sustainable North American supply chain for materials needed to expand power grids for the energy transition. Power generation from renewables in the United States is expected to increase from 21% in 2021 to 44% in 2050, requiring significant investments in power grids and boosting demand for innovative materials used in electrification projects. Under the five-year supply agreement, Rio will supply low-carbon aluminium made with renewable hydropower from its Canadian operations. This will support Prysmian’s decarbonisation drive towards its objective of being carbon neutral by 2050. Rio Tinto vice president of aluminium sales Amy Abraham says the company is proud to work with Prysmian. “We are…

Thiess has made history at Pembroke Resources’ Olive Downs Complex, making it the world’s first mining operation to deploy Cat MineStar Command. Recently, Thiess began fully autonomous hauling and drilling operations at Olive Downs from a purpose-built facility on site. This includes deploying 21 haul trucks and three drills fitted with autonomous technology. Additionally, Thiess established a private LTE network in Pembroke’s onsite communication infrastructure, enabling the safe operation of more than 85 connected assets within the autonomous operating zone. Thiess Head of Autonomy and Operations Technology Trent Smith says the company is pleased to achieve this milestone. “We’re pleased to achieve this milestone in collaboration with Pembroke Resources, Hastings Deering and Caterpillar and remain committed to operating the Olive…

Stage one of the Flat Rocks Wind Farm in WA has hit a milestone with more than half of the 18 wind turbines in place. This wind farm is part of a power purchase agreement (PPA) between BHP and Enel Green Power — a leading multi-national renewable energy company. Once complete, stage one of the Flat Rocks Wind Farm will provide enough renewable energy to fully power BHP’s Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter and Kambalda Concentrator every year, based on current requirements. Nickel West Asset President Jass Farrell says it’s impressive to see the scale of the wind turbines and the co-existence of power generation and agricultural activities. “When they are complete, each wind turbine reaches 200m in height, but their small…

Non-destructive testing (NDT) plays a critical role in the safe and reliable operation of many products, transportation systems and resource industry structures bring used every day around the world. A range of industries now accept that NDT is a crucial part of quality control and is necessary wherever there is the need to be sure of the safety, reliability, and dependability of daily operations. A local NDT specialist, Anthony Lima of Revo Group, says it can also save lives. We caught up with Mr Lima recently and asked him what would be the worst-case scenario if an item failed after not being regularly inspected or tested. “There are a number of really bad outcomes. And number one, obviously it that…

The Australian resources sector has a major push across the country to improve its Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) standards. A key to successfully integrating the industries’ strategies in that direction is ensuring the right fuels, lubricants, technical services and management systems are incorporated into a site’s environmental and operational footprint and a Brisbane-based specialist firm is helping Australian mining companies with a number of key outcomes in that area. Owned by former Shell downstream business executive Graham Box, NTA is pointing its mining clients in the direction of what fuels lubricants services and systems best fit their needs. The founder and Managing Director of Now and Tomorrow Advisory (NTA), Mr Box has 35 years of oil industry experience, both…

Raiden Resources (ASX:RDN) has executed a Native Title and Heritage Deed with the Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation (NAC) across its recently acquired Andover tenements. This deed adds onto the existing Native Title and Heritage Exploration Agreement (NTA) which allows Raiden to engage proactively with the Traditional Owners through the NAC to conduct heritage surveys across the area. Raiden has prepared a program of work for submission to the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) for a drilling program targeting the outcropping discovery pegmatites. Mapping has defined swarms of outcropping pegmatites, defined within a pegmatite field which extends up to 3.5km along strike and 600m wide. While it waits for approval, Raiden will undertake a heritage survey as soon as…

Drilling services specialist iDrilling Australia is ramping up its environmental focus as it prepares for a growth in new activity. The Australian Mining Review recently caught up with the company’s managing director, Shannon Harding, to gain a run down on the company’s future plans and past successes. “The real focus at the moment is a to work closely with our clients and their sustainability and safety focus,” he said. “We are also improving our own green footprint and we are really benefitting from having a great management team with a dedicated path forward which is utilising technology and sustainability trends to help improve the work we do.” For example, to help “green” its daily activities, iDrilling Australia is reviewing a…

Bellevue Gold (ASX:BGL) has poured the first gold bar at its namesake project in WA. The gold bar weighed 8.3kg and was poured in the first smelt on October 25, 2023. Further, other project milestones have been achieved with the crushing circuit operating at 250tph at times during the six days of start-up operations to date and the ball mill has achieved a throughput of 125tph during the start-up period. Ramp-up optimisation activities are continuing across the crushing, processing and plant services areas. Pleasingly for Bellevue, the start of production and cashflow has been achieved on time and on budget with a significant stockpile on hand comprising of 115kt of underground ore ready for processing as part of the commission…

The Northern Territory Government has introduced reforms to improve the Territory’s environmental management of mining activities and provide greater certainty for industry. The new Environmental Protection Legislation Amendment (Mining) Bill 2023 reforms will implement a modern, streamlined and effective system to support the ecologically sustainable development of the mining industry in the Territory. The Bill introduces a new legislative framework for managing the environmental impacts of mining, based on the environmental risk. It: Once the Bill has passed, the Northern Territory will have the most contemporary environmental framework for the Mining Remediation Fund. Further, the Territory will be at the forefront of ongoing innovation and development in legacy mine remediation. Northern Territory Mining and Industry Minister Nicole Manison says the…

South32 (ASX:S32) has converted the first of its coal-fired boilers to natural gas to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at Worsley Alumina in southwest WA. In alumina production, boilers are essential for the generation of steam which is used in the refining process. Work to convert the first boiler began in May 2023 and operations began in late September. Conversion of a second boiler is planned for 2024. The conversion of Worsley Alumina’s boilers supports South32’s medium-term target to reduce GHG emissions by 50% (from 2021 levels) by 2035 and the company’s longer-term goal to achieve net zero operational greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Worsley Alumina vice president of operations Erwin Schaufler commented on the conversion. “We expect the…

The Federal Government has announced a $2b expansion in critical minerals financing, solidifying Australia’s position as a world leading provider and helping the transition to net zero. Critical minerals, including rare earths, are the building-blocks for a clean energy future and are essential to achieving Australia’s energy transition. This expansion will double the capacity of the critical minerals facility to finance Australian critical minerals mining and processing projects. Further, the expansion takes the Government’s investments in Australian resources to $6b. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australians will benefit from this investment. “Australians will benefit through this investment in critical minerals, through technology, skills, jobs and economic gains,” he said. “Australia is committed to building sustainable and secure critical minerals supply…