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Essential marine cargo arrives at Onslow iron project Essential marine cargo has arrived at Mineral Resources’ (ASX:MIN) Onslow iron project in WA. The Happy Dover heavy transport vehicle from BigLift recently sailed into the Port of Ashburton, with cargo including 20m-high berthing dolphins, the loading wharf that was transported in two modules and landside port infrastructure including conveyors and transfer stations. BigLift specialises in heavy lift and project cargos, with there being a limited number of these vessels in the world. Happy Dover is equipped with two 450t cranes to lift and place the cargo directly onto the piles, with the wharf modules weighing 150t each and the largest...

WA to establish hub in Canberra to represent resources sector The WA State Government will establish a hub in Canberra to represent its resources sector on a national scale. While there is widespread acceptance within WA of the significant economic contribution of the state’s mining and resources sector, there is limited awareness or appreciation beyond the borders. The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA (CME) chief executive Rebecca Tomkinson said the hub will increase the effectiveness of the advocacy efforts of CME and other industry groups in the eastern states. “We discussed with the State Government the benefits of establishing a shared space in Canberra to enable the Government and WA’s...

The University of Adelaide receives $5m in funding for battery recycling training centre The University of Adelaide (UoA) is set to receive $5m in funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC) for the establishment of a new ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Battery Recycling. Southern Gold’s (ASX:SAU) battery technology company IonDrive Technologies (IDT) is the key partner organisation for the training centre. Led by Professor Shizhang Qiao at The University of Adelaide, the centre aims to revolutionise Australia’s battery and resources industry by establishing advanced manufacturing capabilities for recycling mixed battery materials, promoting second life re-use and fostering a battery circular economy. IonDrive Technologies will contribute...

Decmil awarded $84m earthworks contract Decmil (ASX:DCG) has received an $84m earthworks contract at Perdaman Industries’ Ceres Urea plant project in WA. Under the contract, Decmil will complete bulk earthworks including drilling and blasting, construction of a causeway, supply and installation of culverts, establishing portable water lines and general site clearing activities. The contract was received from the Saipem Clough joint venture (SCJV) between engineering consultant Saipem Australia and construction engineering company Clough Projects Australia. Work has begun and is expected to be completed by July 2024. Decmil chief executive Rod Heale is pleased to have received the contract. “We are delighted to have been awarded this package of works...

Construction of vanadium electrolyte manufacturing facility begins Construction of Australian Vanadium’s (ASX:AVL) vanadium electrolyte manufacturing facility in WA has begun. Australian Vanadium has appointed engineering group Primero Group, a subsidiary of NRW Holdings (ASX:NWH), to construct the facility with most long lead items now received. Further, experienced operations professional Simon Rough has been appointed to safely manage the facility through construction and into production. His extensive experience in vanadium processing and sulphuric acid production makes him a perfect fit to lead the team to successful production of high-quality electrolyte. The facility is designed to produce up to 33MWh per year of vanadium flow battery (VFB) high purity electrolyte. Australian Vanadium holds the...

Mining rehabilitation fund to undergo independent review Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston has announced an independent review of the Mining Rehabilitation Fund (MRF) to ensure it continues to meet its objectives and sufficient financial reserves are available. The MRF is used by the state government if a mine operator is unable to meet their rehabilitation obligations and the site is declared abandoned. Economic consultants Marsden Jacob Associates will undertake the review and consult with a wide range of stakeholders that completed an MRF evaluation in 2018. The Mining Rehabilitation Fund Act 2012 (MRF Act) was created to ensure the mining industry is financially responsible for restoring existing and...

Inaugural drill program completed at Wallaroo Inca Minerals (ASX:ICG) has completed its inaugural 10-hole reverse circulation drilling program at the Wallaroo prospect at the MaCauley Creek project in North Queensland. Drilling initially targeted a strong magnetic geophysical anomaly, spatially associated with outcropping copper mineralisation occurring as malachite and azurite. Drill collars for six of the holes were designed to target outcropping copper mineralisation. Limited visible copper was observed in the reverse circulation chips and logging of the drill chips has demonstrated that the strong magnetic anomaly which defines Wallaroo can be explained by the mass effect of a mafic intrusion. Although drilling initially targeted a strong magnetic anomaly with outcropping copper mineralisation,...

Next phase of exploration underway at Wolfe Basin to test rare earth elements The next phase of exploration is underway at Sipa Resources’ (ASX:SRI) Wolf Basin project to test a rare earth elements (REE) target area. Initial mapping and surface sampling has now been completed with a focus on peak thorium anomalies that are coincident with a magnetic anomaly. The historic drillhole CRA026 was also located and drill chips from this hole were collected. Examination in the field of the drill chips identified basement rocks in this location as a syenite. Syenites are felsic intrusive rocks that can be enriched in REEs and this is a likely source rock for the REEs observed...

Canada’s largest diamond producer, the Diavik mine, 100%-owned and operated by Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO), will build the largest solar power plant across the country’s territories, as the mining giant moves towards achieving net zero across its operations by 2050. With more than 6,600 solar panels generating about 4,200MW-hours of carbon-free electricity annually for the mine, the solar power plant will provide up to 25% of Diavik’s electricity during closure work that will run until 2029, with commercial production from the operation expected to end in early 2026. Diavik Diamond Mine president and chief operating officer Angela Bigg says she is delighted the mine will be significantly increasing its renewable power generation with the largest solar power plant in Canada’s...

First Nation Engineering celebrates first contract milestone First Nation Engineering Pty Ltd (FNE) is celebrating the completion of its first contract, providing engineering design and procurement services to Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) in relation to borefields expansions at Northern Star’s Thunderbox, Carosue Dam and KCGM Operations. FNE is a registered Supply Nation Indigenous business, an incorporated joint venture (JV) between a subsidiary of the Carey Group — Australia’s leading Aboriginal commercial enterprise, with over 27 years of project delivery excellence in the mining, civil and training industries — and CPC Engineering — which began in the Goldfields more than 50...

Operations begin at WA’s newest hybrid power facility Commissioning has been completed and operations have begun at Westgold Resources’ (ASX:WGX) first of four new hybrid power facilities across its WA operations. The new 17.9MW facility at Tuckabianna replaces the existing diesel fired power station and delivers a reduction of 15kt of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions and 10Ml of annual diesel fuel consumption. The Tuckabianna hybrid power facility incorporates a 6MW solar farm with 11,088 photovoltaic panels, a battery energy storage system with 2.4MW installed capacity and a 9.5MW gas-fuelled power station. In addition to this facility, a further three are being constructed at Bluebird, Big Bell and...