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Rio Tinto awards Metso Corporation design and engineering contract for BioIron process Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) has awarded Metso Corporation a detailed design and engineering contract for its continuous pilot plant (CPP) for the BioIron process. This contract is an extension the work that Rio and Metso have being doing regarding the development of the BioIron process. Metso director of ferrous metals Matthias Gabriel said the company is excited to continue working with Rio. “We are very excited to continue the close working relationship with Rio Tinto and to provide engineering and design support as we move to the next phase of development of the BioIron technology,” he said. Rio’s BioIron process uses...

CIMIC's UGL scores over $600m in lithium and energy contracts in WA UGL, a member of the CIMIC Group, has been awarded several contracts with energy and minerals processing clients in WA, including Albermarle’s Kemerton lithium hydroxide plant and Alcoa Australia’s bauxite and alumina operations. Albemarle is constructing two additional processing trains at its Kemerton plant to increase production to up to 100,000tpa of lithium hydroxide, supporting the manufacturing of an estimated 2.4 million electric vehicles annually. UGL’s contract with Albermarle include the provision of construction services at the Kemerton plant near Bunbury, in WA’s southwest, which will generate up to 400...

Bowen Coking Coal achieves shipping goal, upgrades Hillalong South resource Bowen Coking Coal (ASX:BCB) achieved its goal of shipping four vessels in July 2023, exporting 179kt of coal from its Bluff mine in Queensland. Chief executive Mark Ruston commented on the export. “Our July shipping performance follows 199kt being shipped in June across four vessels,” he said. “External coal supply chain issues have eased and the company is confident recent momentum will continue in the near-term with an increase in coal tonnes for the quarter, and a higher percentage of metallurgical coal over time.” Hillalong South resource upgrade Bowen has also reported a 45% upgrade in the resource estimate for its Hillalong...

Applications open for EIS drilling program and EPA Applications have opened for round 28 of the Exploration Incentive Scheme’s (EIS) flagship co-funded drilling program and series 6 of the Energy Analysis Program (EAP). This application round follows the state budget 2023-2024 funding increase of $1m per year. A total of $7m is now available across the two application rounds each year. Launched in 2009, the EIS program supports innovative exploration in greenfields and underexplored areas of WA. The EAP program encourages exploration of petroleum and geothermal resources using existing state resources, including drill core, sidewall core, cuttings and existing data. WA Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill...

Substantial mineral resource upgrade reinforces Pilgangoora’s position as world-class operation Pilbara Minerals (ASX:PLS) has substantially increased the mineral resource at its Pilgangoora operation in WA by 36%. The updated mineral resource now contains 4.75Mt of lithium oxide at 1.15% lithium oxide, reinforcing Pilgangoora’s position as one of the world’s largest hard-rock lithium operations. This has enhanced the overall resource confidence of Pilgangoora with 82% of the mineral resource now classified as measured and indicated.   Managing director and chief executive Dale Henderson commented on the increase. “The upgraded mineral resource is consistent with our strategy to grow our operating base and therefore maximise value by achieving the full potential from our world class operation,”...

Alcoa reaffirms commitment to modernise approvals framework Aluminium producer Alcoa has reaffirmed its commitment to modernise the approvals framework for its bauxite mining in WA. The state’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has opened a public comment period on whether it should conduct an environmental impact assessment into parts of Alcoa’s current and next rolling five-year plans for its mines in southwest WA. These plans were referred to the EPA for assessment by a third party in February. Following public consultation, the EPA will decide whether to conduct an assessment into parts of these mine plans. There is no set timeframe for the EPA’s determination. Alcoa Australia president Matt Reed said the public comment...

Stanwell partners up to provide free course fuelling Queensland’s hydrogen future Meandu coal mine owner and Central Queensland hydrogen (CQ- H2) project consortium partner, Stanwell Corporation, has teamed up with CQUniversity (CQU) and ACCIONA Energía to develop online learning programs for Queensland secondary school students focused on the State’s hydrogen and renewable energy sectors. The new free courses, under the umbrella name Fuelling a hydrogen future: STEM Skills for Secondary Learning, have been developed in partnership with the Queensland Government for Years 7-12 and aim to build industry-school connections. Queensland Training and Skills Development Minister Di Farmer says the Queensland Government is investing in the younger generation through the expansion of...

Mining contributes record $455b in export revenue in FY23 In the 2022-2023 financial year, mining contributed a record $455b in export revenue, highlighting the importance of the industry to the nation’s economy, government revenue and regional jobs. Released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), this figure represents 66% of all export revenue for the nation and is 10.5% higher that 2021-2022, which was a previous record year. This figure showed that thermal and metallurgical coal export revenue totalled $128b, iron ore $125b, gold $27.4b, aluminium $14.9b and copper $12.5b. A strong growth was seen in technology metals such as nickel, 51%, zinc, 30%, copper, 17% and coal, 11%. A 5% increase was...

King Coal and his fiddlers three NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookey and NSW Natural Resources Minister Courtney Houssos consulted with coal mining industry representatives last Friday, as NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe also held a separate meeting with coal station operators, to consider options past the end date of the State’s temporary coal cap. The cap will expire on 1 July 2024 and considerations currently on the table include the modernisation of the coal royalty system to ensure it remains fit for purpose. NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey says “these consultations are critical to ensuring we strike the right balance for the people of New South Wales and key industry stakeholders”....

Mineral Resources makes $26.6m investment in Binding Solutions Mineral Resources has invested $26.6m in UK-based Binding Solutions (BSL), a technology company that significantly reduces energy use and emissions in the productions of iron ore pellets. Binding Solutions will use the investment to progress the design and construction of a demonstration plant capable of producing around 50t per hour of cold-bonded iron ore pellets. Using minimal heat and limited energy, BSL’s process produces high-quality pellets or briquette (compressed block of coal dust) products for the iron ore and steel industry. This technology reduces energy use and carbon dioxide emissions by up to 95% and...

Rio Tinto releases information of tailings facilities in alignment with GISTM requirements Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) has released detailed information on 14 of its global tailings facilities and their progress towards conformance with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM). These tailings facilities are those rated very high or extreme under GISTM classifications, based on the highest potential consequences in the extremely unlikely event of a failure. Rio Tinto chief technology officer Mark Davies commented on the release of information. “Since the tragic failure of the tailings facility at Brumadinho in Brazil in 2019, the entire industry has been working to improve the...