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Raiden Resources executes Native Title and Heritage Deed for Andover drilling 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...

iDrilling Australia on solid business growth path 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...

Bellevue Gold pours first gold bar at namesake project 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...

Northern Territory Government introduces reforms to strengthen environmental regulation 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: Introduces a new three-tier risk-based licensing system to manage mining activities Extends existing compliance and enforcement powers under the EP Act Provides impacts previously managed through multiple regulatory...

South32 converts first coal-fired boiler to natural gas at Worsley Alumina 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...

Australian Government announces $2b critical minerals boost 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...

Avenira receives approval to begin mining operations at Wonarah Avenira (ASX:AEV) has received approval from the Northern Territory Government authorising 40,000t of ore extraction from the Wonarah direct shipping ore (DSO) phosphate project. Northern Territory Deputy Chief Minister and Mining and Industry Minister Nicole Manison approved the Mine Management Plan (MMP) under the Mining Management Act 2001, enabling mining to begin at Wonarah. Ms Manison says this is huge news for the Territory. “In huge news for the Territory economy and a big win for jobs in the Barkly, Avenira has met its regulatory obligations and is now authorised to commence mining,” she said. “The Wonarah phosphate...

Engineering company Monadelphous (ASX:MND) has secured $170m worth of new construction and maintenance contracts and contract extensions in the resources sector.   Monadelphous has been awarded a construction contract with Lynas Rare Earths (ASX:LYC) for stage one of the Mt Weld expansion project in WA. The scope of work includes structural, mechanical and piping works associated with the new construction facility. The company has also secured a multidisciplinary construction contract to undertake a series of upgrades at Fortescue’s (ASX:FMG) Anderson Point iron ore stockyard in Port Hedland, WA. Monadelphous has been awarded a three-year services contract, with three one-year extension options to continue providing sustaining capital projects and maintenance support at Santos’ (ASX:STO) production and support facilities in the Southern...

Sheffield Resources begins Thunderbird ore processing ahead of schedule Sheffield Resources (ASX:SFX) has begun ore processing at the Thunderbird mineral sands project in WA ahead of schedule. The initial stages of ore processing will see a gradual ramp up through to steady state processing, production of concentrates and building of concentrate product stockpiles on site and at the port of Broome. Sheffield expects the first shipment of concentrate will be loaded early in Q1 2024. Executive chair Bruce Griffin commented on the achievement. “Delivery of a greenfield mining project in Australia can be a challenging experience, particularly for a junior miner,” he said. “Overcoming these hurdles, especially in the current inflationary environment...

Rio Tinto and Yindjibarndi Energy sign renewable energy MOU  Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) and Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation (YEC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore opportunities to collaborate on renewable energy projects on Yindjibarndi country in WA’s Pilbara region. Rio and YEC will study and evaluate a range of opportunities, including wind and solar power plus battery energy storage systems. The initial focus of this partnership is to rapidly explore the potential development of a solar power facility for the supply of energy to Rio. Rio operates four gas-fired power stations in the Pilbara with about 600MW to 700MW of renewable generation estimated to be required to displace the majority...

BHP’s B11 block cave now fully operational The B11 block cave at BHP’s (ASX:BHP) Nickel West operations in WA is now fully operational following the firing of the last drawbell last month. This block cave is now one of Nickel West’s most innovative operations and it will be a sustaining producer of nickel at Leinster for around the next seven years. BHP northern operations general manager Mike Moscarda says this will have a major impact on production at Leinster. “This is a first for BHP and was a huge commitment for the business to take on,” he said. “Now that it’s complete, it will contribute up to 50% of the ore...