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Northern Star Resources strengthens portfolio with Millrose purchase Northern Star Resources (ASX:NST) has strengthened its portfolio with the purchase of the Millrose project from Strickland Metals (ASX:STK) for $61m. Strickland has received a $2m cash deposit and will receive cash consideration of $39m payable on completion of the transaction which is expected to be no later than 30 business days. Northern Star will also issue 1.5m fully paid ordinary shares which will be issued upon completion of the transaction and subject to 12 months escrow. Located 40km east of Northern Star’s Jundee operations in WA, the Millrose project has a mineral resource of 346koz of gold at a grade...

BHP releases sixth Reconciliation Action Plan Mining giant BHP (ASX:BHP) has released its sixth Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and its second Elevate RAP. The RAP was developed in collaboration with various representatives from Traditional Owner groups, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses, communities, organisation and peak bodies across the country. It was developed through an extensive consultation process which involved nine forums over eight months held in every region BHP operates in. The plan outlines BHP’s approach to respectful engagement and agreement-making, economic and community development, cultural understanding and advocacy to advance national reconciliation and the interest of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. BHP president Australia Geraldine Slattery said...

ECU to host Professional Chair in Mining Work Health and Safety Edith Cowan University (ECU) is the successful applicant for a new mining sector initiative, the Professional Chair in Mining Work Health and Safety. Funded as part of the State Government’s commitment to the mental awareness, respect and safety (MARS) program, the professional chair will bring tertiary institutions, government and industry together to develop undergraduate and postgraduate education for future mining industry workers. The initiative will also create and oversee a leading-edge research centre for mining work health and safety. Launched by the State Government in December 2021, the MARS program boosts responses to mental health, mine safety and...

CopperString $1b boost to unlock Queensland vanadium industry A $20m early works package for engineering and geotechnical work has been awarded to CIMIC Group companies UGL and CPB Contractors for CopperString 2032’s early works. It was announced at the official opening of Vecco Group’s $26m Townsville vanadium battery manufacturing facility. The new facility will produce the electrolyte needed to manufacture vanadium batteries, which last longer than lithium-ion batteries, at up to 20 years and have lower rates of degradation while being almost 100% recyclable. Queensland’s coal royalties will also boost CopperString 2032 by $1b, with $594m committed to start construction over the next financial year. The...

Tamboran Resources enters MOUs with BP and Shell Tamboran Resources (ASX:TBN) has signed two memorandum of understandings (MOU) with BP and Shell for the supply of 4.4mtpa of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Coming from Tamboran’s proposed Northern Territory LNG (NTLNG) project at Middle Arm, the MOUs include volumes for BP and Shell to each purchase up to 2.2mtpa of LNG over a 20-year period. Subject to completion of the concept select studies, government approvals and successful Beetaloo appraisal drilling, gas volumes have the potential to be supplied from Tamboran’s Beetaloo Basin gas assets. Tamboran chief executive and managing director Joel Riddle said securing these two agreements is a significant step. “Securing...

Western Range mine spends big with local businesses A total of $1b in contracts has been awarded to WA businesses as construction progresses at the Western Range mine in Pilbara, WA. The mine, a joint venture between the world’s largest iron ore producer Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO)  (54%) and the world’s biggest steelmaker China Baowu Steel Group Co. Ltd (46%), is targeting the start of production in 2025 of 25mtpa of iron ore. Last year, Rio Tinto spent $8.6b across more than 2400 suppliers, with $618m spent with Pilbara-based businesses and a record $504m spent with indigenous WA businesses. Rio Tinto iron ore chief executive Simon Trott says...

Lynas Rare Earths awarded $20m government grant Lynas Rare Earths (ASX:LYC) has been awarded a $20m grant under the Australian Government’s Modern Manufacturing Initiative — Manufacturing Integration Stream. The grant will be used to fund the development of a new capability that processes apatite-rich ores from the Mt Weld ore body in WA. This process contains two circuits and the grant will partially fund the apatite leach circuit at Mt Weld. Developed in collaboration with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and Mt Weld Mining — a subsidiary of Lynas — the process is expected to...

Northern Star Resources receives approval for $1.5b KCGM expansion Northern Star Resources (ASX:NST) has received approval for the $1.5b mill expansion of its Kalgoorlie consolidated gold mines (KCGM). With a mineral resource of 28.3moz and an ore reserve of 12.2moz, Northern Star’s KCGM operation is one of the world’s largest and most significant gold mines. Under the three-year construction process, the capacity of the processing circuit, centred on the Fimiston processing plant, will increase from 13mtpa to 27mtpa by FY29. The new plant will have a high level of process automation, control and condition monitoring. Increasing the throughput capacity will increase gold production and reduce unit rate processing costs,...

Suvo Strategic Minerals signs three-year agreement for sale of silica sand Suvo Strategic Minerals (ASX:SUV) has signed a three-year agreement with BQ Nominees, trading as Barfold Quarry, for the sale of its silica sand. The deal covers by-product produced from Suvo’s hydrous kaolin operation in Victoria and is expected to generate revenue between $1.5m to $2m. Suvo estimates 200,000t of silica sand stockpiles at the Pittong processing facility with 90% (180,000t) saleable silica sand. Due to the supply shortages of sand in the construction industry, it’s estimated that all 180,000t of saleable silica sand will be processed and hauled by Barfold in the first year of the agreement. Once...

World-first electromagnetic survey to begin at Carr Boyd A world-first helicopter-borne electromagnetic survey (targetEM) will be carried out at Estrella Resources’ (ASX:ESR) Carr Boyd project in Western Australia. Undertaken by Canadian-based geophysical firm Expert Geophysics, the survey will target all the project’s tenure, including all the prospective horizons identified in the recent exploration review. This includes the high priority Colreavy komatiite target which has been subject to no previous modern geophysics. Additionally, Estrella will be acquiring very low frequency, magnetics and high frequency audio-frequency-magnetic data to improve the depth and quality of investigation in potentially detecting drill targets.   The surveys allow Estrella to model prospective horizons at Carr...

Richmond Vanadium Technology appoints DRA Global as engineering services consultant Richmond Vanadium Technology (ASX:RVT) has appointed DRA Global (ASX:DRA) as engineering services consultant for the bankable feasibility study (BFS) for its Richmond — Julia creek vanadium project in Queensland. The BFS will build on the positive outcome achieved in the pre-feasibility study which demonstrated a financially viable project based on a 25-year mine life. Since the pre-feasibility study, RVT has completed and released environmental impact statement (EIS) final terms of reference, received EIS and associated approvals and undertaken multi-user water assessment. Additionally, Richmond Vanadium Technology has received a $3m investment from Australia’s first vanadium redox flow...