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Personnel and equipment have been mobilised to one of the most highly valued neodymium and praseodymium concentrate (NdPr) deposits in the world at the Yangibana rare earths project site in the Gascoyne region, WA. As part of a $20m package, Hastings Technology Metals (ASX: HAS) will begin early infrastructure and earthworks activities prior to its scheduled plant construction and mine development this year, with first output anticipated in 2023. With an estimated 16.7mt reserve and a 15-year mine life, the site is expected to produce 3400tpa of the highly valuable NdPr through its hydrometallurgical processing method of cracking, leaching, precipitation and drying. NdPr are vital components in the permanent magnets used every day in high-tech products ranging from electric vehicles…

The demand for Australia’s minerals and metals is growing as several industries embrace advances in technology. Artificial intelligence, big data, automation and remote work are all becoming mainstays in our homes and workplaces. New technology can make workplaces safer and healthier, especially within the Australian mining industry, where the growing demand for minerals and metals is driving the demand for highly skilled employees. The mining industry added 40,000 jobs in the past five years, and it aims to create 5,000 new apprenticeships within the next few years. The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) has continued its recruitment of diverse future talent with the release of the ‘Make Your Career in Mining’ careers guide during National Skills Week, which runs from…

Renascor Resources (ASX: RNU) has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to supply up to 30ktpa of purified spherical graphite (PSG) to South Korean conglomerate POSCO. The non-binding MOU provides for the purchase of 20,000-30,000tpa of PSG from Renascor’s planned battery anode material operation in South Australia and for a potential equity investment by POSCO. With the MOU with POSCO, Renascor has now executed and announced offtake MOUs covering up to 60,000tpa of PSG, including the MOU with POSCO. Renascor Resources managing director David Christensen says the company is delighted to be working with this world leader in the supply of lithium-ion battery materials. “The significant offtake requirements from POSCO represent a transformation step change for Renascor, as the…

Resolution Minerals (ASX: RML) and copper-focused mid-tier mining company OZ Minerals (ASX: OZL) have entered into a farm-in agreement and joint venture on the Wollogorang copper project in the Northern Territory. The agreement will allow both companies to fast-track the search for copper discoveries in the McArthur Basin, which hosts the world class McArthur River lead-zinc mine and is surrounded by mid-tier and major companies including BHP, Rio Tinto and Teck. Resolution Minerals managing director Duncan Chessel says this is an exciting development for the company as the agreement is recognition of the copper prospectivity of the Wollogorang project. “Copper is a fundamental ingredient to the renewable energy of the future of the planet,” he said. “The results of our…

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) will fund the development of a cloud-based connections simulation tool for new grid connections to Australia’s electricity networks, namely from renewable energy developers. A total of $2.23m will go towards the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) for this proposed new tool to assist project developers prepare for applications such as new solar or wind farms, thereby reducing time connecting to the National Electricity Market (NEM). ARENA chief executive Darren Miller said the development of this tool would help integrate and fast-track renewable energy into the energy system. “Australia’s energy system is evolving rapidly with most of the growth in generation coming from rooftop solar and large scale solar and wind,” he said. “The proposed…

Komatsu, which is in its centenary year this year, turned the first sod on a new $6m state-of-the-art innovation training facility in Welshpool, WA on August 18. The facility is expected to train up to 500 skilled technicians a year, addressing a worsening skills shortage in WA’s mining and resources sector. This shortage is due to a decrease in interstate migration, with increased competition between Eastern states and WA projects. Komatsu western regional manager Glenn Swift and City of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas were attendance at the turning of the first sod. The new workshop will be kitted out with a 30t crane in a heavy lifting bay, with the balance of the workshop having a 5t crane capacity,…

Northern Star Resources (ASX: NST) has today completed the sale of its Kundana assets in WA to Evolution Mining (ASX: EVN) for $400m. The Kundana assets comprise the Kundana operations, Northern Star’s 51% interest in each of the East Kundana production joint venture and the East Kundana exploration joint venture, its 75% interest in the West Kundana farm-in joint venture and the Carbine/Carnage gold project. Evolution Mining executive chairman Jake Klein says the consolidation of these assets elevates Mungari into the fourth cornerstone asset in Evolution’s portfolio through increased production, mine life and mineral resources. “This transaction continues Evolution’s track record of identifying and securing opportunities that are both accretive and improve the quality of the portfolio,” he said. Evolution…

Calidus Resources Limited (ASX:CAI) has achieved another key construction milestone, with mining underway at its Warrawoona Gold Project in the East Pilbara, WA. Ore is now being delivered to the Run of Mine (ROM) pad, ensuring the project remains on schedule for production in the June quarter of next year. There has also been more strong progress at the processing plant, with the crusher successfully installed. The plant is now 53% complete, with preliminary works for the SAG mill installation well underway. This is being funded by a loan from Macquarie Bank that was divided into a Facility A Senior Secured Loan of $85M and a Facility B of $25M Mezzanine Debt. Facility B has been fully drawn and Facility…

In a bold move to transform housing affordability and ease the cost of living in Australia’s regional mining communities, a consortium of Local Government Authorities has called for reform to Fringe Benefits Tax policy. Long term advocate for regional Australian and former leader of the WA National Party, Brendon Grylls, announced the consortium’s campaign during a keynote address on day one of the Developing Northern Australia Conference in Darwin. Mr Grylls said the More Than Mining campaign was about normalising tax benefits to allow those living in mining towns to pay for housing costs using pre-tax dollars, thereby solving the problems of population churn, staff retention and lack of community engagement resultant from transient workforces. He called for an end…

WA-based Future Institute of Australia has been awarded a $1m four-year contract to deliver nationally recognised Australian leadership training for up to 140 identified leaders at Centamin’s flagship asset, the Sukari gold mine in Egypt. Centamin is an established gold producer with premium listings on both the London and Toronto stock exchange. It is the only modern-mechanised gold mine in Egypt, producing greater than 400,000oz per annum. As of December 31, 2020, more than 95% of the Sukari workforce are Egyptian and 67% of the leadership positions are held by Egyptians. Centamin is committed to increasing this to 77% in 2022 by empowering its future leaders with the appropriate skills, knowledge, and capability to lead their teams. It chose to…

Cohiba Minerals has signed a Farm-In Agreement with Tigers Dominion Group to earn up to a 51% interest in the Warriner Creek Project in the Gawler Craton. TDG is a subsidiary of the unlisted public junior explorer, White Tiger Resources. The Warriner Creek Project comprises two exploration licences, EL 6324 (Areas A and B) and EL 6533, which cover a combined area of 346 km2 over strategic iron-oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) targets in the Gawler Craton. The Warriner Creek Project is an attractive, low risk option for Cohiba. It aligns perfectly with the company’s Gawler Craton IOCG focus and the initial exploration drilling requires only two relatively modest depth holes, prior to committing to more material expenditure. The tenements lie within a north-west trending…