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Why are critical minerals important to Australia? To combat climate change, governments around the world are steering away from fossil fuels towards renewable sources. However, the creation of renewable energy infrastructure requires an immense amount of critical minerals to meet the exponential growth in demand. Australia is blessed with vast mineral riches, not least in critical minerals vital to our economic success. We’re the world’s leading producer of bauxite, alumina, rutile (titanium) and tantalum. We’re also the second-largest producer of uranium, lead, ilmenite, zircon (zirconium) and lithium, and the sixth-largest producer of the so-called rare-earth minerals. For all Australia’s riches, we’ve only explored around 20% of our landmass. We, therefore, have the potential to tap into our enormous reserves of…

The Cooperative Research Centre for Transformations in Mining Economies (CRC TiME), along with partners Fortescue Metals Group, University of WA and Curtin University, have announced a new project focusing on increasing plant nutrients in iron ore waste, enabling improved mine site rehabilitation in WA’s Pilbara region. The 12-month project is centred around Fortescue’s Chichester Hub mine site and includes experimental glasshouse-based and laboratory testing undertaken at UWA, along with microbiology expertise from Curtin. According to CRC TiME, the Pilbara region has a very thin layer of top soil which is essential for plant growth and is disrupted through mining. The project will formulate a process to increase plant available nutrient levels, specifically nitrogen for this study, in mineral waste (waste…

The Pilbara Ports Authority has achieved another record-breaking year, with a total annual throughput of 724.7mt. This strong year-on-year performance follows the PPA exceeding 700mt for the first time last financial year, and represents an increase of 14% over the past five years. The PPA is the world’s largest bulk export port authority, encompassing the ports of Ashburton, Dampier and Port Hedland. PPA CEO Roger Johnston said the organisation’s strong performance was a result of improved port efficiencies, which has helped to meet the strong demand for iron ore exports. “The investment to increase the Port of Port Hedland’s capacity is paying off, with the enhancements resulting in an expanded shipping window to enable more vessels to sail on high…

Fortescue Metals Group’s (Fortescue) autonomous haul (AHS) fleet has marked a significant milestone moving two billion tonnes of material, doubling the amount hauled since reaching the one billion tonne milestone in September 2019. In 2012, Fortescue was the first in the world to deploy Caterpillar Inc’s autonomous haulage technology on a commercial scale at its Solomon Hub operations and the multi-class fleet has since expanded across the Company’s Pilbara operations with a total of 193 autonomous trucks now in operation. Fortescue Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Gaines said Fortescue was a leader in the implementation of autonomous haulage across our iron ore operations. “Our fleet represents one of the largest in the world, with 79 trucks currently in operation at Solomon,…

Tradefaire International (TFI) has strengthened its position in the mining tyre market through a long-standing partnership with global manufacturer BKT. By distributing BKT’s advanced off-the-road (OTR) tyres, TFI offers mining operations high-performance alternatives to traditional brands with improved cost-per-hour efficiency. Supported by extensive research, large-scale manufacturing facilities, and rigorous testing, the EARTHMAX tyre range is designed to withstand the harsh conditions of surface and underground mining. Combined with TFI’s nationwide service network and technical expertise, the partnership delivers reliable tyre solutions, site assessments, and performance optimisation for mining operations across Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT with Peter Walker, Director at ORBIZ Q. Why are critical minerals important to Australia? To combat climate change, governments around the world are steering away from fossil fuels towards renewable sources. However, the creation of renewable energy infrastructure requires an immense amount of critical minerals to meet the exponential growth in demand. Australia is blessed with vast mineral riches, not least in critical minerals vital to our economic success. We’re the world’s leading producer of bauxite, alumina, rutile (titanium) and tantalum. We’re also the second-largest producer of uranium, lead, ilmenite, zircon (zirconium) and lithium, and the sixth-largest producer of the so-called rare-earth minerals. For all Australia’s riches, we’ve only explored around 20% of our landmass. We, therefore,…

Apprenticeship and traineeship commencements in the mining industry in 2020 surged to their highest level in seven years, with traditional trades in electrical, metal, automotive and construction driving the growth. This is according to latest statistics by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research, with the December quarter rising by 127% compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Completions of apprenticeships and traineeships also increased 53% compared to 2019. Minerals Council of Australia chief executive Tania Constable says the mining industry prioritises upskilling its workforce and being an employer of choice. “Apprentices and trainees that choose the mining industry can expect highly paid and secure jobs,” she said. “It is projected that more than 1,000 apprenticeships will be created by mining…

Year 10 students from Central Queensland high schools became tradies for a day at workshops to learn more about resources sector trades, including auto electrics, mechanics, pneumatics and technical drawing. The workshops – attended by male and female students from Mackay SHS, Sarina SHS, Pioneer SHS and Mackay Northern Beaches SHS – formed part of the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy’s (QMEA) ‘Tradies for a Day’ experience, supported by BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA). Mentored by industry representatives from BHP and BMA, students received a practical taste of trades and heard about the growing number of career opportunities available to young people in the region. QMEA’s Manager of Skills and Education, Matthew Heskett, said the workshops come at a time when…

Pembroke Resources’ Olive Downs project near Moranbah, Central Queensland, has been thrown a lifeline by the Federal Government. The National Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) has approved a $175m loan to support the $900m metallurgical coal project in the Bowen Basin. Federal Resources, Water and Northern Australia Minister Keith Pitt said the Olive Downs project will support up to 700 jobs during construction and more than 500 new jobs when operational. “NAIF has approved a loan of $175 million to support the mine’s first stage of development which includes rail, and transmission lines, water pipelines, access roads and a coal handling preparation plant,” he said. The coal will be taken by rail to the coal terminal at Dalrymple Bay for export…

Reward Minerals (ASX: RWD) has been granted Major Project Status by the Federal Government for its $450m Lake Disappointment brine and sulphate of potash project in the remote northwest of WA. The project, located about 320km east of Newman in WA, aims to produce about 400,000tpa of sulphate of potash by abstracting potassium-rich brines from sediments and using solar evaporation on the surface of the lake. Federal Resources, Water and Northern Australia Minister Keith Pitt says the project will support economic growth and new job opportunities in Northern Australia. “The Lake Disappointment project has an initial life of 25 years and will help Australian farmers access the fertiliser they need to improve production and grow food for both Australia and…

Following a more than 40-year search to deliver a storage facility for waste largely associated with nuclear medicine production, Parliament has passed important supporting legislation. The National Radioactive Waste Management Amendment (Site Specification, Community Fund and Other Measures) Bill 2020 passed with bipartisan support and means a National Radioactive Waste Management Facility can be progressed in the national interest, and the nearby community that hosts it will be well supported. This critical national infrastructure will be for the disposal of Australia’s low level radioactive waste and temporary storage of intermediate level waste, currently spread over more than 100 locations. Resources Minister Keith Pitt said for more than 40 years, successive Australian Governments had sought a site for a facility to store…