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QLD releases exploration strategy

QLD releases exploration strategy

MMG’s Dugald mine in QLD’s North West Minerals Province. Image: MMG. BY CAMERON DRUMMOND THE QLD Government has put in place a blueprint to drive the next wave of resources development in in the State’s North West Minerals Province. QLD State Development minister Dr Anthony Lynham unveiled the blueprint on 19 July, which was created to stimulate exploration investment and identify new job-creating prospects. “The blueprint represents the combined efforts of government, industry and business stakeholders from across North West Queensland to facilitate a strong and prosperous future for this important region,” Dr Lynham said. Underpinned by $39m of funding from the recent State Budget, the blueprint is designed to build on existing measures such as the Resources Development (Royalties) Policy…

FMG autonomous truck strategy in gear

FMG autonomous truck strategy in gear

Image: FMG. BY ELIZABETH FABRI FORTESCUE Metals Group (FMG) will add more autonomous trucks to its fleet in FY18 as part of the company’s strategy to improve safety, productivity and efficiency across its Pilbara operations. Announced on 27 June, the FY18 innovation projects included converting up to 12 793F trucks to autonomous haulage technology (AHS) at Solomon Hub, the rollout of AHS across the Chichester Hub project, a relocatable overland conveyor trial at Cloudbreak mine, and IT network upgrades at Cloudbreak and Christmas Creek. Fortescue said about 100 haul trucks would be converted to AHS at the Chichester Hub to deliver on the 20 per cent productivity improvements recorded at Solomon since the company’s deployment of 56 AHS vehicles from…

NT gold mine begins production

NT gold mine begins production

The project is located in the Tennant Creek region. Image: Emmerson Resources. BY ELIZABETH FABRI PROJECT partners Emmerson Resources and mid-tier gold producer Evolution Mining will open the first Northern Territory gold mine in more than a decade, after final approval to begin production at the high grade Edna Beryl gold operation was received in June. Emmerson’s strategy was aimed at monetising a pipeline of small high grade gold deposits within its Tennant Creek project as a low cost path to production; the company stated that it had identified 15 such mines within its tenements. The first of these, Edna Beryl, will be operated under a tribute agreement with Edna Beryl Mining Company, an operator that specialises in small mines.…

Kwinana Lithium expansion on cards

Kwinana Lithium expansion on cards

The $400 million first stage of the Tianqi Lithium Plant project was now under construction. Image: Tianqi Lithium Australia. BY ELIZABETH FABRI CHINESE-owned Tianqi Lithium has agreed to invest $317 million towards an expansion of its Kwinana Lithium Plant in WA, currently under construction. The first stage of the project was due to be complete at the end of 2018, and set to produce up to 24,000 tonnes of battery grade lithium hydroxide per annum. A second phase would double plant capacity to 48,000 tonnes per annum, and be built adjacent to the first plant, with a construction period of less than two years. Tianqi Lithium Australia managing director Phil Thick said the company was pleased to be moving to…

Aggreko snares $100m Amrun contract

Aggreko snares $100m Amrun contract

Rio Tinto’s Amrun project. BY CAMERON DRUMMOND RIO TINTO has awarded a $100 million contract to power provider Aggreko Australia Pacific to build and operate a 20MW power station at its $2.6 billion Amrun bauxite project near Weipa in North QLD. The station is to be a high efficiency modular diesel power system that includes engine efficiency upgrades and a heat-recovery system, to be deployed over the 15 year term of the contract which comes with a five year extension option. Rio Tinto Amrun general manager Marcia Hanrahan said the contract to build the power station signified another important milestone for delivery of the Amrun project. “The power delivery expertise and operational capabilities that the Aggreko team will bring will…

Approved projects unaffected by WA uranium ban

Approved projects unaffected by WA uranium ban

Toro Energy’s Wiluna uranium project site. BY CAMERON DRUMMOND THE WA Labor Government cannot legally stand in the way of uranium projects already approved by the former Government. The four approved projects – Toro Energy’s Wiluna project, Cameco’s Kintyre and Yeelirrie projects, and Vimy Resources’ Mulga Rock project – would proceed as long as they meet their regulatory and environmental obligations. On 20 June the McGowan Government announced an expected ban on future uranium mining leases in the State, following on from its election promise to block future applications to mine the commodity. It said these actions were consistent with the ban that existed between 2002 and 2008 under the previous Labor administration. “The Government will not prevent the four…

Rio progresses $2.2bn Koodaideri project

Rio progresses $2.2bn Koodaideri project

The Koodaideri deposit is located in the Hamersley Range, WA. BY ELIZABETH FABRI RIO Tinto has poured $30.9 million into a feasibility study of its Koodaideri greenfields iron ore deposit in WA, which could see construction begin in 2019 and first ore delivered by 2021. The $2.2 billion project, which had been in the planning pipeline for some time, was set to replace existing production in the Pilbara, with an estimated capacity of about 40 million tonnes per year. Pre feasibility for the project released in November 2016 outlined development of a dry crushing and screening plant, non-process infrastructure, product stockyards, a rail loop and load out, and 170km rail link. The 2017 feasibility study would focus on increasing Rio…

QLD reforms mine rehab laws

QLD reforms mine rehab laws

Rio Tinto’s Hail Creek coal mine. Image: Rio Tinto. BY CAMERON DRUMMOND THE QUEENSLAND Government has proposed changes would make sure large mines across the State are properly rehabilitated, protecting the environment and creating more jobs in the resource services industry. Speaking during a visit to Rio Tinto’s Hail Creek coal mine, south-west of Mackay, QLD environment minister Steven Miles said the changes to financial assurance and rehabilitation would apply to new and existing mine operations. “These next generation laws will ensure taxpayers are no longer left to foot the bill for failed mines or stranded assets,” Mr Miles said. “For the first time mines will be expected to progressively rehabilitate as land becomes available for rehab, and their performance…

Australian miners win big at Platts awards

Australian miners win big at Platts awards

BY ELIZABETH FABRI FORTESCUE Metals Group, Roy Hill, and MMG were awarded top honours at the 2017 Platts Global Metals Awards in London last night. In its fifth year, the awards ceremony aimed to recognise the “best of the best” in the metals industry, with 15 awards winners chosen by an independent panel of judges. Announced Metals Company of the Year for the second time since 2014, Fortescue also took home the Industry Leadership Award – Raw Materials & Mining. “It is an honour to accept these prestigious awards which recognise the hard work and determination of everyone at Fortescue,” Fortescue chief executive Nev Power said. “Our team has delivered outstanding results across all of our operations, including improved safety…

900 jobs for Bowen Basin

900 jobs for Bowen Basin

BY ELIZABETH FABRI QCOAL will soon begin construction at its $1.76 billion majority-owned Byerwen coal project in North East Queensland after receiving State Government approval last month to develop two of its tenements. The joint venture project between QCoal (85 per cent) and JFE Steel Corporation (15 per cent) was set to generate 350 construction jobs at peak, and a further 545 jobs once operational. The open-cut mine would produce up to 10 million tonnes of high-quality coking and thermal coal per annum, which would be railed to Abbot Point Coal Terminal for overseas export. QLD natural resources and mines minister Anthony Lynham welcomed the investment in the State’s resources sector. “It’s particularly good news for locals, as the proponent has…

Heron awards $107m EPC contract at Woodlawn

Heron awards $107m EPC contract at Woodlawn

The Woodlawn zinc-copper project site near Tarago, NSW. Image: Heron Resources. BY CAMERON DRUMMOND MULTI-commodity focused explorer Heron Resources has awarded a $107m contract for the development of its Woodlawn zinc-copper project in NSW. The engineering, procurement and construction contract (EPC) went to CIMIC Group subsidiary Sedgman for the development of a 1.5 million tonnes per annum mineral processing plant that would produce zinc, copper and lead concentrates. The design also included a backfill plant and supporting infrastructure at the project located near Tarago, 250km southwest of Sydney. More than 250 personnel would be employed at the peak of construction. Heron Resources managing director Wayne Taylor said the contract award followed the successful undertaking of a…