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Cleanco, a Queensland Government-owned energy provider, has made a deal with rail freight operator Aurizon to deliver affordable and reliable renewable energy to the state’s coal export industry. Aurizon operates Australia’s largest electrified rail freight system, the Central Queensland coal network (CQCN), and by securing renewable energy from CleanCo it can continue operating this critical infrastructure for export industries and local communities, while lowering emissions. Under the deal, CleanCo will supply Aurizon with renewable energy from the MacIntyre wind farm in the Western Downs, the Kaban wind farm in Far North Queensland and the Woolooga solar farm north of Brisbane. Queensland Treasurer and Energy Minister David Janetzki says the agreement demonstrates how state-owned energy suppliers are directly supporting regional exports. “Regional Queensland is at the heart of our economy, and partnerships like this show how reliable, sustainable energy is keeping those industries…

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is providing $45m in funding for the development of a Pilbara solar innovation hub with Fortescue (ASX: FMG). The funding, from the advancing renewables program, will facilitate a first-of-its-kind initiative, operating across Fortescue’s growing renewable energy portfolio, to trial emerging technologies and reduce the cost of renewable energy generation. Through the hub, Fortescue will select and test a suite of new technologies aimed at improving safety, reducing costs and accelerating large-scale solar deployment including automation, advanced materials and next-generation solar construction techniques to accelerate Australia’s energy transition. Fortescue metals and operations chief executive Dino Otranto says this opportunity to work with ARENA is a strong endorsement of Fortescue’s commitment to pioneering renewable energy solutions…

The WA Government has opened an expression of interest (EoI) for local green steel manufacturers to supply major government projects.  Exporting green iron precursors to green steel is a major opportunity for WA to add value to its raw iron ore exports and procuring green steel for government projects provides an additional opportunity to develop a locally manufactured green steel recycling industry. As part of new, soon-to-be-introduced local sourcing requirements, the government will explicitly preference WA-made green steel.  To support this, the government will also be publishing a WA Industry Participation Strategy (WAIPS) addendum for steel, which will introduce stronger expectations for local sourcing, recognise the role of recycled and low-emissions steel and insist on value-for-money assessments.  WA Premier Roger Cook says this will not only create jobs in construction but also…

The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) has called on Indigenous businesses and governments to consider equity frameworks alongside procurement frameworks. At the annual Aboriginal Enterprises in Mining, Energy and Exploration (AEMEE) conference in Darwin, Northern Territory, Indigenous ownership, equity and intergenerational prosperity were highlighted as integral to the resources sector’s future. According to the MCA, in FY25, total reportable Indigenous-business procurement reached $5.83b across Australia and, of that, the mining sector alone accounted for about $1.64b or 28%. MCA Indigenous partnerships and communities principal adviser Matt Denyer says the industry is at a reform crossroads. “We have only one Indigenous-led mine, no Indigenous-owned minerals processing facilities and no Indigenous capital funds capturing meaningful shares of that value,” he said. “That gap is risk, because while…

As Australia looks to grow its green iron industry, the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) has warned the country heed lessons from green iron efforts in the US and Europe. The IEEFA reported governments in Europe and the US issued billions in capital grants to low-emissions steel projects only for several to be cancelled or delayed in its study, How to spend a billion dollars: Lessons from overseas for Australia’s green iron ambitions. IEEFA’s analysis of schemes in the US and Europe has revealed shortcomings and commonalities that are pertinent to Australia, particularly focusing on steelmakers alone without clean, firm electricity supplies or offtake agreements in place. Earlier this year, the Federal Government announced a $1b green…

Horseshoe Metals (ASX: HOR) confirmed shallow copper mineralisation in the Motters zone at its Horseshoe Lights project in northern WA. Assay results from the company’s ongoing drilling program have confirmed the continuity and thickness of oxide mineralisation extending from the surface into multiple primary copper mineralisation zones. The company is nearing completion of its phase one infill reverse circulation (RC) drilling at the northern end of the Motters zone and plans to commence a phase two program to test the main zone’s northern and southern extensions. Horseshoe reported in early October that it had intersected shallow, wide copper grades in the early stages of the program. Horseshoe Lights oxide-copper operations general manager Steven Sickerdick says the latest assays continue to…

WA Government-owned energy provider Horizon Power is calling for independent power producers to present proposals to supply power to the Pilbara region starting from 2030. The expression of interest (EOI) invites proposals from a broad range of industry participants, including those with innovative renewable energy solutions and partnerships with Traditional Owner groups. Respondents with renewable energy projects and clear pathways to land access — including Traditional Owner groups — will be viewed favourably. By broadening participation, this process will provide greater flexibility to Horizon Power’s generation procurement in the Pilbara and will optimise opportunities for local suppliers to participate in the region’s energy future. The EOI builds on the work already being undertaken as part of the Pilbara energy transition…

The International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) has published its 2025 tailings progress report, detailing how companies are upholding the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM). The report collates data from members’ individual disclosures made in 2025, offering a transparent snapshot of collective progress towards full conformance as well as case studies of implementation efforts and wider work to reduce or eliminate tailings. When the GISTM was published in 2020, ICMM members committed that all applicable tailings facilities with an extreme or very high consequence classification would conform with the GISTM by August 2023 and all other applicable facilities by August 2025 — spurring immediate and sustained action by ICMM members. Analysis of ICMM members’ 2025 disclosures shows that…

The Tasmania Government has signed an in-principle 12-month power agreement to secure the immediate future of Rio Tinto’s (ASX: RIO) Bell Bay Aluminium smelter. The agreement will allow time for the Tasmania Government to continue to work with the company and the Federal Government on a long-term plan for the smelter. In October, the smelter’s more than 500 staff were told the future of operations were uncertain as the smelter nears the expiry of its energy supply deal with state-owned Hydro Tasmania in December. Tasmania Premier Jeremy Rockliff says the government is doing all it can to make sure the business continues to have a strong future in the state. “The smelter is a cornerstone of Tasmania’s economy, directly employing…

Australia’s freight operators have expressed concerns that proposals to curtail diesel rebates or mandate transitions to electric or alternative fuels would trigger significant cost-of-living increases and threaten the viability of thousands of small transport businesses. The warning comes as Climate Change Authority chairman Matt Kean backed calls to overhaul the diesel fuel rebate, suggesting the billions spent annually would be better directed towards electrification. However, exclusive survey data from Loadshift — a subsidiary of Freelancer Limited (ASX: FLN) and Australia’s largest online marketplace for heavy-haulage transport. — reveals major opposition from those in the freight industry. Loadshift chief executive Matt Barrie says the survey results reflect deep concern across the industry about policies being developed without understanding operational realities. “Our…