NewsProjects & Operations Rio-led JV greenlights $294m study The Rhodes Ridge Joint Venture has approved a $294m (US$191m) feasibility study to progress the first stage of the Rhodes Ridge project.
NewsProjects & Operations BHP backs Chinese $1.69b SolGold takeover bid Major SolGold shareholders — including BHP (ASX: BHP) and Newmont (ASX: NEM) — have vowed to support a takeover from China-based Jiangxi Copper (JCC) for the right price.
NewsProjects & Operations Fortescue bets $152m on Peruvian copper takeover Fortescue (ASX: FMG) has entered a binding agreement to acquire the remaining 64% of Canada- based Alta Copper for an implied value of $151m (C$139m).
NewsPeople & Workforce Rio Tinto signs interim agreement with Yinhawangka Aboriginal Corporation Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) and Yinhawangka Aboriginal Corporation have signed an Interim Modernised Agreement, establishing a pathway to a fuller agreement that will govern how the miner operates on Yinhawangka Country in the long term.
NewsProjects & Operations Australia’s largest aluminium smelter to remain open beyond 2028 The Federal Government will work with the NSW Government and Tomago Aluminium to keep the smelter open beyond 2028 when its current energy contract expires.
NewsPolitics & Regulation Billion-dollar mine felled by a blue banded bee Last year, former Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek derailed Regis Resources’ (ASX: RRL) $1b McPhillamys gold project in NSW with a controversial Indigenous heritage ruling.Now more than a year later, the Federal Court in Sydney is hearing Regis’ case — with the company pleading that the decision should be deemed invalid due to alleged issues and failures on behalf of Minister Plibersek.
NewsProcurement & Suppliers Metso launches new grinding classification system Metso has unveiled an innovative, configurable modular grinding classification system.
NewsProjects & Operations UGL to construct Stage 3 of Western Downs battery The CIMIC Group’s specialist engineering and services provider, UGL, has been selected by Neoen and Tesla to construct Stage 3 of the 305MV/1220MWh Western Downs battery in Queensland.
NewsProjects & Operations Westgold restarts Cue gold mine Westgold Resources (ASX: WGX) has successfully fired the first high-grade stope at its Great Fingall mine — now accessing virgin areas last mined more than a century ago.
Economics & Commodity PricesNews Energy grid overhaul costs hit $128b, coal remains critical The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) draft 2026 integrated system plan (ISP) indicates that current strategies may not deliver energy security or climate objectives.
NewsProjects & Operations Alcoa doubles no-mining zone Alcoa Australia (ASX: AAI) will expand its Mining Avoidance Zone (MAZ) around Dwellingup to 26,000ha, equivalent to the size of about 860 Optus stadiums.The expanded MAZ is adjacent to several designated conservation areas, including sections of old growth forest which will never be mined.
