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Commodity strength to boost FY17 earnings

Commodity strength to boost FY17 earnings

Higher Iron ore and coal prices could add an estimated $12.7 billion to Australia’s export revenue in FY17. Image: Rio Tinto. By Cameron Drummond THE Australian Government has increased its 2016-17 export value projections for coal and iron ore due to higher commodity prices and an unexpected uptick in Chinese construction activity. The Department of Industry, Innovation and Science’s latest Resources and Energy Quarterly report increased its FY17 outlook for both commodities, adding $12.7 billion to previous estimates. As a result the total value of Australia’s resources and energy exports for FY17 was revised up 12 per cent from the June quarter estimate of $163 billion to $176 billion. Its iron ore price outlook increased from $US43 per tonne...

Green shoots for juniors

Green shoots for juniors

All investors interviewed as part of the JUMEX Survey expressed a keen interest on new exploration opportunities. Image: State of Queensland. Photography: Ray Cash. By Elizabeth Fabri JUNIOR miners and explorers have much to look forward to as investor interest returns to the sector, according to a new report. Grant Thornton’s annual JUMEX Survey reported a sustained six month market improvement in investor sentiment, primarily towards commodities such as gold and lithium. “We’re seeing a strong improvement in fund raising success,” Grant Thornton Australia head of energy and resources Holly Stiles said. “Investor interest initially concentrated on certain commodities, but has started to reach out more broadly, particularly to those with low risk, advanced stage assets. “The recent...

Alcohol and drugs a challenge for mining: report

Alcohol and drugs a challenge for mining: report

Increased social use of drugs outside the workplace remains a challenge for employers to manage. By Cameron Drummond GROWING drug and alcohol use in the resources sector has increased the challenges facing employers, according to a report by the Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA). A 2016 AMMA Drug and Alcohol Survey has shown that businesses were progressively more worried about the social acceptance of the use of prescription and illicit substances in the workplace. However the survey showed that out of a total of 53 companies across the industry that responded, only 40 per cent test for synthetic cannabis, raising concerns about the ability of testing to keep up with rapidly changing substance types. The report found that...

QLD ramps up Adani support

QLD ramps up Adani support

Carmichael is now a prescribed Critical Infrastructure project in QLD – the first time this has happened in seven years. Image: Adani Australia By Reuben Adams THE Palaszczuk Government will invoke special powers to speed up development of the controversial $21.7 billion Carmichael coal and rail project in Queensland’s Galilee Basin. The project’s combined mine, rail, and associated water infrastructure were declared Critical Infrastructure – the first time this has happened in seven years. When a Prescribed Project is considered to be “critical or essential” for economic, social or environmental reasons to Queensland, the minister may also declare it a Critical Infrastructure project. The Adani combined project is the only Critical Infrastructure project currently listed on the State Development website....

IGO announces takeover bid for Windward

IGO announces takeover bid for Windward

A portion of the Windward tenement package is contiguous with IGO’s Nova mining lease. Image: Windward. By Reuben Adams A $20.5 million takeover bid for WA-based explorer Windward Resources could substantially increase Independence Group’s (IGO) tenement holdings around its Nova project in the Fraser Range of WA. IGO’s 5 October offer of $0.19 per share – a 46 per cent premium to the last close at 16 September 2016 – was unanimously supported by the Windward board. Windward major shareholder Mark Creasy (27.44 per cent), who originally discovered the world-class Nova deposit with Sirius Resources, intended to accept the offer in the absence of a superior proposal. IGO managing director Peter Bradford said the company was committed to...

Blackout hits South Australian miners

Blackout hits South Australian miners

State-wide blackouts have wreaked havoc on South Australia’s mining industry. By Reuben Adams WILD weather has forced South Australia’s biggest miners to shut down operations following the state-wide blackout on Wednesday, 28 September. BHP Billiton announced that Olympic Dam was able to safely shut down operations and the site de-mobilised, with backup generators providing power to critical infrastructure to allow a restart of operations when power is restored. “Our primary focus is the safety and welfare of our people,” BHP said in a statement. “We are liaising closely with Electranet and the State Government to ensure power is restored to Roxby Downs town and Olympic Dam as soon as possible.” As of 3 October Olympic Dam was receiving some power...

World-first nickel discovery

World-first nickel discovery

Hugh Morgan presenting at the Paydirt 2016 Africa Down Under mining conference at Perth in September. By Elizabeth Fabri A HIGH grade native nickel discovery made in West Africa is believed to be the first of its kind in the world. The Titan Nickel Project discovery, made by a private Australian company, was said to contain an ‘improbable’ kind of nickel that formed in small balls 0.1-5.0mm in diameter, compared to traditional nickel that needed to be refined from soil. Mining veteran Hugh Morgan, who heads the company, said the balls were hard and weakly ferromagnetic, and ranged in colour from bright silver and golden, to dark metallic grey. “What makes this nickel so unique is its genesis;...

$400m lithium processing plant greenlit

$400m lithium processing plant greenlit

The site of the new lithium processing facility in Kwinana, WA. Image: Tianqi Lithium. By Cameron Drummond CHINESE lithium major Tianqi Lithium has received approval for its $400 million lithium processing plant in the Perth city of Kwinana. Subsidiary Tianqi Lithium Australia announced it had received final approval from its parent company’s board of directors to build the plant. The company anticipated the creation of 500 jobs during construction and more than 115 full time production jobs upon its expected completion in late 2018. The Kwinana plant would process spodumene concentrate from the Greenbushes lithium mine in WA’s South West region, producing 24,000 tonnes per annum of lithium hydroxide for use in lithium batteries. The mine is operated by Talison...

Pilbara Minerals eyes expansion

Pilbara Minerals eyes expansion

Image: The Pilgangoora lithium project in the WA Pilbara. By Cameron Drummond LITHIUM hopeful Pilbara Minerals could double production capacity at its Pilgangoora project, according to a pre-feasibility study (PFS) to assess expansion to a 4 million tonne per annum (mtpa) production rate. The announcement coincided with the release of Pilbara Minerals’ long awaited definitive feasibility study (DFS) on the initial 2mtpa development of the project. The DFS results confirmed the financial and technical merits of Pilgangoora, highlighting an estimated mine life of 36 years and annual earnings before tax, interest, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $133 million. The study assumed a spodumene sale price of $US537 per tonne at an estimated cash operating cost of $US196/t for the...

High hopes for Ravenswood expansion

High hopes for Ravenswood expansion

Caption: Nolans process plant overlooking mill 1 and mill 2. Image Resolute By Elizabeth Fabri MINING at Resolute’s north Queensland Ravenswood mine could extend out to 2029 if a $258 million expansion receives a gold tick of approval. Results from the Ravenswood Expansion Project Feasibility Study (REP Study) confirmed the mine could operate for a further 13 years and produce about 120,000 ounces of gold a year at all-in-sustaining costs of $1166/oz. The news followed Resolute’s June announcement that it was recommencing open-pit mining at Ravenswood’s Nolans East in August, extending the mine life out to October 2017. Resolute managing director and chief executive John Welborn said the REP Study was a ‘tremendous’ achievement for the company. Under the new...

RCR wins $120m Silvergrass contract

RCR wins $120m Silvergrass contract

Rio Tinto has awarded its first contract since announcing its $338m development of Silvergrass. By Cameron Drummond PERTH-based engineering company RCR Tomlinson was awarded a contract to deliver a primary crusher and conveyor system for Rio Tinto’s $338 million Silvergrass iron ore project in the Pilbara region of WA. The $120 million contract includes engineering, procurement and construction work of the crusher; nine kilometres of overland conveyor; and its associated 33kW power line. The conveyor system will be installed in place of a road haulage system linking the mine site to Rio’s processing facility at Nammuldi. Construction is expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2016, following approval grants. RCR managing director Dr Paul Dalgleish said the contract award...