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With Minesite Furniture, investing in modernising your facilities sets the tone for a productive and loyal workforce from day one. The moment an employee steps into their village, the quality of their living and working environment shapes how they feel about their job, their company, and their future. That’s why thoughtful design and high-quality furnishings send such a powerful message: we value our people. When workers feel supported, the payoff is clear – greater loyalty, higher morale, and improved productivity. Why Comfort Counts in Mining Villages In today’s competitive job market, workers aren’t settling for the bare minimum anymore. They expect accommodation and communal spaces that feel like home—and companies that deliver are winning the race for top talent. Backed…

China has introduced new export controls on rare earths and related technologies ahead of trade talks with the US, barring its citizens from unauthorised overseas mining. This brings the total count of export-restricted rare earth elements to 12, as China tightened restrictions on seven in response to tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration earlier this year, stalling key defence, energy and automotive sectors. The new controls, effective immediately, require exporters to obtain permission for technologies used for rare earth mining, smelting and other processing steps, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said in a statement. Additional controls, effective December 1, require foreign entities to obtain a license to export any products manufactured using China’s technology, equipment or materials even if the…

The Queensland Government will build a new gas-fired power plant and continue operating coal-fired power plants into 2050, outlined in the state’s energy roadmap released today. The roadmap outlines that coal will continue to underpin affordable and reliable energy supply to the state for as long as needed with gas emerging as a critical technology for system reliability. According to the roadmap, in 2025, there is about 8GW of coal-fired generation capacity owned and operated by government owned corporations (GOC’s) and the private sector in Queensland, supplying more than 60% of total output. The state also has about 3.5GW of combined gas and open-cycle gas turbine capacity and by 2030, boosted by new projects outlined in the roadmap, the system…

Gold is expected to overtake LNG to become Australia’s second highest value export in FY26, according to the September 2025 Resources and Energy Quarterly (REQ). Australia’s gold export earnings rose 42% to $47b in FY25 and is forecast to grow a further 28% to $60b in FY26 before stabilising in FY27. That track will see gold become Australia’s second-largest export earner after iron ore. According to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources’ (DIRS) REQ, gold prices climbed above $5600/oz (US$3700/oz) in mid-September and is forecast to remain above $5100/oz (US$3,400/oz) as global demand for safe-haven assets persists. This increase in gold prices comes as US interests cuts occur — lowering the opportunity cost of holding gold — and worries…

An interim report into the FMG Nicola’s sudden engine failure has been released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), with the bureau now investigating why it was not made aware of the incident until five months later. The bulk carrier, fully laden with iron ore, departed Port Hedland on February 7 when the ship’s engine suddenly shut down about an hour into the voyage. A full report did not reach the ATSB at the time of occurrence and the watchdog only became aware of the potential seriousness of the incident after media reporting five months later. On the morning after the incident, the ship’s local agent submitted the appropriate incident reports, including to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s local…

Liontown Resources (ASX: LTR) will not be delivering lithium from its Kathleen Valley operations in WA to the Ford Motor Company until at least 2029, if at all. Under the original terms of the offtake agreement, Liontown was to deliver 512,500dmt to Ford from January 1, 2027, onwards. The total has now been halved to 256,250dmt with initial delivery pushed back by at least two years. The reduction in lithium volume and delay in delivery are being attributed to slow electric vehicle (EV) uptake across the US. Liontown will receive a yearlong repayment reprieve for its $300m loan and supply deal with Ford now scheduled to commence September 30, 2026. All other conditions, including interest margin, term and security, remain…

The US Department of War (DOW) will take an equity stake in Trilogy Metals to advance exploration and development in the Ambler mining district in Alaska. Under the terms, South32 has agreed to sell more than 8.2 million shares in Trilogy Metals to the DOW for about $26.9m (US$17.8m). South32 will reinvest the estimated $26.9m into Ambler metals to support exploration and development. South32 chief executive Graham Kerr comments on the decision. “We see great value in the US Government’s intention to develop the Ambler mining district,” he said. “It is our aim to unlock the potential we see in this region, and secure critical mineral supply chains for the US and create enduring economic activity and shared value for…

Noveon Magnetics and Lynas Rare Earths (ASX: LYC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish a scalable and domestic US supply chain for rare earth permanent magnets. Under the agreement, the companies will collaborate to develop a rare earth value chain in the US from the supply of separated rare earth oxides to the manufacturing of rare earth permanent magnets to serve key US defence and commercial customers. The scope of the agreement includes the provision of both light rare earth (LRE) and heavy rare earth (HRE) materials, developing expanded metal, alloy and magnet production and supplying high performance finished magnets to end-users across defence, automotive and industrial sectors. Noveon Magnetics chief executive Scott Dunn comments on the…

Metso has opened a new separation laboratory and pilot area at its research centre in Pori, Finland, bringing expanded research and development services for its customers.  The latest development at the research centre is the new coarse particle flotation (CPF) cell, which introduces a novel deep-froth pneumatic design that eliminates the need for fluidised beds, set for launch in 2026 following industrial-scale testing.  Metso Plus flotation technologies, such as the Concorde Cell and FloatForce+, were validated at Pori before their launch and both are now referenced globally across a range of commodities.   The FloatForce+ rotor-stator system for TankCell flotation cells are setting a new benchmark for flotation performance while retaining the qualities of its predecessor. The Concorde Cell is…

Anglo American has launched arbitration proceedings against Peabody Energy over the failed $5.7b sale of its Queensland steelmaking coal mines. Peabody pulled out of the sale by invoking a material adverse change (MAC) in August following a fire at Anglo American’s Moranbah North mine. Anglo American believed the event did not constitute a MAC under the definitive agreements due to the lack of damage to the mine or equipment and the clear progress being made within a rigorous and structured regulatory process towards restarting the mine. The buyer says it remains confident that a MAC occurred, entitling Peabody to terminate the purchase agreements. Peabody has now demanded the remainder of its $114m deposit to be returned without further delay. Anglo…

The Federal and Queensland Governments will provide a $600m support package to maintain operations at the Mount Isa copper smelter and Townsville copper refinery. The agreement will allow the smelter — which provides half of Australia’s copper smelting capacity — and the refinery to continue operations until the end of 2028. Australia has only two operational copper smelters — Mount Isa and BHP’s at Olympic Dam — but they face huge competition from China. China has invested heavily in copper smelting and now has 44 smelters, with the surge in Chinese production creating an unprecedented decline in the global smelting market, according to the International Copper Association Australia The bailout follows the shuttering of Glencore’s Mount Isa copper mine in July,…