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Covalent Lithium achieves first product at Kwinana Covalent Lithium has produced its first battery-grade lithium hydroxide at its Kwinana, WA refinery, enabling supply to global markets including the growing electric vehicle industry. This was confirmed following the company’s internal validation process completion. The refinery’s production commencement is a pivotal moment in the development of Covalent Lithium’s fully integrated mine-to-refinery operation. In achieving first production, the operation is expected to ramp up to 50,000tpa nameplate capacity over the next 18 months. Covalent Lithium chief executive Ross Martelli says the achievement reflects years of dedicated work across the...

China blocks Australian antimony shipment China has delayed and returned a shipment of Australian critical minerals bound for the US. The shipment of 55t of antimony concentrate, destined for US Antimony Corporation, was held at the port of Ningbo in the Zhejiang Province for three months before being released by Chinese authorities on the condition it was to return to Australia. Alkane Resources (ASX: ALK), who supplied the shipment of antimony from its Costerfield site in Victoria, said it would never again send an antimony shipment bound for the US via China even though there had been no problem...

Bravus signs MoU to strengthen mining’s future Bravus Mining & Resources has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with CQUniversity to boost education, skills and job prospects in Queensland’s mining sector. One of the core undertakings of the MoU is for Bravus and CQUniversity to equip students in civil, mechanical, electrical, construction and mining engineering with industry-ready skills. This will be achieved through a combination of mentoring, vacation placements, internships and graduate programs designed to bridge the gap between study and employment. Bravus Mining and Resources chief operating officer Mick Crowe...

BHP enhances Olympic Dam biodiversity BHP (ASX: BHP) is undertaking an innovative research project to conserve and enhance biodiversity using emerging research techniques to test and monitor animal species. The BHP-Curtin Alliance eDNA for Global Environmental Studies Subterranean Fauna Detection and Conservation project uses environmental DNA (eDNA) to create a functional biomonitoring tool that provides additional information on biodiversity. eDNA is the biological material deposited by organisms into their habitat, terrestrial or aquatic, and can be isolated from a variety of substrates, such as soil, water and air, through...

PLS’ pioneering employee health monitoring PLS (ASX: PLS) has partnered with Tibi Healthcare to deliver onsite health monitoring services for employees at its Pilgangoora operation in the Pilbara region of WA. The industry-first initiative brings state-of-the-art mobile medical facilities to site, ensuring accessible healthcare services for PLS workers in remote working environments. The mobile medical service is equipped with a low dose computed tomography scanner (LDCT) which allows for the early detection of lung conditions and heart disease. Personnel are assessed and referred for on-site screening based on individual exposure history and in consultation with...

Two conference stages — double the value at AIMEX 2025 This year, Asia-Pacific’s International Mining Exhibition (AIMEX) is delivering twice the content, twice the opportunity and twice the reasons to register early and secure your free access to this must-attend event. Following the recent release of the main conference agenda, AIMEX has launched the agenda for a brand-new Innovation Stage for its 2025 event, doubling the value and insight available to delegates from September 23-25. AIMEX 2025 is raising the bar with not one, but two carefully curated conference stages running alongside the exhibition floor. The Main Stage will continue to spotlight high-level industry leadership, innovation and strategic...

SAMCo celebrates Collinsville’s successful year Stanwell Asset Maintenance Company (SAMCo) has marked its first year of operating and maintaining the Collinsville Solar Farm with RATCH Australia Corporation (RAC). Located 90km southwest of Bowen, Queensland, the farm features about 180,000 solar panels and generates enough electricity annually to power up to 15,000 homes across the state. SAMCo’s partnership with RAC — a five-year agreement to deliver operations and maintenance (O&M) services — was its first solar generation maintenance contract following its launch in late 2023. ...

PLS launches MineStar in WA Pilbara Minerals (ASX: PLS) has launched the MineStar Fleet Management System at its Pilgangoora operation to enhance safety and productivity. The system tracks, monitors and manages fleet health, performance and efficiency. It focuses on safely detecting machine locations and surroundings to prevent accidents. It also collects real-time data from equipment and converts it into actionable information to optimise the operation’s potential. PLS project manager Andrew Bannon says the system brings a step-change in operational precision and material management. “High-precision machine guidance helps our operators, dig,...

WesTrac workers to strike over work hours More than 150 WesTrac workers in NSW are set to walk off the job today at 2pm, citing the company’s 50-hour-week policy. The strike today includes workers walking off during the last two hours of their shift, covering both day and night crews, with a protest gathering on the corner of Tomago Road and WesTrac Drive. These workers work 10 hours...

Mining scholarships now open The Minerals Research Institute of WA’s (MRIWA) 2026 scholarships are now open to WA students undertaking postgraduate minerals research. These will be awarded to four exceptional WA students to support research endeavours into current gaps or innovations in mining that will directly benefit WA, help students to access and collaborate with the mining industry and continue the development of the minerals research workforce in WA. WA Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael says the WA Government is committed to supporting the growth and the diversity of the state’s research workforce. “MRIWA scholarships provide a...

RISE focuses on renewables Twenty Australian startups have been selected for the third round of the India Australia Rapid Innovation and Startup Expansion (RISE) Accelerator program. Delivered by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, the RISE Accelerator helps Australian startups and small to medium enterprises (SMEs) with scalable climate and environmental solutions to test, validate and commercialise their technologies in international markets, with a focus on India. The new round focuses on deployable renewable energy innovations targeting three key challenge areas: Advancing critical mineral and materials processing, recovery...