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Meeka Metals’ milestone at Murchison Ore is being fed into the processing plant and commissioning is underway at Meeka Metals’ (ASX: MEK) Murchison gold project. Dry commissioning has progressed successfully and wet commissioning is underway with the first gold pour from gravity gold planned for this month. Meeka’s Managing Director Tim Davidson comments on the progress. “With commissioning of processing in June 2025, we achieve an important milestone for the Murchison as we transition from developer to producer status,” he said. “It rounds out a period of consistent delivery against our development timeline and reflects our focused...

Rinehart unveils mega-miner merger Hancock Prospecting is uniting two of WA’s iron ore giants, Roy Hill and Atlas Iron, under a new banner as part of a major operational reform. The rebrand, effective as of July 1, will see the companies combine strengths and experience as Hancock Iron Ore. Roy Hill is one of Australia’s leading iron ore miners, shipping more than 64mt annually to overseas steelmaking markets and employing more than 2,800 workers. Atlas Iron was acquired by Hancock in 2018 and has since accelerated its growth, now mining and exporting more...

NT exploration gets $4m funding The Northern Territory Government has announced new funds to support resource exploration within the territory. The funding will award 38 grants to 30 companies through round 18 of the Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations (GDC) program. The program is part of the Resourcing the Territory initiative, which accelerates exploration, discovery and local jobs. The mining sector is the most significant contributor to the territory’s self-sourced revenue, supported by eight mining operations and mineral exploration. Northern Territory Mining and Energy Minister Gerard Maley says the grants demonstrate the Northern Territory Government’s strong commitment to rebuilding the economy through responsible resource development. “This...

Pilgangoora resource gets 23% boost Pilbara Minerals (ASX: PLS) has delivered a 39mt increase in mineral resource for its Pilgangoora lithium deposit in WA’s Pilbara region. The significant upgrade indicates an inferred mineral resource of 446mt at 1.28% lithium oxide hosting 5.7mt of lithium oxide and 45mt of tantalum pentoxide, a 14% increase to previous figures from FY24. The mineral resource grade also improved by 12% largely as a result of the addition of new higher-grade prospects within the central extension drill areas. The upgrade was underpinned by a 104,627m drilling program that saw 364 holes drilled...

Bravus plays ball through to 2027 Bravus Mining and Resources and Rockhampton Basketball will keep their winning streak alive after the Queensland-based mining company resigned as a major partner for another two years. The renewal will see Bravus Mining and resources Arena remain at the heart of Rockhampton Basketball and provide a venue for all community games and events that bring the region together. Bravus reputation and ESG head Kate Campbell says the business is thrilled to continue to back Rockhampton’s basketball scene — both on the court...

New government leadership to drive WA priorities The Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) chief executive Rebecca Tomkinson has been appointed as WA Agent General for the UK and Europe region. As the first female CME chief executive in its 122-year history, Ms Tomkinson holds extensive leadership experience across WA’s public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Appointed by the Governor of WA, the Agent General represents WA’s investment attraction and trade promotion efforts by assisting investors and businesses wanting to engage with WA’s industries, including the mining and renewable...

Australian graphite gets a boost CSIRO is supporting the growth of Australia’s battery industry with the launch of a new $400,000 research and development (R&D) grant program to help small-to-medium (SMEs) in mining and manufacturing. The grants will enhance the quality, efficiency and sustainability of graphite — a critical mineral essential to battery production — by funding SMEs working on related projects. Australia holds significant reserves of graphite, but its presence in global battery supply chains remains minimal. The program aims to develop innovative technologies and processes that will position Australian companies as global leaders in graphite...

WA decarbonises iron ore exports NH3 Clean Energy (ASX: NH3) has signed a joint development agreement (JDA) with Pilbara Ports and Oceania Marine Energy for the establishment of low-emissions ammonia bunkering operations at the Port of Dampier. The operations, aimed to be completed by 2030, will service iron ore carriers and support the energy transition across the Pilbara-Asia maritime corridor. The JDA follows the International Maritime Organisation’s announcement of its net zero framework that sets mandatory emissions limits and a global pricing mechanism for...

Government backs Tanami The Northern Territory Government is showcasing resource development opportunities at the Tanami gold mine, delivering jobs, investment and royalties for locals. The site, acquired by Newmont (ASX: NEM) in 2002, is located 550km northwest of Alice Springs and currently employs more than 1,800 people. The Tanami Expansion 2 (TE2) project is well underway and is anticipated to transform the site’s production capabilities and extend its operational life well beyond 2040. In the current climate of record high gold prices, the mine is set to deliver significant royalty revenue to the Northern Territory economy....

Conspiracy mentality drives misinformation about EVs A University of Queensland-led study has found misinformation about electric vehicles (EVs) has taken root in society, primarily fuelled by mistrust and conspiracy theories. The University of Queensland (UQ) Business School postdoctoral research fellow Dr Chris Bretter says surveys in Australia, the US, Germany and Austria found people were more likely to agree than disagree with misinformation on EVs — even among those who owned one. "The misinformation statements we tested included that EVs are more likely to catch fire than petrol cars, do not produce emission savings and emit...

Unlocking opportunities for Pinjarra students A group of high school students have been given the inside scoop on the Alcoa recruitment process and how to perfect job resumes and ace interviews. Alcoa’s Pinjarra alumina refinery hosted an employability and personal branding workshop at Pinjarra Senior High School as part of the Pinjarra Prospects Program. The program, now in its ninth year, is a joint partnership between Pinjarra Senior High School and Pinjarra refinery and aims to prepare students for their move into the workforce. Twenty-seven female students from year 10 took...