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Westgold awards Barminco $200m contract Perenti’s (ASX: PRN) underground mining subsidiary Barminco has signed a three-year contract with Westgold Resources (ASX: WGX) for works at its WA based Great Fingall gold mine. The scope of works will cover mine development, production and all associated underground mining services at the site near Cue, WA. Works are set to commence next month and the contract also includes an optional 12-month extension. Perenti managing director and chief executive Mark Norwell says the company is excited to be partnering with Westgold...

Fortescue backed pilot plant makes debut Sparc Hydrogen has launched a pilot plant using first of its kind green hydrogen reactor technology at the University of Adelaide in South Australia. The company is a joint venture between Fortescue (ASX: FMG), Sparc Technologies and the University of Adelaide founded to translate research conducted at the university. The Sparc Hydrogen Advanced Research Pilot (SHARP) is a test bed for photocatalytic water splitting (PWS), a process which harnesses solar to extract green hydrogen from water. The method, unlike traditional processes, does...

Whyalla sale attracts international interest The sale process for the Whyalla Steelworks formally opened after receiving strong interest from global steelmakers. Selected prospective buyers have now been given access to a secure data room, enabling parties to prepare non-binding indicative offers as part of a phased approach to the sale. The Federal and South Australian governments have committed a combined $1.9b in funding support to transform the operations into a commercially viable, low-emissions, ‘pit to port’ iron and steel facility. This funding is part of previous broader $2.4b assistance package underpinning long-term jobs and economic resilience for Whyalla and the Upper Spencer...

NSW budget supports industry future The NSW 2025 state budget has been delivered and includes important initiatives to support the growth of the state’s resource industry. Amongst the initiatives, $17.7m was allocated towards the new Investment Delivery Authority (IDA) which is expected to assist around 30 large projects, bringing forwards more than $50b of investment annually. Association of Mining and Exploration (AMEC) chief executive Warren Pearce says the mineral exploration and mining industry looks forward to receiving further information about the IDA...

Resources sector locks in commitment to DigiTech An industry-developed STEM program in WA has received an $815,000 funding commitment from some of the state’s leading resources companies. BHP (ASX: BHP), Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO), Woodside Energy, Chevron and CITIC Pacific Mining have collectively pledged the money to ensure the continued growth of the WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) school-based Digital Technologies Program (DigiTech). First launched in 2020 at a handful of Pilbara schools, the DigiTech program now reaches more than 6000 students from pre-primary to Year 10 across 165 schools that span the length...

Calling for new apprentices in WA Alcoa Australia (ASX: AAI) is calling for applications from aspiring mechanical fitters, heavy diesel fitters, boilermaker/welders and electrical instrumentation technicians to commence apprenticeships in 2026. The four-year apprenticeship programs, commencing in January next year, are on offer across Alcoa’s Huntly and Willowdale bauxite mines and the Pinjarra and Wagerup alumina refineries in the Peel and upper South West regions of WA. With 23 roles on offer, the positions offer competitive remuneration and benefits, and successful applicants who complete their apprenticeships will be awarded nationally recognised trade certificates. A big benefit is that...

Fortescue recognised as a global leader in 'Real Zero'   Fortescue (ASX: FMG) has been named a global leader in its commitment to Real Zero in a newly released report by Climate Integrity and the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney.  The report recognises Fortescue, alongside IKEA and Lendlease, for pioneering industry-leading climate strategies that phase out fossil fuels without reliance on carbon offsets.  Fortescue Metals chief executive Dino Otranto comments on...

Metso and BHP ink iron ore contract  Metso has signed a three-year agreement for the supply of metallic liners for chute solutions to BHP (ASX: BHP) to support WA Iron Ore (WAIO) operations.  Under the contract, Metso will supply WAIO with a suite of liner solutions, including the company's industry-leading XAlloy™ metallic as well as cast wear liners, amongst others.   Metso’s lining solutions are renowned for their ability to minimise downtime and thereby maximise throughput and productivity.    Metso chute and conveyor solutions director Tobias Krull comments on the agreement.  “We are strongly...

Rio commits $5m to Aboriginal health care Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) has partnered with Pilbara Aboriginal Health Alliance (PAHA) to provide vital community-led health services for First Nations people across the Pilbara in WA. The funding will be provided to PAHA to advance its objective of improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, families and communities across the region. The first project supported by the partnership is the new dialysis unit at Tom Price, with funds helping to provide transport, accommodation and wrap around support for patients. Construction of the Tom price Dialysis Unit has...

Australia’s green metals future CSIRO is leading an initiative to advance Australian green metals production by strengthening industry-research collaboration. The Green Metals Innovation Network (GMIN) is a $10m initiative funded by the Federal Government and will be supported by a partnership between CSIRO and the Heavy Industry Low-carbon transition Copper Research Centre (HILT CRC). GMIN will bring together research, government and industry to accelerate the development of domestic green metals industry for Australia’s iron, steel, alumina and aluminium sectors. The initiative is part of the Federal Government’s Future Made in Australia agenda that seeks to leverage the country’s renewable...

Hancock Prospecting and Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) will invest $1.2b each to develop the Hope Downs 2 iron ore project in the Pilbara region of WA.