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The all-cash deal will see Arcadium shareholders receive $8.69 (US$5.85) for every share held.

Rio Tinto completes Arcadium Lithium acquisition

Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) has completed its acquisition of Arcadium Lithium (ASX: LTM) for $9.95b (US$6.7b), establishing the miner as a major lithium producer, with one of the world’s largest lithium resource bases. This makes Rio the ultimate parent company of Arcadium Lithium, which will become Rio Tinto Lithium, and will also include the Rincon lithium project. Rio Tinto Lithium aims to grow the capacity of its Tier 1 assets to over 200ktpa of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) by 2028. Complementary technologies and geographies offer compelling value driven by accelerating volume growth in a rising market, projecting significantly higher EBITDA and operating cash flow in the coming years, according to Rio. Rio Tinto chief executive Jakob Stausholm comments on the…

Regarded as one of the most comprehensive dedicated software businesses in the mining industry, Micromine brings complementary domain expertise to Weir.

Weir to acquire Micromine

Weir is accelerating its strategy for sustainable digital mining after entering a binding agreement to acquire Mining Software Holdings (Micromine) for $1.3b (£657m). Micromine is a top-tier global software provider to the mining industry, with comprehensive solutions across the upstream mining value chain. It supports critical mining operations from exploration through mine design and planning, operational scheduling and mining operations in hard ore, soft ore and underground applications. Weir chief executive Jon Stanton says the combined force of Micromine and Weir will create a sector-leading globally scaled platform to optimise performance across the mining process. “In Micromine, we are adding an established, high-quality business and proven performer that is complementary to Weir’s aftermarket-focused business model and current digital solutions,” he…

(Image source: Fortescue) IUCN, recognised globally as a leader in nature conservation and sustainable resource use, brings decades of expertise in collaborating with the mining sector on biodiversity-related issues.

Fortescue’s path to protecting biodiversity

Fortescue (ASX: FMG) has entered into a strategic three-year collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to develop a comprehensive nature roadmap aimed at achieving a net positive impact on biodiversity. The rapid transition to a low-carbon economic model is accompanied by growing demand for mining products to supply key inputs, including for green technologies. While awareness of the sector’s impact on the environment and livelihoods has never been higher, there is also a growing recognition that business has a key role to play in driving action to halt and reverse global biodiversity loss, as highlighted in the final text of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF). Already known for its commitments for decarbonisation, Fortescue has set…

In FY24, 68% of employers conducted a gender pay gap analysis on their results.

Mining’s gender pay gap

The WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CMEWA) acknowledges today’s release of gender pay gap data compiled by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) for FY24. The latest data shows the midpoint of the gap in average total remuneration between male and female workers in the mining sector in FY24 was 19.8%. The midpoint of the average gender pay gap across all industries was 12.1%. Encouragingly, the report found the midpoint of the average gender pay gap in the mining sector had fallen by 1.6% over the past year, one of the best results for an individual industry and well above the nationwide fall of just 0.2%. In total, 57% of mining companies improved their average gender pay gap over the past…

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(Image source: MinRes) As MinRes’ Onslow Iron project continues its production ramp-up, two critical support vessels are playing a key role within the project’s unique transhipping solution.

Transhipping solution steers Onslow Iron progress

When WA’s Onslow Iron achieved first ore on ship ahead of schedule in May 2024, less than a year after breaking ground at the Ken’s Bore mine site, the spotlight quickly turned to the project’s growing fleet of innovative 20,000-tonne transhippers. MinRes (ASX: MIN) is now establishing one of the largest and most sophisticated transhipping operations in Australia, with purpose-built transhippers ferrying iron ore from the Port of Ashburton to ocean going vessels (OGVs) anchored 40km offshore. But in their wake are two crew transfer vessels (CTVs) — MinRes Element and MinRes Incentive — working hard behind the scenes supporting the continuity and efficiency of Onslow Iron’s unique marine operations. MinRes CTVs support the transfer of marine crew and specialised…

Rio Tinto is also developing a Pongamia seed farm in North Queensland as part of a biofuels pilot to contribute to the growth of the Australian biofuels industry.

Rio Tinto’s first renewable diesel trial

Renewable diesel has helped fuel Rio Tinto’s (ASX: RIO) Pilbara iron ore operations for the first time, with the completion of a successful trial of biofuel across its network of WA ports, railways and mines. The trial, the first of its kind for Rio Tinto in Australia, was conducted in partnership with leading global renewable diesel producer Neste and Australian fuel supplier Viva Energy (ASX: VEA). Rio Tinto says it has provided the company with a greater understanding of how renewable diesel could be integrated across its Pilbara operations. Neste allocated 10ML of renewable diesel from used cooking oil for the trial. The fuel was shipped from Singapore to Rio Tinto’s Parker Point fuel terminal in Dampier by Viva Energy…

(Image source: Metso) HPGRSense™ is part of the Metso Plus Sense series of intelligent instruments covering the entire minerals process, helping customers to optimise their process performance and minimize their operating costs.

Metso expands its digital portfolio

Metso is launching the HPGRSense™ solution for optimising grinding efficiency through accurate monitoring of its HRC™e high-pressure grinding rolls (HPGR). Unique to the market, the HPGRSense™ is a stand-alone system that provides continuous simultaneous monitoring of the rolls, eliminating the need to stop the process for inspections. Metso HRC director Stefan Sakendorf says HPGRSense™ is transforming roll inspection and wear measurement on HPGR rolls while avoiding the limitations of existing laser-based solutions. “HPGRSense™ safely and remotely gives operators full visibility to the rolls’ condition during operation, thereby increasing their understanding of the rolls’ state,” he said. “The scanning device uses an array of sensors to inspect the roll surface and, in combination with advanced analytics, to detect anomalies and measure…

The energy storage system will support different renewable energy sources in the region to reliably power homes and businesses in and around Broken Hill.

Broken Hill’s energy future secured

An old Broken Hill mine site will soon be transformed into a first-of-its-kind compressed air energy storage system, delivering energy security, jobs and investment to NSW. The NSW Government has provided planning approval for Hydrostor’s compressed air energy storage system with a capacity of 200MW / 1,600MWh. The Silver City Energy Storage Centre could power about 80,000 homes in peak demand and will maintain a reserve capacity of 250MWh to provide back-up to Broken Hill during times of planned and unplanned outages. The project is the first-of-its-kind in Australia. It utilises advanced technology that uses compressed air to store energy and generate electricity, without producing greenhouse gases. The $638m project will boost the local economy, creating up to 400 full-time…

The total consideration of $85m is comprised of $70m in cash (in staged payments) and $15m in BC8 scrip (to be escrowed for 12 months).

Black Cat acquires Lakewood mill for $85m

Westgold Resources (ASX: WGX) is divesting its non-core 1.2mtpa Lakewood processing facility to Black Cat Syndicate (ASX: BC8) in Kalgoorlie, WA. The transaction is expected to complete on or before March 31, 2025. As part of the transaction, Westgold will also retain optionality and priority access of up to 200ktpa of processing capacity at Lakewood via a toll-treating agreement (for a period of two years). Acquisition of the fully permitted and operating Lakewood processing facility allows Black Cat to produce more gold sooner, with expanded throughput capacity of more than 50% (from 0.8mtpa to 1.2mtpa) and brings forward production plans by about 15-months to take advantage of the high gold price environment. Black Cat managing director Gareth Solly says this…

The World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia (WWF Australia) has also welcomed the fund, saying the investment brings benefits to people and nature.

Australia pours $1b into green iron

The Federal Government has unveiled its $1b Green Iron Fund, designed to boost manufacturing and supply chains by supporting early mover green iron projects and unlocking private investment at scale. Up to $500m has been earmarked for Whyalla steelworks, with the other half of the pot open to applicants around Australia for both existing facilities and greenfield projects that can supercharge Australia’s world-leading iron ore industry. Federal Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen says the energy transition is driving a manufacturing jobs boom. “Australian manufacturing workers today — from the software lab to the steelworks and smelters — have so much to gain from the transformation underway,” he said. “We’re ensuring Australian manufacturers directly benefit from the renewable energy…