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Westgold (ASX: WGX) is positioning itself as an Australian gold titan, with promising half-year results including gold production of 158,255oz with all-in sustaining costs of $2,562poz. These results follow the company’s merger with Karora and subsequent inclusion in the ASX200 and dual listing on the ASX and TSX. Westgold says its 29.4% increase in gold production from H1FY24 was a result of the Karora acquisition. Combined with higher achieved gold prices, this increased production contributed to a record half year revenue of $624m. Westgold managing director and chief executive Wayne Bramwell says the post-merger results solidify the company’s position as one of Australia’s top five gold mining companies. “This half-year was a period of consolidation and strategic investment, with a…

Worsley Alumina in WA has received federal environmental approval for the Worsley Mine Development Project under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999). This follows South32’s (ASX: S32) appeal of the WA EPA’s recommendations for the Worsley mine expansion in July 2024. The federal approval is subject to conditions which are substantively consistent with the state environmental approval received on December 20, 2024. The development project will enable access to bauxite to sustain production at Worsley Alumina, with mining of bauxite areas located near existing operations expected to commence in Q4 FY25. South32 will now also commence the development of new mining areas that are expected to sustain production to at least FY36. South 32 chief executive Graham Kerr…

Indigenous-led business Upcycle Tyre Services (Upcycle) has been awarded a $5m contract to recycle haulage tyres from Mineral Resources’ (ASX: MIN) (MinRes) Onslow Iron project in WA, turning them into materials used to build infrastructure and playgrounds. A joint venture between King Kira Group (KKG) and Carroll Engineering Services, Upcycle is spearheaded by KKG founder and managing director and Nyiyaparli/Paylku woman Tammy O’Connor. Ms O’Connor says Upcycle aims to limit landfill waste and create solutions that benefit mining companies, communities and the environment. “I’ve spent 10 years understanding waste — what’s being buried onsite and what could be reused,” she said. “Rather than letting that waste sit underground, we want to create social value by using recycled materials to build…

Through a decade-long commitment to improving safety and efficiency in underground mining, Anglo American’s steelmaking coal operations in Australia have reached a significant milestone. The company’s 10-year vision for a ‘mine of the future’ became reality when all its underground coal mines in the Bowen Basin began operating simultaneously from Remote Operation Centres (ROCs). The Central Queensland underground operations have also hit another remarkable milestone, notching up 10,000 longwall mining shears from those ROCs. Anglo American Australia automation superintendent Matthew Wakeford says the rapid pace of technological innovation — especially in areas like data analytics, automation and digitalisation — have unlocked incredible opportunities for the mining sector to be safer, more productive and more sustainable. “At Anglo American, we have…

Trump’s tariffs: Australia talks exemption Australian industry and the Federal Government are responding to the US Government’s consideration of a uniform 25% tariff on all steel and aluminium imports. In a call this morning, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Donald discussed Australia’s bid for an exemption from the sweeping tariffs. Prime Minister Albanese says the US President agreed that an exemption is under consideration in the interest of both countries. “What I’m concerned about is securing an exemption,” Prime Minister Albanese said in a press conference. “I’m about positive relationships and today’s discussion was another step in securing that positive relationship.” Of particular interest is the US’ trade surplus with Australia. “ is about 2:1 when it…

Fortescue (ASX: FMG) and BHP (ASX: BHP) have provided funding through the Resources Community Investment Initiative (RCII) to support the Hedland and Newman Safe Spaces programs led by government and codesigned with locally based Aboriginal Community Control Organisations. The Safe Spaces program is to provide essential support and safety for at-risk children and young people in the Pilbara region. The partnership has committed up to $22m over the next five years. The programs provide a temporary Safe Space and transport home for unsupervised and vulnerable children and young people on the streets at night in the Town of Port Hedland and Newman. Beyond immediate safety, these programs will facilitate culturally responsive follow-up services that address underlying challenges faced by at-risk…

Rio Tinto’s (ASX: RIO) U.S. Borax has donated about $955,855 (US$600,000) to three organisations to support relief efforts for communities directly impacted by the recent wildfires in the Los Angeles region. The Kern County Fire Department, Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Foundation and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank will each receive a donation of about $318,618 (US$200,000). The funds will help support immediate disaster response services, including providing emergency food and supplies, as well as helping with long-term recovery efforts such as essential fire equipment replenishment and rebuilding communities affected by the fires. U.S. Borax chief operations officer James Low says local communities in Los Angeles and Kern County have supported them throughout its 150-year history in California. “This…

Pilbara Minerals, now known as PLS (ASX: PLS), has completed its acquisition of Latin Resources and its flagship Salinas project in Brazil. The acquisition is consistent with PLS’ strategy to grow and diversify revenues beyond Pilgangoora. According to PLS, the Salinas project has the potential to become a leading hard rock lithium operation by production globally, with development flexibility to supply new markets. With the acquisition complete, the Salinas project will be renamed the Colina project. PLS managing director and chief executive Dale Henderson comments on the acquisition. “On behalf of the PLS board of directors and the leadership team, we would like to welcome Latin Resources team members and security holders joining PLS,” he said. “We are excited by…

The Federal and WA Governments are teaming up to bolster Australia’s critical minerals processing power with a joint $3m investment to support a feasibility study for a common user Critical Minerals Advanced Processing (CMAP) facility in WA. Federal Resources and Northern Australia Minister Madeleine King says the funding under the $10.2m Critical Minerals National Productivity Initiative will investigate a facility to be built in the Perth region. “The CMAP facility will be home to pilot plant equipment for small and medium sized businesses to undertake downstream processing of critical minerals and strategic materials at demonstration scale,” she said. “Common user facilities are an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to scaling up our capacity to process our mineral…

Australian Gold Reagents’ (AGR) Board has made a final investment decision to proceed with the expansion of its sodium cyanide production facility in Kwinana, WA. According to AGR, this positions the company as one of the world’s largest sodium cyanide producers for the gold mining industry. AGR general manager Barney Jones says the expansion will enable the business to meet the growing global demand for sodium cyanide for gold mining operations, while delivering on its sustainability goals. “The expansion will increase AGR’s annual sodium cyanide production capacity by over 30%, bringing total sodium cyanide solution capacity to approximately 130,000tpa,” he said. “It also includes an increase in our solids production capacity to facilitate increased exports to our international customers. “Sodium…

The Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety (MARS) program continues to address mental well-being, positive workplace culture and safety in the WA mining industry by supporting exceptional students through PhD scholarships. The PhD scholarships, awarded by the Minerals Research Institute of WA (MRIWA), are championing high quality PhD students who are leading the way in health and psychosocial safety research in the minerals sector. The innovative research underway emphasises the importance of workplace culture and safety in the WA minerals sector. Research activities include: exploring how psychological capital can be leveraged to improve psychological safety in the WA mining industry context by Roger James at Edith Cowan University; assessing a range of occupational hygiene dust sampling devices to determine their suitability…