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All funding allocations are subject to a Financial Assistance Agreement with the State.

Pilbara Minerals nets $15m grant

Three major job-creating regional projects will receive a multimillion-dollar funding boost as part of the WA Government clean energy plan to diversify the economy and set WA up for the future. The WA Government has allocated $34m through its Investment Attraction Fund to three clean energy projects that will drive new job opportunities across WA. WA Premier Roger Cook says WA is on track to become a global clean energy powerhouse, to keep its economy for the long term and create the jobs of the future in the State. “These projects are at the cutting edge of the global energy transition — whether it’s reducing emissions from steel or producing the batteries the world needs for a clean energy future,”…

(Image source: Anglo American) Anglo American project manager Malcolm Smyth and Queensland Mines Rescue Service chief executive Tim Jackson on the Moranbah South lease site.

Anglo American new cutting-edge training centre

A new training centre in a prime Moranbah position will help boost mines rescue capabilities and shorten response times when incidents occur in Queensland’s Bowen Basin mining hub. Anglo American and Exxaro — which own a 50-50 joint venture steelmaking coal exploration project at Moranbah South — have leased an 18ha parcel of land to Queensland Mines Rescue Service (QMRS). The land, on the corner of Railway Road and Moranbah Access Road, is opposite the planned site for stage 3 of the Resources Centre of Excellence. Anglo American Australia chief executive Dan van der Westhuizen says this lease agreement reinforces the company’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and elevating rescue capabilities. “This marks a pivotal moment for the industry’s preparedness…

(Image source: Bravus Mining and Resources) A Bowen Rail Company trail hauling coal from the Carmichael mine along the Carmichael Rail Network.

No Detours ahead as fauna- friendly crossings share the line on the Carmichael Rail Network

Coal from Bravus Mining and Resources’ Carmichael mine near Clermont in central Queensland is making its way to port on a rail line where cutting edge freight technologies are rivalled by the sophistication of fauna-friendly crossings. Bravus Mining and Resources chief operating officer Mick Crowe says the 200km Carmichael Rail Network includes hundreds of design features to support local biodiversity on a line also setting new standards for freight transport. “The design means not only does our coal get to port using safe and efficient rail operations, but it also allows local fauna to thrive,” he said. “Coal is hauled by Bowen Rail Company trains on the Carmichael Rail Network through an area of central Queensland that is home to…

(Image source: Alcoa of Australia) Pinjarra Alumina Refinery.

Alcoa secures gas supply for alumina refineries

Alcoa of Australia (ASX: AAI) has inked a new gas supply agreement with Chevron Australia for its WA alumina refineries. Effective January 1, 2028, the agreement will provide a total of 130PJ of gas over a 10-year period. Alcoa Australia president Elsabe Muller says the new contract plays an important role in securing the future of Alcoa’s WA operations and continues its association with one of the state’s longstanding domestic gas suppliers. “This agreement with Chevron forms part of our long-term energy strategy focussed on ensuring our refineries remain globally competitive whilst sustaining thousands of direct and indirect jobs and businesses in regional WA,” she said. Alcoa directly employs more than 4000 people in WA, with around 60% living in…

(Image source: POSCO Holdings) POSCO Holdings and Australian mining company Hancock Prospecting signed a business agreement on lithium cooperation via a video conference connecting Korea and Australia. Pictured (L-R) are POSCO Holdings rechargeable battery materials head Jun-hyung Kim, Hancock business development manager Daniel Wade, Hancock chief executive Garry Korte and POSCO Holdings lithium business team head Lee Seong-won.

POSCO Holdings, Hancock join forces

POSCO Holdings and Hancock Prospecting have formalised their collaboration by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on lithium cooperation. Under the agreement, POSCO Holdings and Hancock Prospecting will pursue a lithium business venture with an annual production capacity of 30,000 tons. The two companies will jointly evaluate optimal sites for establishing the lithium production plant, considering multiple countries, including Korea. Subsequent stages will specify detailed aspects such as investment amounts. Through this collaboration, POSCO Holdings aims to secure an additional stable supply chain for lithium raw materials, free from regulations imposed by the Foreign Executive Order Committee (FEOC) of the United States, by leveraging Hancock’s diverse mining assets. Additionally, POSCO Holdings will enhance its lithium value chain — from lithium…

The NeoSmelt project remains open for collaboration with other parties that complement its objectives.

BlueScope, BHP and Rio Tinto decarbonise steel

Australia’s two largest iron ore miners and its biggest steelmaker have selected the Kwinana Industrial Area in WA as the location to develop Australia’s largest ironmaking electric smelting furnace (ESF) pilot plant. The groundbreaking project combines the expertise of BlueScope (ASX: BSL), BHP (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) to test technology to enable the use of Pilbara iron ore to produce iron without the need for traditional blast furnaces, as the companies come together to try to accelerate the decarbonisation of steelmaking. The industry leaders formed the NeoSmelt collaboration in February 2024, combining BHP and Rio Tinto’s deep knowledge of Pilbara iron ore, with BlueScope’s unique operating experience in ESF technology. Woodside Energy (ASX: WDS) will also join…

Initial extensional and grade control drilling at Scotia has returned several wide high grade intersections from both outside and inside the current ore reserve.

Pantoro: high grade gold at Scotia

Pantoro (ASX: PNR) has provided an update on its initial underground development and diamond drill results from the southern end of the Scotia orebody in WA. Grade control results have demonstrated both strike and width increases to the current ore reserve in the areas tested. Initial extensional drilling has confirmed additional wide, high grade mineralisation below the current mine plan, highlighting the potential for significant resource growth and extended mine life. Initial drill testing beneath the current Scotia South ore reserve has returned 9.2 m @ 6.49g/t gold from 197.45m and 5.1 m @ 5.98g/t gold from 187.6m, about 70m below the current ore reserve. Pantoro managing director Paul Cmrlec says these initial results from Scotia continue to confirm the…

In accordance with the terms of the Yeneena earn-in and JV agreement, each company contributes pro-rata funding for exploration expenditure.

IGO, Encounter Resources enter copper JV

IGO (ASX: IGO) has entered a joint venture (JV) with Encounter Resources (ASX: ENR), following the sole funding of $15m of exploration expenditure on the company’s Yeneena project in WA. The exploration expenditure earned IGO a 70% interest in Yeneena. Yeneena comprises a major land position in the highly prospective Paterson Province in northern WA, targeting copper-cobalt mineralization. The project is located 60km south-west of the major gold-copper mine at Telfer, owned by Greatland Gold — which the company recently acquired from Newmont Mining (ASX: NEM) — and south of the Nifty copper mine, owned by Cyprium Metals (ASX: CYP) in commercial strategic partnership with Glencore. The Paterson Province also contains multiple large-scale copper-gold deposits such as Greatland Gold’s Havieron…

The North Queensland Export Terminal features "turtle-friendly" amber lighting on its infrastructure.

Queensland turtle hatchlings’ glowing first journey

Design features at the North Queensland Export Terminal north of Bowen are ensuring turtle hatchlings see the light as nature intended. Abbot Point Operations manages the operations and maintenance of the multi-billion-dollar facility and has incorporated “turtle-friendly” amber lighting on terminal infrastructure visible from the ocean, to allow hatchlings a smoother path to the sea. Abbot Point Operations general manager Damien Dederer says the specially designed lighting is just one example of how smart thinking and smart technology supports ecosystems to thrive around an operating port. “The North Queensland Export Terminal is one of Queensland’s busiest ports, exporting about the same total volumes as the Port of Brisbane did in the last financial year,” he said. “The greater Port of…

The agreement remains subject to NMG shareholder approval as Westgold owns 18.7% of NMG and is therefore deemed a related party under the ASX Listing Rules.

Westgold agreement to boost Meekatharra

Westgold Resources (ASX: WGX) has executed a gold ore purchase agreement between its subsidiary Big Bell Gold Operations and Zeus Mining, owned by New Murchison Gold (ASX: NMG). Westgold has agreed to purchase between 30,000 and 50,000t of gold ore per month from NMG’s planned open pit operation at Crown Prince. NMG is targeting the commencement of open pit mining in mid-2025. Crown Prince, which is located 33km by road from Westgold’s 1.6-1.8mtpa Bluebird processing plant, has a current JORC indicated and inferred mineral resource of 2.21mt @ 3.9g/t gold for 279koz gold. Westgold managing director and chief executive Wayne Bramwell says the company is delighted to have achieved a mutually beneficial outcome for both the New Murchison Gold and…

The milestone with LG Energy Solution, a major supplier of lithium-ion batteries, is aligned with Liontown’s previously announced intention to progressively start deliveries into its long-term offtake agreements.

Liontown ships first cargo to long-term customer

Liontown Resources’ (ASX: LTR) first cargo of spodumene concentrate under its long-term supply partnership with LG Energy Solution has sailed from the Port of Geraldton in WA. The shipment comprised of two separate Liontown cargoes, totalling about 33,000wmt of spodumene concentrate with a weighted average concentrate grade of about 5.2% lithium oxide, including about 11,000wmt designated for LG Energy Solution, with the balance sold to an existing short-term offtake customer. This marks the fourth and largest cargo shipped since Kathleen Valley Lithium Operations commenced production. Liontown’s managing director and chief executive Tony Ottaviano says this marks the beginning of the company’s long-term offtake partnership. “This 33,000wmt shipment of spodumene concentrate is our largest to date, and I’m incredibly proud…