Category: Projects & Operations

Black Cat Syndicate’s (ASX: BC8) Lakewood processing facility has begun processing ore from the Fingals open pit and Majestic underground mines in WA.In February last year, Black Cat acquired the facility from Westgold Resources (ASX: WGX), in a move that brought forward Kal East by 15 months.Across the next 12 months, the company will invest $20m of operating cashflow to expand the processing facility’s capacity from 1.2mtpa to 1.5mtpa.Meanwhile, the Fingals open pit and Majestic underground mines continue to ramp up, with an estimated 183kt stockpile of ore currently available for processing.Black Cat managing director James Bruce comments on the milestone.“The successful ramp-up of the Fingals and Majestic mines within twelve months and within budget is a credit to the ‘can-do’ culture and experience of the Black Cat team,” he said.“The capital-efficient expansion of Lakewood will unlock further value from our Kal East operations for years to come.“Securing sufficient contracted fuel is an important outcome at a time when uncertainty persists across Australian fuel supply networks.”Black Cat says it is not currently experiencing supply issues with diesel or fuel. Lakewood is grid connected and does not require fuel for the vast majority of its power requirements.

Fortescue (ASX: FMG) expects to save US$100m in fossil fuel costs next year as it fast-tracks its delivery of a fully integrated green energy grid. Unlike other large renewable hubs, which feed intermittently into national or other power systems, Fortescue’s off-grid system is expected to be the largest of its kind dedicated to decarbonising major industry. Fortescue anticipates the 290MW of installed renewable capacity to meet the fixed energy requirements of its ore processing facilities, enabling daytime “green processing” across its Pilbara operations, by early 2027. The system is expected to ramp up to power all of Fortescue’s operations for 24-hour periods completely without fossil fuels by the end of 2027 — well ahead of the companies previous Real Zero by 2030 target. Fortescue is expecting full completion of its Pilbara green grid by the end of 2028, which includes 1.2GW of solar capacity, more than 600MW of wind generation and 4-5GWh of battery energy storage. Fortescue says the deployment of its accelerated green grid infrastructure timeline has commenced within its approved decarbonisation budget.  At the completion of its decarbonisation program, Fortescue expects to demonstrate that eliminating fossil fuels is not only achievable but economically superior by achieving a further reduction in C1 unit costs of at least US$2 - 4/wmt. Fortescue sees a clear pathway to expand its green energy system by a further approximately 2GW of power generation capacity, firmed with 4GWh of advanced batteries. This would be enabled by Fortescue’s proprietary know-how, patented technologies and exclusively developed AI, and is expected to be delivered for less than US$2.5b.  The company anticipates this capacity could be progressively delivered over an 18- month timeframe — an unprecedented delivery of firmed energy generation in speed to market, capital costs and operating costs. The company has also marked another major operation milestone with the shipment of its 2.5 billionth tonne of iron ore. 

Greatland Resources’ (ASX: GGP) proposed Havieron underground mine has won backing from the WA EPA, under conditions that include a ban on night-time haulage to protect the critically endangered night parrot.The miner's proposal includes waste rock landforms, evaporation ponds, expanded groundwater abstraction and a 55km haul road for trucking ore from Havieron to Telfer for processing for a combined total of 32mt of ore production.WA EPA Chair Darren Walsh says the protection of conservation-significant fauna was front and centre of the environmental impact assessment.“The EPA’s recommended conditions would ensure that implementation of the proposal would result in no disturbance to critical habitat for the night parrot, and protections for the greater bilby population within and adjacent to the project area,” he said.“The EPA considers that impacts can be significantly reduced through speed limits during day-time haulage, prohibition of night?time haulage operations on the Telfer Havieron haul road, use of fauna spotters, buffers around active burrows and roosts and fauna crossings to maintain ecological connectivity.“Pre-clearance surveys and fauna exclusion areas have also been recommended to minimise any direct impact to terrestrial fauna such as the night parrot, greater bilby and great desert skink.”According to Greatland, Havieron represents Australia’s third largest underground gold ore reserve with an updated ore reserve of 38.5mt at 2.63g/t gold and .33% copper for 3.3moz gold and 128kt copper.The miner’s base-case ‘Havieron Standalone’ operating cost model assumes no extension of the current Telfer mine life, with the Telfer mill processing only Havieron ore.Greatland is targeting first gold about 2.5 years after final investment decision. Havieron has an initial mine life of 17 years, including an initial nine-year steady state period.The EPA’s report to the Minister for Environment is now open for a three-week public appeal period, closing on April 29.Greatland reported production of 82,723oz gold and 4128t copper in the March quarter. The miner currently expects FY26 full year production to be around, or slightly above, the upper end of its guidance range of 260,000–310,000oz gold.The miner says the Telfer operation is not currently impacted by diesel supply disruptions as fuel is supplied directly by a global oil major on a long-term contract via Port Hedland.

Bellevue Gold (ASX: BGL) has delivered a record underlying free cash flow of $158m for Q3 FY26 after reporting increased mined and processed ore grades.The company mined 293kt of ore at 4.6g/t for 44koz gold and processed 283kt at 4.7g/t for 41koz of gold during the quarter, reporting that metallurgical recovery averaged 94.6% and continues to outperform recoveries set in its FY26 guidance.Bellevue has now established several production levels at its higher-grade Deacon Main mining area, which contributed consistently throughout the quarter, and has scheduled first development in ore at its higher-grade Deacon North mining area for Q4 FY26.With mined and processed tonnes forecast to increase for the next quarter, Bellevue remains on track to meet its FY26 production guidance of 130–150koz.Bellevue continued pre-delivering gold and reducing near-term hedge book commitments, which it expects to increase future spot gold price exposure, reporting that it is free of contractual hedge book deliveries until the end of December 2026.The company expects to continue accelerating pre-deliveries into forward gold sale commitments, further de-risking its balance sheet whilst maintaining flexibility to build cash, support investment in exploration and other opportunities as they arise.Bellevue said diesel purchases represented about 1.3% of total project costs during the financial year to February 28, 2026, with the company describing its direct diesel cost exposure as among the lowest in the sector.The company reports that it is not currently impacted by any diesel supply issues and continues to operate its power station with industry leading renewable energy rates of about 90% during March 2026.

MLG Oz (ASX: MLG) has secured contracts with Gruyere Mining Company, Northern Star Resources (ASX: NST) and Endurance Mining for work across WA.The company will be supporting the delivery of mobile crushing services for Northern Star.The award builds on MLG’s existing agreement with Northern Star, with the company to supply and operate fully maintained mobile crushing and screening plants and associated personal for campaign-based services across Northern Star’s Yandal and Kalgoorlie production centres.MLG has also secured a five-year extension of its road maintenance and site services contract and the Gruyere gold mine, located about 200km east of Laverton.The extension is expected to generate about $4mpa in revenue, according to MLG.MLG acting chief executive Mark Hatfield says these awards reflect the company’s ability to build and maintain long-term, trusted client relationships.“The extension of services at Gruyere and expansion of our crushing and screening across Northern Star’s Yandal and Kalgoorlie production centres is a really important outcome for MLG,” he said.MLG has also received a letter of intent for a new civil construction project with Endurance Mining covering embankment earthworks, drainage systems, tailings and decant pipeline installation and the construction of access roads, ramps, laydowns and bunding.“The awarding of a new civil construction project with Endurance Mining — our first with this company — extends our base of clients. We look forward to working alongside the Endurance team to support the development of their asset,” Mr Hatfield said.MLG says the projects are expected to generate about $6m in revenue across a three-month period commencing in April 2026.

Rox Resources (ASX: RXL) has finalised $350m in debt facilities to fund development of the Youanmi gold project in WA.The signed syndicated facility agreement includes a $300m senior secured project term loan facility, a $20m cost overrun facility and $30m bank guarantee facility.Rox Resources managing director and chief executive Phill Wilding says this is another significant achievement in securing the funding required to deliver the Youanmi gold project.“The ongoing support from an impressive selection of Australian and international banks indicates strong confidence in the project and the team we have assembled to deliver it,” he said.Rox is now targeting final investment decision before commencing construction activities.First drawdown under the debt facilities is expected in Q3 CY26, with first gold pour targeted for mid-2027.

Core Lithium (ASX: CXO) will begin open pit mining and ore production at its Grants deposit in May as it advances the restart of its Finniss lithium operation in the Northern Territory.The restart has been supported by the award of a $50m surface mining services contract to NRW (ASX: NWH), alongside the start of the BP33 box cut and civil infrastructure site works.Core Lithium managing director Paul Brown says the award of the Grants open pit mining contract marks a key step in the restart of the Finniss lithium operation.“Grants provides a low risk, near term source of ore using existing infrastructure, enabling a rapid and capital efficient pathway back into production,” he said.“With mobilisation commencing immediately, this contract underpins our restart schedule and near term cash generation objectives.“With final investment decision approval and funding now in place, our focus is firmly on delivery. This contract positions Finniss to deliver the first spodumene concentrate in the December quarter.“We are making strong progress across the balance of our restart workstreams, and we expect to finalise additional key contracts in the near-term as we bring Finniss back into production.”The November 2025 updated mine plan increased ore reserves for Grants by 33% to 1.53mt at 1.42% lithium oxide, lifting contained lithium oxide by 44%.The Grants open pit is expected to supply near term ore feed for the Finniss processing plant, enabling an accelerated production timeline at a lower initial capital cost, according to Core.Core expects the BP33 underground development to support the operation’s transition to long-life, high-margin underground operations.

The Queensland Government has declared the Sugarbag Hill project in north Queensland a prescribed project to fast-track delivery.The $515 million ultra high purity quartz sand project is being developed by High Purity Quartz and is expected to support 600 jobs during construction and 140 ongoing jobs once operational.Ultra high purity quartz is an important material used to make products like semiconductors, specialised glass and equipment needed in advanced manufacturing.Further processing of the critical material is proposed at the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct south of Townsville, with a pilot facility in Stuart and chemical storage at the Port of Townsville with high-quality quartz sand to also be exported through the port.High Purity Quartz chief executive Stuart Jones says the declaration provides certainty for the project.“This declaration allows us to progress project approvals more efficiently and with greater certainty as we move through the detailed feasibility study and engineering stage,” he said.“It recognises the importance of establishing a Queensland based supply of globally scarce ultrahigh purity quartz sand, which is critical for solar PV silicon wafer manufacturing.”Queensland Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dale Last says the project will create hundreds of new jobs in the construction phase and ongoing operational jobs across the value chain.“With the Queensland resources common user facility and Graphinex’s battery anode hub just down the road, we’re committed to building sovereign capacity right across the critical minerals sector,” he said.“We’re serious about cutting red tape, driving faster approvals and delivering certainty to investors so they can get on with creating local jobs.”Subject to approvals, High Purity Quartz is targeting a final investment decision in early 2027 and commencement of construction in early 2028.

South Australia is on the verge of a ‘once-in-a-generation’ economic growth opportunity, underpinned by affordable, reliable and sustainable electricity, according to a report by ElectraNet.The 2026 Transmission Annual Planning Report (TAPR) shows that interest to connect to South Australia’s transmission network is at its highest level in decades, and attributes this to the strength of the state’s grid and renewable electricity generation.Peak electricity demand is forecast to double over the next 15 years, from 3.3GW currently to more than 6.5GW, according to TAPR figures.The 2026 TAPR shows increased connection demand is expected in greater Adelaide, the mid-north and south-east as a result of data centres and the AI boom, as well as defence industry development at the Osborne naval shipyard.In the Eyre Peninsula and Upper Spencer Gulf regions, growth will be driven by the mining and minerals sector, steel production reinvigoration at Whyalla and the Northern Water project.The Eyre Peninsula includes, and is close to, resources that are crucial in supporting this expected growth including high quality renewable energy sites.ElectraNet chief executive Simon Emms says the TAPR points to South Australia entering a period of economic growth with thousands of jobs being created, underpinned by the state’s world-leading renewable electricity system.“South Australia is facing a jobs boom as industries seek to access the State’s unique combination of valuable minerals and world-class wind and solar renewable energy,” he said.“As industries such as mining, steelmaking, defence and AI expand, the demand for electricity in the state is set to grow significantly.“We have the opportunity set the new global standard for a modern economy, where rapidly growing business and industry are supported by clean energy.“Timely investment in the transmission network will be the key to unlocking this economic growth across South Australia and the thousands of jobs that come with it.”Realising this enormous growth opportunity hinges on planning and enhancement of infrastructure to keep up with rapidly growing electricity demand.South Australia still has an abundance of untapped renewable energy potential in the north of the state to provide affordable, reliable and sustainable electricity supply to support this growth opportunity.“Transmission infrastructure will be vital to create an electricity superhighway, taking energy from the source to where it is needed, and managing the peaks and troughs of demand,” Mr Emms said.“So while South Australia has an exciting economic opportunity ahead, we must have the ability to take it.“It is vital that we get the planning right and that regulators and governing bodies continue to evolve with us as we tackle truly unique energy circumstances.”The TAPR highlights three proposed transmission projects that will be important to South Australia’s growth over the next 15 years.The Eyre Peninsula upgrade, anticipated between 2027 and 2028, will increase the transmission capacity by enabling the Cultana–Yadnarie lines to operate at 275kV. This project will be vital to mining and manufacturing growth in the region and will also unlock new renewable energy generation.The Northern Transmission project (NTx), which is currently in early planning stages, will extend the transmission network’s capability across the northern and eastern parts of South Australia to vastly increase network reliability.The South-East Expansion project aims to improve access to the transmission network and support future industrial growth such as timber processing, food manufacturing and biomass and wind energy generation.Having supported the state until now, traditional energy assets throughout the Adelaide metro region are being retired, including the Torrens Island Power Stations, and being rapidly replaced by batteries in areas to the north of Adelaide.The next two decades will see these trends continuing, supported by the South Australian Government’s renewable release areas, according to ElectraNet.

Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) has reported its iron ore port operations have resumed after Tropical Cyclone Narelle passed over WA’s Pilbara region. Port closures at Rio’s four Pilbara iron ore port terminals commenced on March 24 and ship loading at East Intercourse Island, Parker Point and Cape Lambert B recommenced on March 28. Damage to Cape Lambert A is currently being repaired and shipping at that facility is expected to recommence in the coming days. Recent weather events, including Tropical Cyclone Mitchell in February, are estimated to have impacted iron ore shipments by about 8mt, however, the company has identified a pathway to recover about half of these losses. Rio’s Pilbara iron ore shipment guidance for 2026 remains unchanged at 323-338mt. 

Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) paid $14.3b globally in taxes and royalties during 2025 according to its most recent Taxes and Royalties Paid Report. Of the total taxes and royalties paid, $9.5b was paid in Australia — including corporate tax paid of $5.8b — and significant payments were also made in Chile, the US, in Mongolia and Canada. Higher tariffs on primary aluminium exports from Canada to the US, including the removal of the 10% tariff exemption from March 2025, resulted in about $1.45b  in additional tax payments in the US.  Higher profits at Escondida resulted in higher corporate tax payments in Chile and increased copper production and prices at Oyu Tolgoi resulted in higher royalty payments in Mongolia. Rio Tinto chief financial officer Peter Cunningham says the taxes and royalties Rio pays to governments are an important contributor to the economic health and development of the regions where it operates. “We seek to operate responsibly everywhere we work,” he said.  “Our payments to governments can be significant for national budgets and to support development priorities, while our voluntary social investment also allows communities to invest in their own social and economic development for years to come. “We continue to be a leader in transparent tax reporting, voluntarily publishing detailed information on our taxes and royalty payment to governments for over 15 years." Rio also spent a record $19.7b with more than 6,000 Australian suppliers in 2025 — a $2b increase on the previous year. $12.1b of that was spent with WA suppliers as Rio advances development of its replacement mines in the Pilbara. A record $1.1b was spent with Indigenous businesses, including A$820m with Traditional Owner businesses. Rio Tinto iron ore chief executive Matthew Holcz says Rio’s suppliers are fundamental to its operations.  “We are proud to acknowledge the vital role these Australian businesses play in creating jobs, strengthening local economies and supporting our business,” he said. "Stronger local supply chains build stronger communities, and in turn, a stronger nation.”