Category: Projects & Operations

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.”

Fenix Resources (ASX: FEX) is bracing its Mid-West operations in WA for the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Narelle and diesel fuel delivery uncertainty linked to global supply constraints.The combined impact of weather disruption and constrained fuel supply could affect mining and haulage activities for Fenix. To manage the situation, the company is scaling back non-essential operations while prioritising processing and haulage.The Bureau of Meteorology has indicated the cyclone could impact the Gascoyne Coast before tracking south through the Mid-West, prompting the Mid-West Port Authority to activate cyclone response procedures which will temporarily close all shipping operations at Geraldton Port.Fenix expects to maintain sufficient fuel supplies in the near-term, supported by existing stockpiles, allowing the miner to continue to process and haul iron ore to the port of Geraldton.Despite these current challenges, Fenix has maintained its FY26 guidance of 4.2-4.8mt of iron ore sales at a C1 cash cost of $70-$80/wmt on the expectation the port operations recommence in early April 2026 and diesel fuel supply conditions stabilise.Fenix said it does not intend to revise its guidance at this stage, as the underlying assumptions for its three-year production plan and Weld Range development strategy remain unchanged.

Rio Tinto’s (ASX: RIO) Diavik diamond mine in the Northwest Territories of Canada has seen its final day of production after 23 years of operation.The mine which has produced more than 150 million carats of rough diamonds was discovered in 1991 beneath Lac de Gras, 220km south of the Arctic Circle.Mining began in 2003, utilising both open pit and underground mining methods to produce predominantly white gem quality diamonds and a small proportion of rare yellow diamonds.A celebration at the mine was attended by Indigenous Government Organisations, government representatives and other stakeholders to signal the formal completion of production.Diavik chief operating officer Matthew Breen says this milestone reflects the significance of the operation in the region.“Diavik has been an inspired collaboration between a modern mining company and Indigenous partners with an enduring legacy of socioeconomic benefits for the North” he said.“We look forward to continuing to respectfully reclaim the land in line with our commitments to, and in partnership with, the Government of the Northwest Territories and Indigenous partners.”Planning for closure has been underway since before production began, with closure objectives covering safety, land use, landforms, water and biodiversity and community capacity.Closure activities will extend to 2029, followed by a period of post-closure monitoring.Rio Tinto says the rough diamonds from the final production phase will be polished and sold through 2026 and beyond via its global customer network.

Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) and the Federal and Queensland Governments will invest $2b to secure the future of the Boyne aluminium smelter in Gladstone.The agreement secures future aluminium production at the smelter until at least 2040, beyond the completion of Boyne Smelters Limited's current power contract ending in 2029.Under the deal, the Federal and Queensland Governments will invest a combined $2b across 10 years to 2040 and Rio Tinto will underwrite close to $7.5b in new renewable energy and storage in the state.The Boyne aluminium smelter supports 1000 jobs at the site and a further 2000 indirect jobs in Gladstone, according to the Queensland Government.Australia is unique in that it has the entire aluminium supply chain, from bauxite mining to finished products, onshore.Queensland Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dale Last comments on the agreement.“At a time when supply chain disruptions are being felt across the globe, this investment is needed now more than ever to safeguard Queensland’s sovereign manufacturing capabilities and to build national resilience and international competitiveness,” he said.“Only in Queensland can we mine, refine and smelt to produce one of the world’s most versatile and ubiquitous metals, being aluminium and we must protect that capability.”Rio Tinto aluminium & lithium chief executive Jérôme Pécresse says the partnership will ensure Boyne smelter remains internationally competitive, strengthens the Australian aluminium sector for the future and supports the transformation and decarbonisation of the Queensland energy system.“As fossil fuels become increasingly expensive, this investment, combined with the power purchase agreements we have already signed, positions Boyne to be among the world’s first aluminium smelters underpinned by solar and wind power,” he said.“It also ensures heavy manufacturing like aluminium smelting can continue in Gladstone for the long term and preserves one of the few fully integrated aluminium value chains in the world — from bauxite mining to alumina refining to aluminium smelting all in Queensland — as demand for aluminium continues to grow with the energy transition.”In addition to its previously announced power purchase agreements, Rio Tinto has agreed to offtake 40% of Lightsource bp’s Lower Wonga solar and battery hybrid project near Gympie, equivalent to 112MWac of solar capacity and about three hours duration of associated battery storage. This brings total Queensland renewable power contracted by Rio Tinto to more than 2.8GW.

Liberty Bell Bay in Tasmania, one of billionaire Sanjeev Gupta’s last remaining Australian assets, has entered voluntary administration.The Tasmanian Government is actively engaging with the appointed administrators, receivers and key stakeholders to follow developments at the smelter and its implications to the state.In early March, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) lodged an application to the Supreme Court of NSW to wind up operations at Liberty Bell Bay following its failures to lodge annual financial reports for five consecutive years.The smelter has been operating at a limited capacity since May despite being granted a $20m loan from the Tasmanian Government in August to purchase 48,000t of ore to facilitate its restart.In late January, the Tasmanian Government confirmed that Liberty Bell Bay had repeatedly defaulted on repayments and breached the loan agreement terms.Tasmanian Business, Industry and Resources Minister Felix Ellis says the news will be difficult for workers, their families and the local community who have already endured prolonged uncertainty.“GFG has failed to deliver on its commitments to restart operations and provide certainty to Tasmanians,” he said.“We understand that administrators have been appointed with the intention of stabilising the business and testing the market for a potential sale or recapitalisation.“We will carefully consider all available options, with a clear focus on securing the best possible outcome for workers, the Bell Bay region and Tasmania’s industrial future.”Liberty Bell Bay is the latest in a trail of resource assets led by Mr Gupta across Australia that have fallen into administration.In February, Mr Gupta placed Tahmoor coal mine into voluntary administration in an effort to prevent creditors, led by Coal Mines Insurance (CMI), from forcing liquidation of the asset over unpaid insurance claims.In 2025, the South Australian Government forced Whyalla Steelworks’ operator OneSteel Manufacturing into administration to avoid it becoming “irredeemable” under Mr Gupta who was the previous owner.

The Queensland Government has declared the proposed $2.3b Eva copper mine a large resource project under the Strong and Sustainable Resource Communities Act 2017.The declaration means, if approved, the project must employ a percentage of its workforce locally and prioritise local procurement, ensuring long-term social and economic benefits for the surrounding Mt Isa and Cloncurry communities.Located 75km north of Cloncurry and 95km northeast of Mount Isa, the Eva project is expected to produce an average of 60,000tpa of copper and 19,000ozpa of gold over a 15?year mine life.Copper concentrate extracted at the project will be processed locally at Glencore’s Mount Isa copper smelter, supporting existing industrial capability in the region.Queensland Deputy Premier and State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie has also extended Eva’s prescribed project declaration, providing additional certainty and streamlined approval pathways.The extension allows the coordinator general an additional two years, until March 25, 2028, to continue providing coordinated support and fast-tracking approvals to keep the project moving.Deputy Premier Bleijie says the Queensland Government is focused on delivering a better lifestyle through a stronger economy, by supporting projects that deliver jobs, investment and long-term regional benefits.“Eva copper has the potential to be Queensland’s biggest copper mine, and we want to ensure the communities closest to the project share directly in its success,” he said.“Declaring Eva copper a large resource project strengthens local employment opportunities, supports regional businesses and ensures long term benefits for Mount Isa and Cloncurry.”The project, owned by Harmony Gold, is anticipated to generate up to 1000 construction jobs and 450 ongoing operational roles, delivering a major boost to the region’s workforce and economy.Cloncurry Mayor Greg Campbell says Eva’s designation as a large resource project would assist local efforts to ensure benefits for the Cloncurry community.“We want to make sure the project not only generates long-term economic benefits throughout our local supply chains but also creates social and community benefits for our residents,” he said.Forecast to inject more than $17b into Queensland’s economy, first copper concentrate is expected to be delivered to the Mount Isa smelter in 2028.Harmony Gold chief development officer Johannes Van Heerden says the company welcomes the Queensland Government decisions.“As a Tier 1 Mining jurisdiction, Queensland offers coordination support and a stable regulatory framework that has helped Eva copper move forward through planning and into construction with certainty,” he said.

Meeka Metals (ASX: MEK) has commenced installation of an ore sorting facility at its Murchison gold project in WA, targeting increased processing capacity and higher gold production. The upgrade is expected to lift mill capacity by 200ktpa to 800kpta, resulting in a corresponding boost in gold production.  Ore sorting will be applied initially to underground material from the Andy Well deposit, separating higher-grade ore for immediate processing while lower-grade material is stockpiled for later treatment. Test work at Steinert’s facility in Bibra Lake found about 85% of contained gold could be sorted into about 50% of the rock mass, effectively doubling the head grade of Andy Well ore entering the mill. Meeka Metals managing director Tim Davidson says the upgrade represents a low-cost solution to increase production. “We expect this high-return, quick-payback investment to be operational in the September 2026 quarter providing additional processing capacity for ore from our open pits and our second underground mine at Turnberry, commencing in 2026,” he said. Civil works for the $6m upgrade have commenced, with equipment delivery and installation due to begin in the June 2026 quarter. According to the company, the installation offers a faster and lower-cost alternative to expanding the existing processing plant, which would require significantly higher capital investment and longer development timelines. The upgrade is expected to reduce processing costs per ounce, lower tailings volumes and reduce wear on plant equipment by removing waste material before milling. Meeka Metals said further test work is underway to assess the application of ore sorting across other deposits within the Murchison project.  

Mineral Resources (ASX: MIN) has delivered first ore on ship from its Lamb Creek iron ore project in WA’s Pilbara region. The milestone was reached three months after ground was broken at the site in December 2025. CSI Mining Services — a wholly owned subsidiary of MinRes has now commenced mining, processing and haulage at the site. Lamb Creek will be an open pit mine with a capacity of 7.5mtpa, strategically located just 50km from MinRes’ Iron Valley operation. Ore from both sites will be blended and hauled to Utah Point for export through the Port of Port Hedland. MinRes executive general manager iron ore and asset management group Joe Brown says the milestone highlights the company’s ability to rapidly develop and bring assets into production. “Safely achieving first ore on ship in such a short time since breaking ground is a remarkable feat and demonstrates MinRes’ significant in-house capability to bring projects to life quickly,” he said. Development of Lamb Creek also involves the planned wind-down of the current Wonmunna iron ore operation, with all Wonmunna-based staff set to transfer to Lamb Creek and no impact to jobs anticipated. MinRes acquired Wonmunna from the Australian Aboriginal Mining Corporation in FY21 as an undeveloped project and has since mined nine pits and exported more than 26mt of iron ore from the operation.  The Pilbara Hub has production guidance of 9-10mtpa for FY26. 

Fortescue has removed second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARS) from its operations, in a move to reduce risks to native wildlife, including threatened species such as the Northern Quoll.  The change was implemented in August 2025 with Fortescue transitioning to alternative rodent control methods including first generation rodenticides, which break down more quickly in the environment. Rodent management remains a requirement at mining operations to protect infrastructure and the health and safety of personnel.  SGARs are known to persist in the environment and can accumulate in animals that consume poisoned rodents, increasing the risk of secondary poisoning in predators and scavengers.  Fortescue approvals, communities and services director Rosli Wheelock said the decision was made following internal assessment of environmental risks.  “We operate in some of Australia’s most important natural habitats, and we have a responsibility to look after them,” he said. “When we saw these products could put native wildlife at risk, we made the decision to stop using them and have moved to safer alternatives.” Recent studies have identified anticoagulant rodenticides in a range of Australian wildlife species, raising broader concerns about their environmental impact. Edith Cowan University Associate Professor Robert Davis says second-generation rodenticides are highly persistent and can accumulate through the food chain. “Reducing their use where practical can help lower the risk of secondary poisoning for native predators and scavengers,” he said. Fortescue says it will continue to monitor and review rodent management practices as part of its broader environmental management program. 

Core Lithium (ASX: CXO) will bring its Finniss lithium operation back into production after securing restart funding.The miner will move immediately into mobilisation, early works and development activities to position Finniss for first concentrate production in the September quarter of 2026.Core Lithium managing director Paul Brown says all major approvals are in place and there is a proven processing plant ready for restart.“Near-term ore feed will be sourced from the Grants open pit, providing a low-risk and rapid pathway to recommencement of concentrate production,” he said.“BP33 underground development will occur in parallel, supporting a transition to long-life, high-margin underground operations.“The company remains focused on safe, disciplined execution as it advances a staged restart program through 2026 and 2027 with first spodumene concentrate production targeted for the September quarter 2026.“First ore from Grants is targeted within one month of contractor mobilisation, with BP33 first ore expected in mid-CY27 and ramp-up to nameplate production of 1.2mtpa in mid-2028.“Employment levels at Finniss are expected to scale across construction and operations, supporting a material number of jobs over the project lifecycle.”The restart will be funded through a package comprising $99m (US$70m) in convertible notes from Glencore and InfraVia, a $71m (US$50m) senior secured loan from Nebari, and a fully committed $120m equity raising.Glencore lithium head Robin Francois comments on the development.“We share the government’s view that this operation is vital to the regions’ critical minerals strategy and is a key asset for achieving the Northern Territory Government’s ambition of a $40b economy by 2030,” he said.“This is another example of how Glencore’s unique marketing business can support Australian mining companies while we continue to expand as a leading supplier of critical minerals.”Together with existing cash and recent sale proceeds, the package is expected to fully fund construction and restart and provide liquidity during ramp-up as Finniss transitions toward steady-state operations.