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Testing & tagging in mining Truflo Pumping Systems – Dependable mine dewatering systems Fuelling success with Body Armour McLanahan – Maximum production, unwavering support Flexible online and face to face training with experienced accredited provider Machining and fabrication service since 1980s Optimising mining operations with integrated IT/OT solutions Lighten the load — literally and safely Half-year results glitter for Westgold Miller Made for the Mine Site Broons: the crushing and compaction specialist Welding Industries Australia – Miller – Made for the mine site Fortescue swoops up Red Hawk Growing critical minerals processing power in WA Atlas achieves first production Custom Buckles Australia Crusher Screen Sales & Hire DTN – Lean on us – Gain trusted weather insights and intelligence AUSTLIFT® – Chain Block Series Aussie Pumps – Aussie Extreme Crusader Hose – Experience the innovation in action UQ Start-UP Unlocks Copper Mining matters 100 years strong at Ulan Coal Dartbrook hits the bullseye Aurelia Metals ascends to the peak BHP Yandi – Leading the way in electrification Innovation and safety go green NSR Indigenous: Empowering Australia’s mining industry Innovation and its role in improving ESG outcomes Brooks brings in the big guns Collaborative approach to mining research bears fruit Flood rescue: Aussie gears up New Acland thrives in 2025 Tanami: Newmont’s Tier 1 titan Innovation in the Isaac Region BHP builds up for big finish in FY25 South32’s Worsley receives key approval Pilbara Minerals acquires Latin Resources Australia pours $1b into green iron Engineering mining’s future

Mining matters

mining-matters

The mining industry has been looking to find steady footing in what has been a whirlwind start to 2025. With trade tensions rising alongside geopolitical uncertainty and a fast-approaching energy transition, Australia is looking to secure itself across both traditional and future fuels.

Keep reading for a round-up of the stories between the headlines.

Trump goes tit for tat on tariffs

In February, US President Donald Trump unveiled his long-awaited tariff policy, following weeks of speculation and international conversation on his forthcoming deluge of blanket tariffs.

Particularly concerning for Australia was the potential uniform 25% tariff on all steel and aluminium imports.

Shortly before the announcement, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President Trump discussed Australia’s bid for an exemption from the sweeping tariffs.

At the time, Prime Minister Albanese said the US President agreed that an exemption was under consideration in the interest of both countries, which now seems to ring true.

Following this conversation, President Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum ordering the development of what the administration is calling the “Fair and Reciprocal Plan”, which will impose reciprocal tariffs on all international trading partners.

In the announcement of the plan, the White House cites a 2019 report as an example of trading partners not giving the country ‘reciprocal treatment’. According to the White House, the report found that across 132 countries and more than 600,000 product lines, US exporters face higher tariffs more than two-thirds of the time.

Targets of these new reciprocal treatments — which could take effect from April 2 — include China, the European Union, India, Japan and South Korea.

The bedrock of our mining industry? A good night’s sleep

Our FIFO workforce — which accounts for 60,000 jobs in WA alone, according to the Centre for Transformative Work Design — keeps Australia’s mining industry online.

With our always-on workforce, we need to find ways to ensure workers have the option to properly shutdown and restore when they’re off the clock.

The WA Mental Health Commission’s 2018 study, Impact of FIFO work arrangements on the mental health and wellbeing of FIFO workers, found that even when taking account of associated risk factors such as age and education, there is a greater risk of mental ill health amongst workers operating under FIFO work arrangements, with one third of the 3,000 FIFO workers surveyed experiencing high or very high levels of psychological distress.

While there are a variety of factors that potentially contribute to this, including isolation and burnout, workers may find that proper sleep could be the key to improved mental and physical wellbeing.

But with long hours, irregular schedules and strenuous work, how can FIFO workers truly take control of their R&R?

“Sleep hygiene” could see FIFO mining shift workers get a better night’s sleep, new research from Edith Cowan University (ECU) has shown.

What is sleep hygiene? According to ECU, it includes habits and sleep environment factors that can positively influence sleep, including a healthy diet, physical exercise and limited screen time. While these all seem obvious, the remote location of mine sites across Australia, high temperatures and changing shift patterns often make it difficult for employees on mine sites to get adequate shuteye.

Previous research has shown that average sleep durations of six hours to six hours and 19 minutes for FIFO workers on day shifts, five hours and 32 minutes to six hours and 12 minutes for those working night shifts, and six hours and 49 minutes to seven hours and 18 minutes on days off — meaning the average FIFO worker may be getting below the recommended minimum of seven hours of sleep.

ECU PhD candidate Philipp Beranek notes that his research found FIFO workers with better sleep hygiene had better health.

Despite the odd hours, maintaining a regular sleep schedule — sticking to a consistent bedtime and wakeup time — while onsite is still foundational to sleep hygiene. Smaller steps workers can make onsite include maintaining optimal sleep environments. Options include setting the air-conditioning between 16 and 20°C, purchasing a more comfortable pillow and practicing mindfulness or meditation.

Australia goes “back-to-basics” for a clean energy future

The WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy (WA CME) released its Federal Government Pre-Budget Submission (PBS), a blueprint with more than 90 recommendations on strategies to reverse falling productivity and attract the investment required for Australia to maintain its standing as a resources powerhouse.

The WA CME calls this a “back-to-basics” approach which prioritises lowering costs and accelerating project assessments, complemented by targeted support for emerging industries critical to the global energy transition.

The PBS highlights falling commodity prices, rising global competition and regulatory complexity and uncertainty as risk factors of note to the mining industry.

According to the PBS, Australia’s overall productivity growth has been poor over recent decades and living standards as measured by GDP per capita have also declined for the past seven consecutive quarters. The WA CME says urgent action to drive greater productivity is required, citing the Federal Government’s underlying cash balance which is forecast to be in deficit for the coming decade.

But the future is bright, with a $119b investment pipeline of potential for WA resources projects alone.

The key recommendations in the PBS concern the following policy areas:

  • Competitive fiscal settings
  • Efficiency in regulation
  • Energy security and transition
  • A safe, diverse and productive workforce
  • Regional economic development

The WA CME has called for a focus on legislating proposed production tax incentives for critical mineral refining and hydrogen production.

Green means go: jumpstarting Australian aluminium

The Federal Government announced a record $2b investment into the Australian-made aluminium industry. The move includes a new Green Aluminium Production Credit, where facilities will be eligible for support for every tonne of clean, reliable, Australian-made aluminium they make over a period of 10 years.

This method isn’t unheard of, with similar credits existing for renewables. But why is aluminium getting this treatment?

Aluminium is notorious for being energy hungry. According to the IEA, aluminium production drove nearly 270Mt of direct carbon dioxide emissions in 2022 (about 3% of the world’s direct industrial carbon dioxide emissions).

For this reason, green aluminium has become a hot commodity. Green aluminium is distinguished from traditional aluminium through sustainable, efficient practices employed across the entire production value chain, resulting in lower emissions.

Currently the IEA says the aluminium industry is not on track to achieve emissions reduction targets that enable a net zero emissions by 2050 scenario.

To get on track, the IEA says the aluminium sector needs to develop and deploy near zero emission technologies to achieve deep emissions reductions from alumina refining and both primary and recycled aluminium production, while the industry and its customers need to increase scrap collection, sorting and recycling.

Smelting is a notable target for emissions reductions, as it is a significant source of Scope 2 or indirect emissions, driven by electricity generation. Coincidentally, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the credit at the Tomago Aluminium smelter in NSW — a fitting backdrop to the announcement as the company plans to be 100% powered by renewable energy by 2035 and, in turn, cut its total emissions by 85%.