Australian based freelance photographer specialising in the mining, civil construction and media sectors

Copper prices hit an eight-year high in January, reaching US$8103/t on the London Metal Exchange, with analysts predicting the price rise to continue in 2021, as high as US$9500/t in the fourth quarter. The green energy drive by global governments, the transition to electric vehicles and the push by the mining industry to lead the ESG movement through decarbonisation and emissions reductions, sees the demand for copper rising in the medium term as supply struggles to catch up. After falling to its lows in March 2020 where it plummeted to around US$5000/t from the COVID-19 lockdowns, prices have rebounded sharply since June, reaching US$5700/t that same month, followed by further highs of US$6800/t in September and US$7674.50/t in December. ABN...

Ravensthorpe reopens on nickel surge FIRST Quantum Minerals expects to ship its first nickel concentrate from its mine in Ravensthorpe, WA, by April this year. The first shipment of sulphur, a vital component of nickel production, arrived through the Esperance port last week. The Canadian company has made significant upgrades to the processing plant since acquiring it in February 2010 for the cut-throat price of $340m. The plant cost BHP Billiton $3b to build and commission. When it was closed in 2017, it was the nickel project’s second major closure and loss of jobs. The mine is wholly owned by First Quantum and currently employs around 250 people with another 100 jobs projected to be filled. Locals and residents from...

IT’S unusual in a creative industry such as video production to have an engineer as a managing director; but it has proven to be a successful combination for Sound Images, a video production company established more than 30 years ago to help businesses present their corporate credentials and induct and train their staff. Mechanical engineer Tony Lawrence joined the company in 1996 as managing director, bringing with him his understanding of technical industries. Taking on the role of producer for mining industry projects, Mr Lawrence acts as the liaison between industry executives and his creative Sound Images team. The experienced, award-winning team understands occupational health and safety and mine site requirements. They use state-of-the-art production equipment for their projects, including...

AFTER securing a mining contract with Atlas Iron’s Wodgina iron ore project in 2010, BGC Contracting has now been working on the project for more than two years. As Atlas builds up production at Wodgina to 6 million tonnes per annum, BGC Contracting is proud to be a part of the project’s development. “BGC Contracting realises that this is just a step in the Atlas growth strategy and we look forward to continuing our growth to meet this goal,” executive general manager mining Martin Spibey said. “There are always challenges on a mining project but we will continue, together with Atlas, to find timely solutions.” Atlas’s planned increase in production has seen the BGC Contracting fleet grow to three 120t...