Protoblast

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…

Queensland researchers have mapped the habitat and movements of the black-throated finch in a never-before-seen level of detail, as part of Bravus Mining and Resources commitment to managing the environment. The findings are the latest from a five-year joint research program between Bravus Mining and Resources and researchers from ecology consultancy E2M and have been published in the peer-reviewed and highly respected international scientific journal PLOS One. Bravus Mining and Resources chief operating officer Mick Crowe says the research is building a profile of the black-throated finch to guide best practice conservation techniques. “The Carmichael mine has created jobs and opportunities for regional Queensland in a responsible way during both the planning and mining phases,” he said. “Our research has…

Autonomous copper refining at Olympic Dam BHP (ASX: BHP) is driving safety in copper refining at its Olympic Dam refinery in South Australia with a fully enclosed and automated robotic cathode stripping machine.Cathode stripping is a crucial step in the copper refining process, involving the removal of thin sheets of nearly pure copper (known as cathode) from large metal plates after refining.BHP’s original cathode stripping machine required frequent manual intervention, exposing operators to potential hazards including crush injuries, line-of-fire incidents and physical strain. Beyond safety concerns, the physically demanding nature of the work also limited participation, hampering efforts to build a more inclusive workforce.To address these challenges, a team of frontline workers and engineers from the refinery collaborated with project partners to develop and implement a safer and more inclusive approach.The team developed a fully enclosed and automated robotic cathode stripping machine, which uses precision automation to strip and process cathodes autonomously, to eliminate operator exposure to potential hazardous conditions — improving equipment reliability and reducing downtime caused by copper jams.Introducing an automated solution has also expanded the pool of candidates for operator roles, contributing to making Olympic Dam operations more inclusive, with women being strongly represented among qualified operators.The project won the Safety, Security and Emergency Management category at BHP’s 2025 Health, Safety, Environment and Community Awards for its reflection of the company’s culture of continuous improvement and collaboration — where frontline teams, engineers and partners come together to deliver solutions that make a tangible difference to how the company operates.

Fortescue (ASX: FMG) has commenced construction at its largest solar development at the 440MW Solomon Airport solar farm in the Pilbara. Anticipated to be completed during 2028, the project is set to become the largest solar development in WA, with about 671,000 solar panels to be installed during the build and will supply about a third of Fortescue’s solar capacity required to achieve its net zero goals.  Fortescue metals and operations chief executive Dino Otranto says across the Pilbara, Fortescue is using the region’s sun and wind to generate green power for our sites. “We’re building the solar and wind farms, connecting them through our high-voltage transmission network and backing them with battery storage to provide 24/7 firm power,” he said. “Importantly, each successive solar project is being delivered more efficiently than the last. As technology improves and we gain scale, our installed capital intensity continues to come down — strengthening the economics of replacing diesel and gas with renewable energy.” A proposed 644MW solar farm at Turner River is also anticipated to commence construction later this year.  Together with the existing 100MW North Star Junction solar farm, the Solomon, Cloudbreak and Turner River projects will deliver about 1.3GW of solar capacity — equivalent to powering about half a million Australian homes each year. Construction is also underway at Fortescue’s 133MW Nullagine wind farm. Through Pilbara Energy Connect, Fortescue has already constructed more than 480km of high-voltage transmission lines across the Pilbara. Once complete, the network will extend to more than 620km, physically linking Fortescue’s energy assets to its operations and rail network.