BHP’s Canadian potash bill hits $12.5b after second cost reset

Rio Tinto invests $18.5m in WA based Sovereign Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) has increased its shareholding in Sovereign Metals (ASX: SVM) to 19.76%, making it the company’s largest shareholder. Via an option excise, Rio Tinto will invest $18.5m to be used to advance the Kasiya rutile-graphite project in Malawi. This includes progressing an optimisation study for a world-class mine capable of supplying critical minerals to the titanium pigment, titanium metal and lithium-ion battery industries. Sovereign chairman Ben Stoikovich says this investment reaffirms Kasiya’s position as one of the most significant...

Decmil awarded $80m in contracts Macmahon Holdings’ (ASX: MAH) wholly owned subsidiary, Decmil, has been awarded two new contracts from Eva Copper Mine and Arrow Energy. Decmil will deliver the new operations permanent village at the Eva Copper Mine in Queensland, adding about $70m to Macmahon’s secured orderbook. The project involves the design and construction of a 454-person accommodation village, including accommodation units, central facilities, water and wastewater treatment plants, internal roads, drainage, bulk earthworks, services installation and associated infrastructure. Works are set to commence in mid-2025, with completion expected in 2026. In WA, Decmil will...

Federal Court to hear ERA’s case for Jabiluka uranium mine The Federal Court of Australia will stay the decision to refuse renewal of the Jabiluka mineral lease, following legal proceeding launched by Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) (ASX: ERA) over the decision not to renew its lease for the uranium mine. This follows action to establish a Reserved Land area, which will prevent future mineral titles over Jabiluka. The Reserved Land area will come into effect when ERA’s current lease expires on August 11. Jabiluka sits alongside the Ranger uranium mine, which ceased mining in 2021, marking the end...

Queensland invests $1m to boost critical minerals ESG standards The Queensland Government and the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) have partnered to increase ESG capability, awareness and knowledge sharing within the state’s critical minerals sector. The Queensland Government will invest $1m, as part of the Queensland Critical Minerals Strategy, to establish a formal ESG Advisory Panel comprising representatives from government, industry, academia and the community. Key initiatives of the panel include reviewing domestic and international trends in ESG; baselining Queensland’s critical minerals industry ESG capability; developing capability uplift strategies, tools and guidance materials and establishing...