Fair Work backs Whitehaven’s parental leave extension refusal

Industry future unlocked with Trailblazer The Federal Department of Education’s $380m Trailblazer Universities Program has established six Trailblazers focused on national priorities including resources technology, critical minerals and the clean energy transition. Under the program, 14 universities and 220 industry partners have also co-invested $1.14b to build new research capabilities and drive commercialisation outcomes to accelerate Australia’s innovation agenda. The Resource Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer program continues to build new research capabilities and drive commercialisation in resources and critical minerals industries across Australia. The program aims to transform the way industry, universities and researchers work together...

Approvals advance US Resolution Copper Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) and BHP (ASX: BHP) have received environmental approval from the US Department of Agriculture to advance on of the largest undeveloped copper mines in the world. The republication of the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) by the US Forest Serve (USFS) allows the congressionally mandated land exchange, enabling future underground mine development and places thousands of acres of land into permanent conservation. The copper project is expected to produce more than 18mt over its...

Cobalt Blue pioneers Australia's first cobalt refinery Cobalt Blue (ASX: COB) has signed a binding pre-final investment decision consortium deed with Iwatani Australia to develop Australia’s first cobalt refinery located in Kwinana, WA. The deed outlined terms in which both companies will advance the refinery towards a final investment decision (FID). Conditions of the agreement include: Samples produced by Cobalt Blue meeting customer specifications Finalising a suite of Project related agreements covering joint venture relationships and operational plans, feedstock supply and offtake, and intellectual property licensing Completion of technical studies and independent due diligence reviews Agreement on a financing plan to cover project funding...