Metso launches new grinding classification system

By Emily Coles

Friday, 12 December 2025

NewsProcurement & Suppliers

The MOU supports Metallium’s plan to develop a national network of e-waste processing facilities, strategically located near major e-waste collection hubs, rapidly expanding U.S. data centre industrial parks and regional industrial corridors with strong logistics and waste generation.

thiess eva-ann-cimic

NewsProcurement & Suppliers

Thiess secures $700m agreement for Eva copper project

Thiess secures $700m agreement for Eva copper projectThiess has secured a $700m alliance agreement with Harmony to deliver bulk earthworks, workshop construction and mining services over five years for the Eva copper mine project.Thiess group and chief executive Michael Wright comments on the alliance agreement.“The Eva Copper Alliance Agreement aligns Thiess and Harmony strategically and operationally – enabling us to set new benchmarks for sustainable, efficient copper development at what will be the largest copper mine in Queensland,” he said.Thiess group executive Australia East Rae O’Brien continues.“Our alliance with Harmony is underpinned by our deeply aligned values, particularly in supporting local procurement, new-to-industry and Indigenous workforce development, community engagement and a steadfast commitment to safety – we look forward to working together to drive employment, skills development and community partnerships that will endure beyond the mine life,” he said.Early stage works for the project has begun with completion expected in June 2026.Mining services such as drilling, blasting, mine planning, technical services, mining operations and mobile equipment maintenance across multiple open pits will begin from June 2026 to June 2031.Harmony chief development officer Johannes Van Heerden comments on the Eva project.“The Eva copper mine project is integral to Harmony’s strategic objective to become an international gold and copper producer,” he said.“Through the Eva Copper Alliance, Thiess and Harmony combine their strengths in a single, integrated framework - leveraging technical expertise, proven industry experience, and shared values to achieve common objectives.”

Mackay,,Queensland,,Australia,-,May,2021:,Monster,Machinery,Moving,Coal

NewsProcurement & Suppliers

Macmahon lands $792m contract

Macmahon Holdings (ASX: MAH) has executed a new three-year contract at the Byerwen coking coal mine in Queensland.Macmahon has been a part of the Bowen Basin mine since its establishment in 2017 undertaking open cut mining services, including load and haul and crusher feed, and provides employment to 545 people on site.This contract acts as a continuation of Macmahon’s services from December 2025 with no additional capital expenditure required beyond sustaining capital budgets.The contract also highlights an option to extend a further two years, resulting in an increased total value of $1.32b.The Byerwen mine is owned by Byerwen Coal, a joint venture between QCoal Group and Japanese steel manufacturer JFE Steel.Macmahon managing director and chief executive Michael Finnegan comments on the contract.“The QCoal relationship and Byerwen project are incredibly important to Macmahon and have helped underpin the company’s continued growth over the last nine years,” he said.Following the notice of award announcement for the project to the ASX in April, Macmahon’s shares increased from $.23 to $.61 as of December 17. This is the company’s highest level since early-May 2012.Macmahon’s FY26 guidance remains unchanged.

First Cat battery-electric haul trucks land in the Pilbara

NewsProcurement & Suppliers

First Cat battery-electric haul trucks land in the Pilbara

Australia’s first Cat 793 XE early learner battery-electric haul trucks have arrived at BHP’s (ASX: BHP) Jimblebar iron ore mine in the Pilbara, WA. This marks the start of on-site testing, in collaboration with Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO), of Caterpillar’s battery-electric heavy haulage technology and a major step toward a more sustainable future in mining, designed to deliver zero exhaust emissions while maintaining productivity and performance. Once safely commissioned, the trials will begin to test the viability of battery-electric technology as an alternative to diesel usage in large-scale iron ore mining operations. The trials will help inform the development of technology, processes, infrastructure and people required to support lower greenhouse gas emissions machines and mine sites of the future. Following the…

Last week, Monadelphous announced it had also been awarded a contract with Rio Tinto for modifications to the existing process plant associated with the Hope Downs 2 project.

NewsProcurement & Suppliers

Monadelphous lands major Rio contract

Monadelphous lands major Rio contract Monadelphous (ASX: MND) has been awarded a $300m long-term maintenance services contract with Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO).Under the five-year contract, the company will continue to provide fixed plant and shutdown services, delivering generalist mechanical and access services across Rio Tinto’s iron ore operations in the Pilbara region of WA.Monadelphous managing director Zoran Bebic says the contract award reflects the company’s strong reputation for safe and reliable delivery of maintenance services.“We are delighted to continue supporting Rio Tinto’s Pilbara iron ore operations, where Monadelphous has provided services for more than 30 years,” he said.This comes one week after Monadelphous announced it had secured new construction and maintenance work worth about $110m in total.

shutterstock_1041363826

NewsTechnology & Innovation

Rio Tinto’s first Pilbara-made railcar

The collaboration between Rio Tinto, Gemco Rail and CRRC Qiqihar Rolling Stock will see 100 railcars being manufactured to support local production capacity in WA.This railcar marks the completion of 40 WA-made iron ore railcars manufactured in Gemco Rail’s Perth facility, with the remaining 60 expected to be manufactured in the new, purpose-built facility in Karratha. The Karratha facility is expected to create up to 25 local jobs.

a31250dc-17cd-4f49-aa33-8fd247ae2b65

Exploration & DiscoveryNews

Northern Star maintains $225m exploration budget

Northern Star maintains $225m exploration budgetNorthern Star Resources’ (ASX: NST) FY26 exploration program continues to target near-mine growth across production centres, with spend heavily weighted to the miner’s flagship KCGM operations.The $225m budget is being spent across Northern Star’s three production centres of Kalgoorlie, Yandal and Pogo as well as the newly acquired Hemi development project.The exploration has yielded significant new discoveries of Hercules (Kalgoorlie), Golden Wonder (Yandal) and Star (Pogo).Northern Star managing director Stuart Tonkin comments on the company’s exploration updates.“This update highlights the strong organic growth potential across our global portfolio,” he said.“At Kalgoorlie, drilling and investment are driving growth, with future options to supply high-margin ore to the expanded Fimiston mill from FY27.“At Pogo, new drill drives have enabled extensional drilling, while surface programs advance near-mine opportunities, unlocking high priority targets such as Goodpaster, Star and Central Link.“The integration of our recent strategic acquisition, the Hemi development project, into our gold inventory is underway, with approvals progressing for what is to become our fourth production centre.” Kalgoorlie KCGM operations include the Fimiston open pit (Super Pit), Fimiston and Mt Charlotte underground mines and the Mt Percy project.Drilling has focused on exploration and extensional drilling at the underground operations.Fimiston South highlights further growth opportunities as exploration drilling over the past 12 months has successfully identified mineralisation up to 800m below existing mineral resources.New target ‘Golden Goose’ — north of the Charlotte Fault in Mt Charlotte underground — has highlighted the potential for new mineral resources with results of 73.1m @ 1.9g/t and 25.6m @ 4.0g/t.The Hercules project is focused on the upgrade and expansion of mineral resources outside the existing ore reserve. Infill drilling here has returned thick, high-grade intersections including results of 21.3m @ 6.1g/t and 12.9m @ 9.7g/t. Yandal Successful drilling in Jundee has identified new extensions to Deakin, Barton and Plutus areas with narrow high-grade intersections reported outside the current mineral resources.Surface drilling at Wonder West, within the Thunderbox project region, presents new, strong results from outside the current mineral resource presenting as a new high-grade opportunity. Pogo, Alaska (US) At the Star discovery, a thick high-grade zone was confirmed from a small, surface infill program.Current drilling activities in the Pogo underground mine have focused on testing near-mine extensions opportunities, with strong results returned at East Deep across several high-grade trends.

shutterstock_2019208727

NewsProjects & Operations

Westgold divests Mt Henry gold project for $64.6m

Westgold Resources (ASX: WGX) will divest the Mt Henry-Selene gold project in WA, closely following the announced spin-out of the company’s non-core Murchison projects.Alicanto (ASX: AQI) will acquire 100% of the 150moz project including all associated mining tenements, licences, heritage agreements, contracts and technical information.The Mt Henry project was acquired by Westgold in 2024 after being placed on care and maintenance in 2019 by Karora Resources. It hosts a combined mineral resource of 24.5mt at 1.2g/t gold for 915,000oz of contained gold and an ore reserve of 11.7mt at 1.3g/t gold for 478,300oz.Westgold will receive $15m cash and $19.6m via the issue of 19.9% of the ordinary shares in Alicanto post transaction close.Westgold says the transaction is aligned with its long-term strategic plans of focusing on larger, core operating assets rather than non-core assets such as Mt Henry.“This transaction delivers Westgold shareholders an attractive mix of cash, exposure to project upside via a large strategic shareholding and deferred consideration payable on specific project milestones,” Westgold managing director and chief executive Wayne Bramwell said.“Westgold is pleased to partner with Alicanto, whose board and management team are experienced and committed explorers and have a demonstrable record of rapidly advancing gold projects.“Westgold continues to progress discussions in relation to the potential sale of its Peak Hill and Chalice gold assets following strong inbound interest.”Alicanto interim executive chair Ray Shorrocks comments on the transaction.“The Mt Henry acquisition is an exceptional company-making opportunity for Alicanto,” he said.“It provides immediate scale, a high-quality, near-surface Resource and a clear platform for rapid growth and development.“The .9moz resource and pit shells were calculated when the gold price was one-quarter of its current level and the historic drilling data shows most holes ended in mineralisation.”The divestment follows Westgold’s recently announced demerger, with the company spinning out its non-core Reedy’s and Comet gold exploration assets to new stand-alone Valient Gold.The Reedy’s and Comet assets have a combined mineral resource of 15.6mt at 2.4g/t gold for 1.2moz.Both projects were previously in production before being placed on care and maintenance in FY23.“By establishing Valiant, we create an independent, well-funded gold company that can bring forward value from smaller assets such as the Comet and South Emu-Triton underground mines and unlock the exploration potential across the Reedy and Comet packages,” Mr Bramwell said.“Valiant will have a fast-track to cashflow with an ore purchase agreement (OPA) to be entered into with Westgold.“This collaborative, capital efficient model is proven, as demonstrated by Westgold’s investment and OPA with New Murchison Gold (ASX: NMG).“This model saw NMG transition from explorer to producer, with gold production from NMG’s Crown Prince deposit now delivering high grade oxide ore to Westgold’s Meekatharra processing hub.“Valiant can replicate this success. With several small underground mines in care and maintenance, a range of open pit opportunities and exploration upside, the Valiant team has multiple near-term restart and growth options to deliver near term cashflow.”Westgold will retain upside to exploration and production success through a substantial equity holding in Valiant.

Liontown digitalises auctions for Kathleen Valley lithium

Liontown Resources (ASX: LTR) has teamed up with German digital platform Metalshub to host online spodumene concentrate auctions. The lithium mine will host a series of bidding events into 2026 for Kathleen Valley spodumene concentrate, allowing buyers to submit bids and purchase products directly giving access to a wider group of buyers. Liontown chief executive Tony Ottaviano comments on the partnership. “From the inception of our marketing strategy, Liontown has been clear with its position that a transparent, auditable and liquid price index is crucial to establishing a long-term sustainable lithium industry,” he said. “Utilising Metalshub for our first digital spot sales auction will improve price transparency for spodumene, giving more customers an opportunity to bid on Liontown cargoes.” Following…