Metso launches new grinding classification system

PureGRAPH showcases potential in hydrogen production Independent research has found graphene-enhanced electrocatalysts reduce the amount of power needed during hydrogen generation. The study by the Centre for Process Innovation UK (CPI) showed electrodes composed of First Graphene’s (ASX:FGR) metal-oxide doped graphene — PureGRAPH — resulted in a 43% reduction in overpotential, the energy required to drive the hydrogen generation reaction. The PureGRAPH-based electrodes showed overpotential values of 0.175V for graphene-manganese-oxide and 0.170V for graphene-ruthenium-manganese-oxide. Improvements to the process were also identified that can increase throughput by 64%, reduce raw material costs by 50% and broaden metal oxide options in the product. First Graphene managing director and chief executive Michael Bell says this is...

Fortescue debuts Australia’s first electrical excavator at Cloudbreak Australia’s first newly built electric excavator is now in operation at Fortescue’s (ASX:FMG) Cloudbreak mine in WA. Powered by a 6.6kV substation and more than 2km of high voltage trailing cable, this is the first of three R 9400 E electric excavators being delivered by Liebherr. Fortescue chief executive Dino Otranto says the commissioning of the excavator is a milestone for the company. “The commissioning of this fully electric excavator is a massive achievement by the team and is the first of its kind in Australia for the mining industry,” he said. “It’s a true demonstration of industry collaboration where...

BURGEONING Pilbara-based iron ore miner BC Iron has released the results of a successful year; doubling its final dividends and increasing production at its flagship Nullagine joint venture with Fortescue Metals Group. Despite rumours of an imminent drop in the iron ore price, BC Iron announced a 41 per cent increase in its underlying net profit for the 2012 to 2013 financial year; recording a net profit of $71.4 million, up from $50.6 million the previous year. The company passed on the funding directly to its shareholders, who received a substantial 30 per cent share dividend, fully franked. In the wake of the announcement, former major shareholder Consolidated Minerals sold its 28,522,712 ordinary shares to a range of institutional investors...

PALADIN Energy has completed the first of a two-part prefeasibility study (PFS1) to assess the restart of its Namibian uranium mine, Langer Heinrich. The company said that it can return to production after a rapid 12-month ramp-up and would require about US$80m to return to production levels of about 5.2mlb pa. The capital would be divided into US$38m needed for plant repair and US$42 needed for working capital. Production could increase to about 6.5mlb pa through expansion of the mine during the ramp-up period, which the company said would target the processing of high and medium-grade ore over a six-year period at an additional cost of $US30m. PFS1 put the mine potentially back in production within 12 months of securing...