Rio Tinto extends Clontarf partnership for five years

WA magnetite miners can now apply for an up to 50 per cent rebate on royalties paid in the first year of production, Premier Colin Barnett recently announced. Speaking at the official opening of the Karara project in the state’s Mid West last month, Mr Barnett said the rebate would be considered on a project-by-project basis, and would return to the full royalty rate of 5 per cent after the first year. The concession, which would be available for the next three years, would provide a major boost for the developing WA magnetite ore industry and promote the nation to Chinese investors, he said. “Western Australia has vast magnetite resources and this ore is preferred by many Chinese steel mills,”...

AIRCRAFT charter specialists Australian Air Solutions (AAS) tailors its time-efficient, cost-effective and comfortable charter services for mining companies and contractors of all sizes. “We understand FIFO, because I and all our staff have been there,” AAS managing director Brendon Hempel said. “Backing out the driveway to start another four or five hour journey to work can grow tired pretty quickly, so travel take any longer than it needs to.” The company can fly between 9 and 19 passengers from Brisbane direct to Moranbah, Emerald or Roma at unbeatable prices. “By supplying a regular contracted service to the mines, we can often provide prices 30 per cent per seat cheaper than the airlines,” Mr Hempel said. Cost...

The $400 million first stage of the Tianqi Lithium Plant project was now under construction. Image: Tianqi Lithium Australia. BY ELIZABETH FABRI CHINESE-owned Tianqi Lithium has agreed to invest $317 million towards an expansion of its Kwinana Lithium Plant in WA, currently under construction. The first stage of the project was due to be complete at the end of 2018, and set to produce up to 24,000 tonnes of battery grade lithium hydroxide per annum. A second phase would double plant capacity to 48,000 tonnes per annum, and be built adjacent to the first plant, with a construction period of less than two years. Tianqi Lithium Australia managing director Phil Thick said the company was pleased to be moving to...

State-of-the-art pilot processing plant for critical minerals in Mackay, Queensland The concept design for a pilot critical minerals processing plant, FlexiLab, has been unveiled in Mackay, Queensland. Unveiling the concept at the Resources Centre of Excellence, Queensland Resources and Critical Minerals Minister Scott Stewart says FlexiLab will provide a dedicated facility for industry to test processing and recovery of minerals not normally produced. “"Mackay is a key player in Queensland’s critical minerals sector,” he said. “Investments in initiatives like FlexiLab, will help to...