Tag: QLD mining

Stanmore Coal: A Big Deal

Stanmore Coal: A Big Deal

All images: Stanmore Coal. BY ELIZABETH FABRI THREE years; that’s all it took for Stanmore Coal to turn the two-year Isaac Plains mine into a 15-year mega project. Through strategic (and timely) acquisitions, Stanmore Coal now has a strong footprint in the Bowen Basin, and healthy cash flow as coal prices remain strong. Stanmore Coal’s purchase of the shuttered Isaac Plains mine several years ago was a watershed moment for the then-explorer. In 2015, the coal market was in the depths of a downturn. Prices were so bad many companies were looking for an out, but Stanmore Coal had other plans. In July 2015, the company entered a deal to pick up Peabody subsidiary Millennium Coal’s undeveloped Wotonga (Isaac Plains…

Bowen Basin Mining: In the Black

Bowen Basin Mining: In the Black

Vitrinite team members with a core sample taken from their Karin deposit. Image: Vitrinite. BY ELIZABETH FABRI BOWEN Basin locals may be quick to talk down another coal boom, but there is no question confidence is returning to the region. An upturn in coal prices is boosting new exploration and development, M&A activity, mine expansions, and prompting companies to reopen shuttered operations. But can recent momentum be sustained? Optimism has returned to the coal-rich Bowen Basin in central Queensland. In late 2016 recovering coal prices signalled hope – dampened only slightly when Cyclone Debbie rocked the region in 2017. And by early this year many Bowen Basin miners were wearing a smile again. Take Anglo American; the miner made a decision…

Evolution snaps up Connors Arc

Evolution snaps up Connors Arc

Quartz vein outcrop on Connors Arc’s Aurora Flats. Image: Orion Minerals. BY ELIZABETH FABRI EVOLUTION Mining has agreed to acquire Orion Minerals’ Connors Arc gold exploration project, which is strategically positioned near Evolution’s existing Mt Rawdon, Mt Carlton and Cracow operations in central QLD. The acquisition includes an upfront cash payment of $1.5 million, followed by two payments of $500,000, and a 2 per cent net smelter return royalty over gold produced from the project, with payments capped at $5 million. Evolution Mining vice president Discovery Glen Masterman said Connors Arc was a technically compelling project with multiple and extensive alteration zones, which could be indicative of multiple preserved epithermal gold systems. “The Connors Arc acquisition is in line with…

The Interview: MMG Dugald River’s Pierre Malan

The Interview: MMG Dugald River’s Pierre Malan

All images: MMG. BY ELIZABETH FABRI FIRST zinc concentrate production began in November last year at the $US570 million Dugald River mine. Since then, the MMG team and its contractors have been working at warp speed to reach the next milestone; commercial production. We spoke with Dugald River general manager Pierre Malan about how a “leap of faith” during the downturn enabled the project to be achieved ahead of schedule and under budget. Q. How is ramp up progressing and how close you are to reaching commercial production? The project has been going really well. With commissioning ahead of schedule last year, we are, overall, still tracking under budget and ahead of schedule. Late last year we started production…

Mining North West QLD: Rejuvenation

Mining North West QLD: Rejuvenation

MMG’s Dugald River zinc mine near Cloncurry, QLD. Image: MMG. BY CAMERON DRUMMOND INITIATIVES by the Queensland Government to boost exploration and support employment diversification aim to attract investment and protect employment in the region from the cyclical nature of the resources sector. However some feel that addressing high energy prices as a priority may do more to lift North West QLD’s economy. Covering 10 local government areas, the 375,000sqkm North West Minerals Province (NWMP) contains major copper, lead, zinc, silver and phosphate deposits and well defined rare earths potential. The NWMP is home to about 34,500 residents, mostly based in Mt Isa, with 60 per cent of jobs that directly or indirectly support the mining industry. The significance of the…

Bowen Basin innovation cluster opens

Bowen Basin innovation cluster opens

METS Ignited general manager industry implementation Ian Dover presenting at the cluster launch. BY ELIZABETH FABRI THE Queensland Government has launched its METS Ignited Bowen Basin Cluster Program set to create more than 3000 additional mining technology jobs in the next decade. The Mackay pilot program was announced earlier this year as part of the State Government’s Roadmap and Action Plan, part of its $420 million Advance Queensland initiative. The program is a joint initiative with METS Ignited, and aims to promote collaboration to solve real business problems and in turn deliver more jobs and business opportunities. “Local miners will identify their challenges, and local mining technology companies will collaborate on innovative solutions to bolster the North Queensland economy,’’ Member…

Adani: All hands on deck

Adani: All hands on deck

BY CAMERON DRUMMOND THE Carmichael coal, rail and port project will purportedly make up just one third of Adani’s total investment into Australia by 2022, with the Indian mining giant earmarking 1500MW worth of renewables projects and a 1 million tonnes per year agribusiness export mechanism. Construction works have started this month on Adani’s mammoth $16.5 billion Carmichael coal mine, rail and port project, two months after company chairman Gautam Adani gave the operation the green light. The massive undertaking has come under intense scrutiny by environmentalists, as well as the State and Federal politicians since it was brought to the table six years ago. However, Adani persevered through a myriad of red tape and court appeals, confirming in late…

QLD reforms mine rehab laws

QLD reforms mine rehab laws

Rio Tinto’s Hail Creek coal mine. Image: Rio Tinto. BY CAMERON DRUMMOND THE QUEENSLAND Government has proposed changes would make sure large mines across the State are properly rehabilitated, protecting the environment and creating more jobs in the resource services industry. Speaking during a visit to Rio Tinto’s Hail Creek coal mine, south-west of Mackay, QLD environment minister Steven Miles said the changes to financial assurance and rehabilitation would apply to new and existing mine operations. “These next generation laws will ensure taxpayers are no longer left to foot the bill for failed mines or stranded assets,” Mr Miles said. “For the first time mines will be expected to progressively rehabilitate as land becomes available for rehab, and their performance…