Utilising the assay data from the August 2021 drilling program, Metallica Minerals Limited has upgraded the resource at its Cape Flattery Silica Sand Project in Far North Queensland to 53.5 million tonnes, which is an estimated 40 per cent increase. This includes a significant increase in the Indicated resource and the classification of Measured resource. Metallica Executive Chairman, Theo Psaros said the Mining Lease Application was lodged in June of this year with confidence in the project’s potential. “The combined Measured and Indicated components of the total resource confirms our confidence and are a major milestone as we progress the…
Developers of a vanadium project in the State’s North West, QEM Limited (QEM), are seeking to connect with the proposed CopperString 2.0 high-voltage electricity transmission line to link the North West Minerals Province with the national electricity grid near Townsville. Mr Gavin Loyden, Managing Director, said QEM plans to develop a mine operation, processing facilities and associated infrastructure to take advantage of the increasing supply gap associated with the global demand for vanadium pentoxide. “We are encouraged by the fact the vanadium market is predicted to grow steadily due to increasing production of high-strength steel, upward trends with vanadium batteries…
BHP has delivered the first nickel sulphate crystals from its plant in Kwinana, south of Perth in Western Australia. BHP Nickel West Asset President Jessica Farrell said the plant is the first of its kind and will produce 100,000 tonnes of nickel sulphate per year when fully operational. "Our investment to upgrade the refinery to produce high purity nickel sulphate, along with nickel powder and briquettes, will enhance Nickel West's position as a supplier of choice for the growing global electric battery market," Ms Farrell said. "The plant will create 80 new direct jobs and support 400 new indirect jobs,…
BHP has opened its US$3.6 billion South Flank iron ore mine, Australia’s largest new iron ore mine in over 50 years. When fully operational it will produce 80 million tonnes of premium iron ore per annum, and together with the existing Mining Area C will form the largest operating iron ore hub in the world, producing 145 million tonnes of iron ore each year. The Pilbara mine is BHP’s most technically advanced iron ore mine, with the integration of the latest advances in autonomous-ready fleets, digital connectivity and modular design. BHP announced in May 2021 that the mine had successfully…
Strandline Resources Limited has announced the execution of a long-term Mining Services Agreement (MSA) with Mine Site Construction Services (MSCS). MSCS will provide and operate the mining fleet associated with ore mining, overburden removal, pit backfill and land recontouring for the Coburn mineral sands project in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia. The contract mining term is expected to cover the first seven years of production and provides a safe, reliable and efficient mining solution for Coburn. MSCS's experience in bulk materials handling and mining, including large dozer push operations in mining sands applications, means it is well credentialed to…
Millenium coal mine at Coppabella has struck its first coal set to be shipped to steelmakers across the globe by the end of the year. Resources Minister Scott Stewart joined joint venture partners M Resources and Stanmore Resources, together known as MetRes at the official opening of the $464 million underground mine which partners bought and re-started in July. First coal was struck two weeks ago and production is forecast to rise to more than 1.2 million tonnes per year from July 2022. MetRes Chair Matt Latimore said he was glad to see the opening of the mine which is…
QX has acquired a 100 per cent interest in a highly prospective lithium project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia – one of the world’s premium lithium provinces. QX Resources Limited has entered into a binding option agreement with Redstone Metals Pty Ltd which gives the company 30-days to undertake due diligence on the Turner River lithium project located in the Pilbara lithium province of Western Australia. QX Chairman Maurice Feilich said Turner River represents an opportunity for the company to secure a highly prospective lithium asset right within Australia’s premier address for such projects and nearby to two…
A Curtin research team will work to bring leading broadband fibre optic acoustic sensing technology to the Australian oil and gas, mining and environmental monitoring industries, offering a more cost-effective and safer resource extraction process. As part of the Federal Government’s Global Innovation Linkages Program, the research team – led by Professor Roman Pevzner from Curtin’s WA School of Mines: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering – will partner with international collaborators to test the viability of the technology in the Australian landscape. The project will seek to produce a suite of passive and active geophysical data acquisition and analysis techniques…
A proposed $1.3 billion hydrogen-gas turbine power station in Port Kembla has been declared Critical State Significant Infrastructure (CSSI), given its importance to renewable energy capacity in New South Wales. Deputy Premier John Barilaro said it is a massive step towards safeguarding the state’s future energy security while providing jobs during challenging times. “The Port Kembla Power Station will be a gamechanger, not just for NSW but Australia,” Mr Barilaro said. “It will provide the energy capacity our state needs as existing coal-fired power stations reach their end of life, and household power bills will be the big winner as…
Energy Minister Angus Taylor’s proposal to construct a gas-diesel power plant in Kurri Kurri, 25 kilometres west of Newcastle, has stirred up a hornet’s nest, both locally and nationally. “Community groups in the Hunter look to NSW Energy Minister Matt Kean and Planning Minister Rob Stokes to reject this unnecessary and harmful power plant and double down on making New South Wales a renewable energy superpower,” said Carly Phillips, Co-coordinator of the Gas Free Hunter Alliance. Snowy Hydro’s ‘Response to Submissions’, released on Monday, has drawn fire from community groups in the Hunter. Of the 261 submissions from government agencies,…
Woodside is investigating the supply of approximately 50 megawatts of solar energy to the Woodside-operated Pluto LNG facility on Western Australia’s Burrup Peninsula. The solar power would be supplied from the proposed Woodside Power Project, which could comprise more than 210,000 solar panels, making it one of the largest solar projects in Western Australia. Woodside has undertaken a range of environmental, geotechnical and engineering studies and is progressing key stakeholder consultations ahead of seeking regulatory approvals for the power project. Woodside Acting CEO, Meg O’Neill, said Western Australia is uniquely placed to capitalise on the state’s renewable energy resources and…
The Federal Government has committed up to $600M in the 2021-22 Budget, for Snowy Hydro Limited to construct a 660 megawatt (MW) open cycle gas turbine at Kurri Kurri in the Hunter Valley. The Hunter Power Project is expected to deliver an economic boost to the region, creating up to 600 new jobs during peak construction and 1,200 indirect jobs across New South Wales. The Government said the $600M project, together with EnergyAustralia’s 316 MW Tallawarra B open cycle gas plant, will help shore up the security, reliability and affordability of electricity for consumers in NSW, expected to be generating…
Australian Gas Networks (AGN) - part of Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG) - has officially opened its $14.5 million hydrogen production facility Hydrogen Park South Australia and commenced blending renewable hydrogen into part of its natural gas distribution network in Adelaide. At Hydrogen Park South Australia (HyP SA), located at the Tonsley Innovation District, a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser uses renewable electricity (solar and wind) to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. AGN will blend approximately 5 per cent renewable hydrogen into its existing natural gas distribution network to deliver a blended gas to more than 700 homes in…
Lightsource bp has secured planning approval to upscale plans for the Wellington North Solar Project in New South Wales. The 400-megawatt direct current (MWdc) site is adjacent to Lightsource bp’s 200 MWdc Wellington solar farm which is currently under construction. Once operational, the 600 MWdc hub could become the state’s largest renewable energy power hub. Adam Pegg, country manager, Lightsource bp Australia, said receiving the planning approval of the Wellington North solar farm is an important step forward in the ambition to help Australia transition to a lower-carbon future. “In a few years our 600MWdc Wellington solar hub will be…
Queensland's Planning Minister has given notice of a proposed call in for a proposed coal-fired power station on a cattle property located 30 kilometres north-west of the town of Alpha. Waratah Coal applied for a development approval to the Barcaldine Regional Council as a code assessable development, that does not require public consultation, under an outdated 2006 planning scheme. Deputy Premier and Planning Minister Steven Miles said Barcaldine Regional Council had done a good job of assessing the application given the small council has never assessed a project of this size. Miles added: “Currently, this application isn’t subject to public…
Heavy vehicles powered by renewable hydrogen will be used in a first-of-a-kind deployment based in Townsville, helping to reduce emissions in the transport and mining sectors. On behalf of the Australian government, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced that it has conditionally approved $3.02 million in funding to Ark Energy H2 Pty Ltd (Ark) to support the deployment of a 1 megawatt electrolyser with storage and refuelling infrastructure to fuel five new 140-tonne rated fuel cell electric trucks. The project will be located at the Sun Metals zinc refinery in Townsville, which is owned by Ark’s sister company…
South Australia’s largest battery storage project to date will create 160 jobs and power up to 40,000 homes, with the State Government granting development approval to Maoneng Australia’s $150 million, 225MW project at Gould Creek. Maoneng Australia’s $150 million investment in its 225MW Gould Creek Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) will see the company power 40,000 homes during peak hour, once completed in 2023. Located just 22 kilometres outside Adelaide and covering approximately 3.4 hectares of land, the project is expected to take 12 months to complete and will provide up to 160 construction jobs and two full time maintenance…
A new solar farm of up to 88 megawatt will power the Mount Isa North West Minerals Province under a two staged plan with an initial investment of more than $80 million. APA has announced it will commence building the 44 megawatt stage one of the Mica Creek Solar Farm. Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Steven Miles said the project is an excellent example of the demand for renewable energy, from all sectors of business and industry. “We’re backing businesses, backing renewable energy, and the North West Minerals Province as we keep delivering Queensland’s plan for economic recovery…
A $155 million contract has been awarded to NHOA Australia to deliver Western Australia's biggest lithium-ion battery. The 100 megawatt battery, to be built at the decommissioned Kwinana Power Station, will have the capacity to power the equivalent of 160,000 homes for two hours. Construction will begin in November 2021 with the battery expected to be operational by the end of 2022. The battery will be able to store excess rooftop solar energy during the day, when demand is low, and discharge electricity rapidly during the afternoon and evening peak. The site is bigger than 20 tennis courts, side-by-side, with space…
The more than A$30 billion Australia-Asia PowerLink (AAPowerLink), which will supply renewable electricity to Darwin and Singapore, has reached another milestone with the announcement of the project's team. One of the world’s largest renewable energy infrastructure projects will be delivered by a team consisting of Bechtel, Hatch, Marsh, PwC Australia and SMEC (a member of the Surbana Jurong Group) across different areas. The companies' experience in developing and delivering complex infrastructure projects, together with a strong commitment to renewable energy giga-projects and providing global solutions to achieve net zero targets will be essential in delivering a project of such scale…
Townsville in Queensland is a step closer to a huge industry and jobs boost from a proposed energy hub and advanced manufacturing facility at the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct that will refine ore to produce critical materials for use in new-technology batteries. The proposed Townsville Energy Chemicals Hub (TECH) will create around 800 construction jobs and its operational phase will create an estimated 1700 jobs, including 300 highly-skilled advanced manufacturing jobs at the facility and 1400 jobs in support industries. Project proponent Queensland Pacific Metals (QPM) proposes to build the facility in the Townsville City Council’s Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct, approximately 40km…
The Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre (FBICRC) has signed contracts with a consortium of companies, the WA Government, contractors and academic institutions to design and commission its flagship Cathode Precursor Production Pilot Plant in Western Australia which will provide technical capability towards the production of advanced battery materials on an industrial scale. The FBICRC and its partners will make an investment valued at over $18 million ($9.2 cash and $9.2 in-kind including the repurposing of BHP’s existing nickel sulfate pilot plant) to produce the present generation of cathode chemistries used in electric vehicles from locally sourced materials. The pilot…
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Renascor Resources and POSCO, one of South Korea’s largest conglomerates, will support a $209 million investment in South Australia to develop a Battery Anode Material (BAM) manufacturing facility in the Eyre Peninsula. The MoU provides for the purchase of up to 30,000 tonnes per annum of Purified Spherical Graphite (PSG) from Renascor’s planned BAM manufacturing facility and a potential equity investment by POSCO in Renascor. The South Australian Government states that the project is forecast to create 190 full-time roles, more than 100 jobs during construction and has the potential to generate around $260…
Covalent Lithium has entered into a long-term lease for a 40-hectare site in the Kwinana Strategic Industrial Area (SIA) where it will construct a lithium refinery. The Covalent Lithium refinery, a joint venture between the subsidiaries of Wesfarmers and Chilean company SQM, forms a part of the integrated Mount Holland Lithium project. The project, which is expected to create 1,000 construction and 350 operational jobs, involves the construction and operation of a spodumene mine and concentrator near Mount Holland in Western Australia. Once complete, the Kwinana refinery will have the capacity to support the production of batteries for up to…
Western Australia will soon be home to the longest electric highway in Australia with the State Government today announcing the 45 locations that will make up the electric vehicle fast-charging network. The infrastructure network includes up to 90 fast-charging stations and backup chargers at 45 different locations connecting Perth and regional Western Australia - stretching north to Kununurra, south to Esperance and east to Kalgoorlie. Electric vehicle owners will easily be able to travel the state along these routes, with the average distance between charging stations around 160 kilometres. Most electric cars can run for at least 400 kilometres in…
A National Radioactive Waste Management Facility (NRWMF) is now one step closer, following the decision by the Minister for Resources and Water, Keith Pitt, to declare Napandee near Kimba, South Australia as the proposed site for the facility. Australia’s radioactive waste is currently stored in more than 100 locations around the country. To solve this problem, the Australian Government is establishing a single fit-for-purpose facility. In coming to this decision, Minister Pitt considered relevant material to inform a formal declaration. “This is the next step in progressing this nationally significant infrastructure project, which successive governments have been working on for…
A new research and teaching hub that will investigate carbon-neutral solutions for Western Australia’s resources sector has been launched at Curtin University’s WA School of Mines in Kalgoorlie. Renowned iron ore processing expert Dr John Clout has been appointed the Professor of Practice in Pyrometallurgy at the new Kalgoorlie Metals Research Laboratory, based at Curtin’s Kalgoorlie campus. Curtin’s WA School of Mines: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering Head of School Professor Michael Hitch said the new research hub will explore cleaner alternatives through teaching and research that will pave the way for a greener future for the industry. “The Kalgoorlie…
The largest infrastructure project in the history of the Port of Townsville has reached a major milestone this week, with the completion of the $232 million Channel Upgrade project’s rock wall. The Port of Townsville is the largest commercial Port in Northern Australia, but at just 92 metres, the shipping channel is one of the narrowest in the country. Currently, vessels up to 238 metres in length can safely access the Port. However, ships are getting larger with each passing year, so the Port needs to adapt so it can continue to service the needs of North Queensland's growing industries…
The Santa Comba Tungsten Project has successfully delivered first production from the fully permitted underground mine. Rafaella Resources Limited has confirmed the successful delivery of first production as set out in March with the safe installation of a pilot plant and first production from high-grade stockpiles left from previous operations dating back to 1985. Managing Director Steven Turner said working closely with the authorities to ensure all the permits and approvals were obtained is a testament to the capabilities of the growing team at the site and in Madrid. "This is the first real step in bringing the Santa Comba…
Walkabout Resources has provided an update on recent activities and contracts it has awarded to progress its 100 per cent owned Lindi Jumbo Graphite Project in South East Tanzania. Lindi Jumbo Limited, a 100 per cent owned subsidiary of Walkabout Resources, has commenced an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract with Yantai Jinpeng Mining and Machinery Co. Limited (Jinpeng) for the Lindi Jumbo Graphite Process Plant in Yantai, China. Jinpeng – a medium-sized private manufacturing and construction engineering business with approximately 400 employees based in Yantai – is experienced in building graphite processing plants both locally and internationally. The company…
Delecta Limited has confirmed the resumption of exploration programs at its REX Uranium-Vanadium Project, located in Colorado. In June 2020, Delecta acquired 60 per cent of the shares in Sunrise Minerals Inc, a US-based company that holds 100 per cent of the REX Project, with the project consisting of 256 contiguous Bureau of Land Management (BLM) claims covering an area of approximately 2,072 hectares. The project lies within the Uravan Mineral Belt of Colorado within trucking distance of the White Mesa Mill, the only operating conventional uranium-vanadium mill in the US that has 90 per cent spare capacity available to…
Adriatic Metals Plc has announced the outcome of the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) for the Vares Silver Project in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which has been completed by a number of international consultants and coordinated by Ausenco Pty Ltd. The Vares Silver Project hosts two Mineral Resources: the Rupice underground deposit (Rupice) and the Veovaca open-pit deposit (Veovaca). The two deposits are located approximately 11 kilometres apart. Veovaca was a previously operating open-pit mine producing lead, zinc and barite concentrates that ceased operations in 1988. The potential economic viability of the Rupice deposit was only determined in 2017 after it was…
Rio Tinto’s final Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender collection of rare pink, red, blue and violet diamonds is being showcased to connoisseurs, collectors and luxury jewellers in Antwerp, Belgium. The Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender, an annual invitation-only event for the past 38 years, is widely considered to be the most anticipated diamond sale in the world, showcasing the pinnacle of Argyle’s production to an exclusive group of collectors, diamond connoisseurs and luxury jewellery houses. Following 37 years of operations, mining ceased at the Argyle mine in Western Australia in November 2020 and the 2021 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender is the final…
Celsius Resources Limited’s Philippine subsidiary Tambuli Mining Company Inc. (TMCI) has been granted a two-year extension of its exploration program for its Sagay Copper-Gold Project. The Sagay copper-gold asset is located in the northern tip of Negros with a total area of 4,594.2 hectares where occurrences of large porphyry copper mineralisation potential have been confirmed. TMCI President Attorney, Julito R Sarmiento, said the announcement is an important step in developing another asset within the company’s copper-gold portfolio, and re-confirms the renewed commitment of the Philippine National Government to support the mining industry and the country’s path to economic recovery. “Our…
BlackEarth Minerals NL has received confirmation from the Port d’Ehoala SA that the company has been granted a Right to export its graphite concentrate from the Port. BlackEarth’s Maniry Graphite Project is located in Southern Madagascar, approximately 250 kilometres from the Port. The Port d’Ehoala SA is jointly owned and operated by Rio Tinto and QIT Madagascar Minerals (a company jointly owned by Rio Tinto and the Madagascan government). The Right to export from Port d’Ehoala SA relates to all graphite related products produced from Maniry and the provisions of the services to be provided by the Port include: The…
