Australian miner South32 has agreed to sell its Illawarra metallurgical coal business for $1.65 billion, exiting the coal market to focus on copper and zinc opportunities, reported Reuters. Illawarra is being sold to a consortium led by Golden Energy and Resources and M Resources. The deal comprises an upfront cash payment of $1.05 billion at completion, and a deferred cash…
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The Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA) has released new technology for the advancement of bolt safety in underground mines. In the new report overview of In-situ Rock Bolt Behaviour Underground, the group outlined its extensive lab testing to understand rock bolt behaviour under complex load conditions. “Physical models were prepared to simulate the shearing in underground opening with…
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Private equity firm Kinterra Capital said its portfolio company, Cannon Resources, has made significant advancement in expanding the resource at its Fisher East nickel project – the largest undeveloped high-grade nickel sulphide asset in Australia not owned by a major miner. Cannon saw an increase in its independent JORC Resource to 13.1 million tonnes of Indicated and Inferred mineral resources.…
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BHP said its board of directors recently approved the Western Ridge Crusher (WRC) project, located on the traditional lands of the Nyiyaparli people, approximately 21 kilometres southwest of Newman, Western Australia. The project is a sustaining tonnes proposal for the miner’s Newman Operations, which consists of two mining sites. BHP WA Iron Ore Asset President Tim Day said this was…
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Rio Tinto confirmed it has signed a power purchase agreement, the largest ever for Australia, to energize its Gladstone operations in central Queensland. The miner has agreed to buy the majority of electricity from Windlab’s planned 1.4-GW Bungaban wind energy project, making it the biggest industrial buyer of renewable power in Australia. Rio Tinto officials called it a major step…
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Western Australia-based South32 said its subsidiary South32 Eagle Downs has agreed to divest its 50% interest in the Eagle Downs metallurgical coal project in Queensland to a Stanmore Resources subsidiary. The miner, which owns the project along with China Baowu subsidiary Aquila Resources, is divesting its interest for US$15 million. The transaction is expected to be completed by year’s end.…
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International Graphite, in a first for Australia’s minerals industry, has commissioned a new micronizing plant in Collie, near Perth. The qualification-scale microniser, with a capacity of 200 tonnes per annum, is the largest in Australia and a milestone in the development of a domestic graphite industry. It will be the first to produce graphite products in Australia for customer acceptance…
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Hillgrove Resources has achieved a significant milestone with the production of first copper concentrate from the Kanmantoo underground mine in South Australia following successful commissioning of the processing facility. “Completing this transition from explorer to producer makes Hillgrove Resources one of only a few copper producers on the [Australian Stock Exchange], and doing so in eight months highlights the company’s…
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Australia’s leading iron ore producers – BHP and Rio Tinto – have partnered with BlueScope to accelerate the decarbonisation of steelmaking by agreeing to jointly investigate the development of the country’s first ironmaking electric smelting furnace (ESF) pilot plant. Under a framework agreement, the companies will consolidate the work each party has completed to date, leveraging both miners’ deep knowledge…
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Western Australia-based miners Red 5 and Silver Lake Resources have entered into a merger of equals, creating a diversified gold producer with a significant ore reserve and mineral resource inventory of 4 million ounces and 12.4 million oz., respectively. Under the terms of the transaction, Red 5 will acquire 100% of the shares in Silver Lake and each Silver Lake…
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