Rio Tinto, Sumitomo finalise Winu partnership

Rio Tinto and Sumitomo Metal Mining have signed the final joint venture agreements to deliver the Winu copper-gold project in Western Australia following a December announcement of the partnership.  Under the agreements, Rio Tinto will continue to develop and operate Winu, and Sumitomo will pay Rio Tinto up to $430.4 million for a 30% equity share of the project. This…

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C29 Metals, Bask International to form joint venture

C29 Metals, through its local subsidiary, has executed a binding heads of agreement (HOA) with Kazakhstan-based Bask International Group Ltd. that sets out the framework for an incorporated Joint Venture between the companies. The purpose of the JV is to enable the companies to work collaboratively to identify or acquire and develop advanced exploration projects across Kazakhstan. It will be…

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Anglo American responds to Peabody concerns

Anglo American has released a statement in regards to American coal producer Peabody Energy reviewing options related to its acquisition of Anglo American’s coal assets in Australia. The miner said it does not believe that the stoppage at its Moranbah North mine on 31 March constitutes a Material Adverse Change in accordance with the definitive agreements with Peabody. A small…

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Australian state seeking input on mining regs

The Government of South Australia’s Department for Energy and Mining is seeking feedback on a range of potential improvements to the state’s Mining Act. The consultation seeks to ensure the Mining Act is fit for purpose and helps meet the demand in a way that, as it noted, “supports industry, community and environmental expectations.” The Mining Act 1971 and its…

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Komatsu Australia becoming PNG distributor

Komatsu Australia will now be serving Papua New Guinea customers after its acquisition of distributor UMW Niugini Limited. The business has been renamed Komatsu Niugini Limited (KNL). Sean Taylor, Komatsu Australia Managing Director, said the acquisition succeeded a change in ownership structure of the joint venture parties that previously owned UMW. The acquisition was completed on 1 May. “As a…

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Native Mineral Resources on schedule for Blackjack commissioning

Australia-based Native Mineral Resources continues to advance activities at its Blackjack processing plant and Charters Towers assets in north Queensland, where it expects to commence commissioning in June. “We continue to make strong progress at the Blackjack gold processing plant, with milestones achieved across mechanical, piping, electrical, and commissioning readiness activities during the quarter. Refurbishment works on the ball mill,…

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Sandvik delivering drills to PNG, Laos mines

Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions will supply seven surface drill rigs to replace an aging non-Sandvik fleet at Barrick Gold’s Porgera gold mine in Papua New Guinea. The order, which was placed in the first quarter of 2025, includes four Sandvik DR410i rotary blasthole drill rigs and three Leopard DI650i down-the-hole (DTH) drill rigs, as well as associated services. Drill…

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Honeywell providing automation for Australian REE refinery

Honeywell announced that its Integrated Controls and Safety System, or ICSS, will be designed and implemented at Iluka Resources’ Eneabba rare earths refinery in Western Australia as part of a project to improve safety and production efficiency. Through a strategic partnership between the Australian Government and Iluka, the refinery will produce rare earth oxides that are essential inputs to defense…

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BHP to start search for CEO successor: Bloomberg

BHP, the world’s biggest miner, is preparing to search for a new chief executive officer in the coming months as Mike Henry heads toward the end of his tenure, reported Bloomberg.   Company insiders told Bloomberg that a change could come as soon as next year, and internal frontrunners for the role include Geraldine Slattery, president Australia, Vandita Pant, chief financial…

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Japan Gold commences drill program at Hakuryu

Japan Gold said the first project of its 2025 drill program is now underway at the Barrick Alliance Hakuryu project, located on the northern island of Hokkaido, Japan.  The Hakuryu project is the first of two 2025 priority drill programs under the Barrick Alliance commencing this spring. “We are pleased to commence the maiden drill program at the Barrick Alliance…

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