European Vacation for Critical Minerals From Aus
Australia and the European Union have sealed a landmark agreement to secure a long‑term supply of critical minerals such as lithium, rare earths, and nickel. The pact includes up to $10 billion in Australian mining investments and joint research on recycling and processing technologies. Both sides say the partnership will create stable supply chains for generations, reducing reliance on China. The deal also paves the way for deeper trade ties and regulatory alignment on sustainability standards.
Port Pirie Export Pathway Clarified
The South Australian government has approved a new export corridor linking the Razorback mining region to the deep‑water facilities at Port Pirie. The plan involves a dedicated rail line and upgraded road links designed to move bulk commodities more efficiently....
Battery Charging Cabinet Cabling Causes Electric Shock
A recent incident revealed that a battery charging cabinet’s internal cable management was compromised, leading to an electric shock for a maintenance worker. The faulty cabling exposed live voltage, prompting an immediate safety investigation and a voluntary recall of the...
History Repeats as Moonta Mine Sites Shut Down
The National Trust of South Australia has ordered the shutdown of the historic Moonta Cornish copper mining site, including its museum, tourist railway, and miner's cottage. The closure follows accusations of mismanagement at the heritage complex. Stakeholders fear the loss...
Get Ready for the Coal Surge
Coal markets are experiencing a sharp price rally, largely attributed to recent policy shifts championed by former President Donald Trump. The United States has relaxed export curbs and signaled support for domestic coal production, prompting a 15% year‑over‑year price increase....
FID and Funds for Finniss Restart
Core Minerals announced a final investment decision (FID) to restart its Finniss nickel project in South Australia. The board approved a $200 million financing package to fund construction and early‑stage operations. The restart is slated to begin in the fourth quarter...
Former WAIO Boss Brandon Craig to Replace Henry at BHP
Former Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) boss Brandon Craig has been appointed to succeed Mike Henry as chief executive of BHP, effective July 1. Craig, currently president of BHP Americas, brings extensive experience in iron‑ore operations and recent turnaround successes....
Miner Claims to Be Running on Empty as Iran War Drags On
Blue Cap, a major mining operator, announced it is standing down workers as fuel supplies dwindle amid the protracted Iran war. The conflict has strained oil shipments across the region, leaving the mine with insufficient diesel to power equipment. Management...
Fenix's Newhaul Hits 10Mt Haulage Milestone
Fenix’s autonomous haulage platform Newhaul has now moved 10 million tonnes of material, marking a key performance milestone for the company. The achievement highlights rapid uptake of its driverless trucks across mining sites in Australia and North America. In parallel, Newhaul...
Orica Reaches US$170M Settlement with CF Industries
Orica agreed to a US$170 million settlement with CF Industries, ending a long‑running dispute over nitrogen‑fertilizer contracts. The payout will affect short‑term cash flow but removes a lingering legal liability. In parallel, Orica signed a deal to acquire Nelson Brothers’ U.S....
MNS Sydney: Coal Still Has Plenty of Runway
The MNS Sydney conference highlighted that coal will remain a valuable energy source for the foreseeable future. Analysts point to robust demand from Asian power grids and steelmakers, which continues to outstrip new supply. Despite ESG pressures, coal’s cost‑competitiveness and...
MNS Sydney: The Risks of Riding the Government Policy Wave
Governments worldwide are intensifying support for critical‑minerals projects, offering subsidies, fast‑track permits, and strategic funding to secure supply chains for batteries, renewable energy, and defense. This policy surge aims to accelerate project pipelines and reduce geopolitical risk. Analysts caution that...
Renascor Advances BAM Plan
Renascor announced significant progress on its Bio‑Advanced Manufacturing (BAM) initiative as the PSG demonstration plant moves toward operational status. Managing Director David Christensen outlined the next phases, emphasizing a target to reach commercial scale by 2028. The company has secured...
Contractors, Unions Want to Come for You
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has launched a national campaign to broaden the scope of the Safe Jobs and Safety Protection (SJSP) legislation, aiming to eliminate the current exemption that shields contractors from many workplace safety and job‑security...
AWU Threatens Walk-Out at Glencore's Townsville Refinery
The Australian Workers Union (AWU) has warned it will walk out of Glencore's Townsville refinery if negotiations on a new enterprise agreement stall. The dispute, now in its twelfth month, centers on wages, rostering and job security for the refinery's...
Qld Govt Tips $500,000 Into Women in Resources Program
Queensland's government has allocated $500,000 to a new women-in-resources initiative aimed at expanding the skilled labor pipeline in the state's mining and resources sector. The funding will support training, apprenticeships, and mentorship programs, with a particular emphasis on regional communities...
Fuel Fears Building as 2026 Iran War Drags On
The conflict in Iran, now dragging into 2026, is straining regional fuel logistics and driving diesel prices sharply higher. Mining firms have kept operations running, but rising fuel costs and supply uncertainties threaten their output levels. Damage to pipelines and...
Elsabe Muller on Building Gender Equality
Alcoa’s Australian head Elsabe Muller highlighted the company’s renewed focus on gender equality, detailing new mentorship programs and measurable hiring targets. She emphasized creating inclusive workplaces through flexible policies, transparent pay audits, and partnerships with local STEM schools. Muller cited...
Westgold Greenlights Higginsville Expansion
Australian gold producer Westgold Mining Ltd announced the approval of a major expansion at its Higginsville operation. The upgrade will increase processing capacity and is expected to cut processing costs by 24%, enhancing the project's economics. The investment, estimated at...
MNS Sydney: Rick Rule on the Real Value of Long-Life Mines
Rick Rule, veteran mining investor, emphasized that the true worth of long‑life mines lies in their ability to generate steady cash flow over decades rather than merely their reserve count. He argued that discount rates and operational longevity are the...
Cobalt Blue Adds Graphite to Black Mass Processing Plan
Cobalt Blue announced it will incorporate graphite into its black‑mass processing workflow, expanding its recycling portfolio. The move is part of a co‑development program with Australia’s CSIRO, aiming to boost recovery rates and product purity. By adding graphite, the company...
Rio Tinto, WA Govt to Go Halves on Dampier Desalination Plant
Rio Tinto and the Western Australian government have agreed to share the costs of a new desalination plant at Dampier. The facility will produce roughly 30 gigalitres of potable water annually for the West Pilbara water supply scheme. Funding will be...
Queensland Coal Cracks Widening
Queensland’s coal sector is experiencing accelerating strain as export volumes dip and regulatory pressure mounts. Recent data show a 15% year‑on‑year decline in shipments, while domestic opposition to new mines intensifies. Investors are questioning the long‑term viability of legacy coal...
BHP Shutting Mackay FutureFit Academy over Royalty Rates
Australian mining giant BHP announced it will shut the Mackay FutureFit Academy, a vocational training centre for the Queensland mining workforce. The decision follows Queensland’s recent increase in royalty rates, which BHP says makes the academy financially unsustainable. BHP described...
Qld Govt Bucks Advice, Cuts Mine Safety Commissioner
Queensland's government has abolished the Mine Safety Commissioner role, transferring its statutory duties to other agencies, despite an independent review urging retention of the position. The move contravenes advice from Resources Safety and Health Queensland, raising concerns over regulatory oversight....
Kingfisher Hitches Its Processing Wagon to Broken Hill's Rasp Plant
Kingfisher Ltd. will process its newly mined copper‑zinc ore at Broken Hill Resources' Rasp plant, a facility capable of handling up to 1.2 Mtpa of concentrates. The partnership allows Kingfisher to avoid building its own mill, leveraging an existing modern flotation...
Myuna to Mine on with Eraring Contract Secured
Centennial Coal's Myuna Colliery in New South Wales has reached a new commercial agreement with Origin Energy. The three‑year deal guarantees the supply of thermal coal to Origin’s Eraring Power Station. The arrangement removes months of operational uncertainty and secures...
Dartbrook Gets Six-Year Extension
The New South Wales government has extended the development consent for the Dartbrook thermal coal mine by six years, now running until 5 December 2033. The extension secures the mine’s 6 Mtpa coal handling and preparation plant (CHPP) operations. The decision arrives amid...
Ausenco Heads to Generation's Marathon Project in Ontario
Ausenco Canada has been selected as the engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) partner for Generation Mining’s Marathon gold‑copper‑zinc project in Ontario’s Sudbury Basin. The firm will handle front‑end engineering, equipment procurement, and construction management for the processing plant, underground...
Study Shows Syerston Scandium Potential
A recent study highlights the Syerston scandium oxide project’s potential as a new source of scandium. The Australian venture aims to produce 60 tonnes per annum of scandium oxide near Parkes, New South Wales. Scandium is deemed essential for next‑generation technologies...
Lynas Malaysia Licence Renewed for Another Decade
Lynas Rare Earths’ processing plant in Kuantan, Malaysia, has secured a ten‑year operating licence renewal from the Malaysian Department of Atomic Energy. The extension guarantees the continued production of rare‑earth oxides used in electronics, renewable‑energy technologies, and defense applications. It...
NT TOs Win $54M Compensation over McArthur River
Traditional Owners in the Northern Territory have secured more than $54 million in compensation from the Federal Court for the loss of native‑title rights linked to the McArthur River mine. The judgment is the first Australian ruling to award “just terms”...
Mastermyne Bounces Back
Mastermyne reported a strong first‑half recovery after losing contracts at the Grosvenor and Moranbah North coal mines due to ignition‑related shutdowns. The company attributed the earlier downturn to external factors and highlighted safety upgrades that enabled the resumption of operations....
WA Takes Its Critical Minerals Roadshow to North America
Western Australia’s Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael is leading a delegation of critical‑minerals firms on a trade mission to Canada and the United States. The team will hold meetings in Toronto, New York and Washington DC to promote Australian lithium, rare‑earth...
Fleet Space Delivers for Lundin Gold
Fleet Space, the satellite‑IoT specialist, successfully deployed a connectivity solution for Lundin Gold’s remote mining project. The case study demonstrates how the company’s low‑orbit network enabled real‑time monitoring of a “blind” mineral system—an area lacking prior geological data. By delivering...
Weekly Newsletter 26 February 2026
The weekly newsletter spotlights a new testing hub at a former quarry in Neerabup, Perth, where Imdex, Jevons Robotics and the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation are trialing METS autonomous mining equipment. The collaboration brings together advanced robotics, mining technology and...
Black Cat Begins Processing Fingals and Majestic Ore
Black Cat Syndicate has begun feeding ore from its Fingals open‑pit and Majical underground gold mines into the Lakewood processing plant. The facility is slated for an expansion that will lift throughput to 1.5 million tonnes per annum. This marks the...
Victory Minerals on Notice Again over Unauthorised Ballarat Works
Victoria-based gold producer Victory Minerals has been placed on notice again by Resources Victoria after regulators discovered unauthorised works inside an existing pit at its Ballarat mine. The breach follows a previous compliance warning earlier this year for similar activities....
Chile Still Burning Austin's Bottom Line
Austin's Chilean division continues to drain the company's earnings, with operating losses widening in the first half of the year. Management attributes the shortfall to higher input costs, adverse currency movements, and slower-than-expected sales growth in the region. The firm...
Great Divide Mining to Feed Challenger Plant with Mullock
Great Divide Mining has engaged LA Broome Contracting to manage mullock, the waste rock from its operations, and feed it into the Challenger gold processing plant in New South Wales. The partnership will turn this low‑grade material into the plant’s initial...
Coal Crisis Looming, Particularly in Qld
Australia’s Queensland coal sector faces a looming crisis as global coal prices have slumped while operating costs continue to climb. The price decline, driven by weaker demand in Asia and abundant supply, has eroded profit margins for both thermal and...
Profitable Fortescue Electrified by Green Cost Savings
Fortescue Metals Group announced that its new electric haul‑truck fleet can slash operating expenses by roughly 20%, translating into billions of dollars in annual savings. The Australian miner is pairing the trucks with renewable‑energy‑powered charging stations to replace diesel‑fuelled equipment....
Coronado Turns Page on a 'Challenging Year'
Coronado Global Resources announced the completion of its Mammoth Underground expansion and Buchanan growth project after a challenging 2025 marked by a steep revenue decline and significant net losses. The company aims to leverage the new assets to boost ore...
Another Qld Coal Company Collapses
Vitrinite, a Queensland coal producer, has entered administration as the state’s royalty regime reaches world‑leading levels. The move follows a string of recent collapses among regional miners, highlighting mounting financial pressure. Industry representatives point to the high royalty rates as...
Automation Disappoints for Whitehaven
Whitehaven Coal partnered with Caterpillar to install autonomous haulage system (AHS) trucks at its Daunia underground mine, expecting a significant boost in productivity. The AHS rollout delivered lower than projected tonnage and frequent downtime, undermining the anticipated efficiency gains. These...
TNC Gets Qld TLC
The Queensland government has granted True North Copper $400,000 under its Collaborative Development Program to evaluate the potential value of legacy mine waste at the Mt Oxide site in the state’s northwest. The funding is intended to fund detailed sampling, metallurgical...
Polaris Engineering to Refurbish Forrestania's Lake Johnston Plant
Polaris Engineering has secured a $5 million contract to refurbish the three‑stage crushing circuit at Forrestania Resources' Lake Johnston project in Western Australia. The scope includes upgrades to major equipment, piping, cabling and instrumentation, aiming to boost plant reliability and throughput....
Genesis Eyes GR Engineering for Tower Hill Gold Plant
Genesis Minerals has appointed GR Engineering Services as the preferred contractor to design and build a new processing plant at its Tower Hill gold deposit, located just north of the Gwalia mine in Western Australia. The facility will integrate with...
Normet Teams with SMH Equipment in Mount Isa
Normet has entered a strategic partnership with SMH Equipment to service mining operations in Mount Isa, Queensland. The alliance will combine Normet's underground mining expertise with SMH's local equipment distribution network. Mark Sinclair, Normet APAC Vice President, highlighted that the...
Fanning Funding Flames for Processors, METS
NRFC analyst Lauren McGregor outlined a new funding wave targeting high‑performance processors, emphasizing the role of METS (Mining Equipment Technology Services) as a financing conduit for miners. The discussion highlighted record‑level capital inflows, flexible loan structures, and joint‑venture models that...