Toowoomba manufacturer to cut up to 100 jobs (0) November 14, 2013 Toowoomba manufacturer Russell Mineral Equipment will cut between 50 and 100 jobs in response to weakening conditions in the mining sector.
Dump truck slides in slippery conditions [video] (0) November 14, 2013 With the increased focus on safety for heavy vehicles, here’s a video to remind you it’s not just in-cab distractions which can cause an accident.
Explosives maker blames falling demand from mining for profit slump (0) November 13, 2013 Incitec Pivot has posted a 27 per cent fall in profit, with the explosives and fertiliser maker blaming reduced demand from the mining sector and the strong Australian dollar for ...
Orica signs major gas deal with Esso and BHP (0) November 13, 2013 Orica has a signed a three-year sale deal with BHP Billiton and Esso Australia Resources which will see it purchase up to 42 petajoules of natural gas over three years. ...
China increases investment in QCLNG project by $1.9bn (0) November 13, 2013 The China National Offshore Oil Corporation has increased its stake in the QCLNG project being constructed on Curtis Island after increasing its share in BG Group’s Surat and Bowen Basin ...
Iron ore miner bullish about price (0) November 13, 2013 According to BC Iron’s managing director, iron ore prices will remain above $US100 a tonne for the next two years, with the expected cash cow to come off the back ...
Whitehaven used ‘misleading’ biodiversity information: report (0) November 13, 2013 As a court decision on whether to allow Whitehaven’s Maules Creek Mine to go ahead draws closer, Lock the Gate Alliance claim they have mounting evidence that the project received ...
Alkane ups its gold resource estimate (0) November 13, 2013 Alkane Resources has announced a 13.5 per cent increase in its Tomingley gold project resource estimate.
CSG work banned from water catchment areas (0) November 13, 2013 CSG activity has been banned in water catchment areas in Sydney and the Illawarra, effective immediately, with NSW Resources Minister Chris Hartcher saying community concerns around the practice had intensified. ...
Phone found in injured driver’s truck (0) November 13, 2013 It is understood a mobile phone has been uncovered from the wreck of a haul truck involved in the accident on Fortescue Metals Group’s Christmas Creek site last month where ...
Seven Group to cut another 650 WesTrac jobs (0) November 12, 2013 Mining machinery dealer WesTrac has announced a further 650 jobs will be shed, following 375 redundancies announced in late-June, citing a reduced demand from the resources sector.
We will not go where we’re not wanted: Santos (0) November 12, 2013 Santos CEO David Knox has reaffirmed his company will not pursue CSG exploration on properties that do not want it after being quizzed about the potential health effects of the ...
Worker injured at shipyard (0) November 12, 2013 A worker has been seriously injured at a floating dock this morning in Henderson, Western Australia.
Perilya employees asked to sacrifice $1.8m pay rise (0) November 12, 2013 The owner of Broken Hill’s silver, lead and zinc mine has asked workers to sacrifice $1.8 million in wage increases promised for 2014 after reporting an operating loss of $20 ...
Romania rejects Europe’s largest gold mine (0) November 12, 2013 Continued protests have seen Romania’s Government give way to the people and reject the massive proposed Rosia Montana gold mine.
Ulan mine community day draws crowd of over 600 (0) November 12, 2013 Glencore opened the gates of its Ulan mine to more than 600 people over the weekend as part of a community day aimed at showcasing both its open cut and ...
GlencoreXstrata turns pink for breast cancer fundraiser (1) November 12, 2013 Donning pink hard hats and rallying support from surrounding communities, GlencoreXstrata’s Ulan mine workforce have raised more than $27,000 dollars for the McGrath Foundation.
CSG land access talks slammed for being “restrictive” (0) November 11, 2013 NSW Greens MLC Jeremy Buckingham has expressed concerns that only a select number of interest groups have been invited to talks aimed at granting property access to CSG exploration companies. ...
Rio Tinto launches new diamond marketing strategy in China (0) November 11, 2013 Rio Tinto has launched its latest diamond marketing program in China, stating that the growth in volume from its Argyle mine will help meet Asia’s growing demand for the precious ...
Peabody workers vote down pay deal (0) November 11, 2013 Workers from Peabody’s Helensburgh mine have rejected an enterprise agreement offered by the company which would have seen them receive zero, two and two pay percentage increases plus bonuses over ...
POSCO offers $1.4bn collateral for Roy Hill project (0) November 11, 2013 Korean steel manufacturer POSCO has announced it will offer up its 12.5 per cent share in Roy Hill Holdings as collateral for the massive Pilbara iron ore project as moves ...
Lack of locomotive work for Downer due to resources slowdown (0) November 11, 2013 Downer EDI’s CEO Grant Fenn has said that the mining slowdown has hurt the engineering company’s locomotive business, with the focus now on helping customers manage their assets.
Orica earns $602m profit for 2013 FY (0) November 11, 2013 Orica has announced a net profit of $602 million for the 2013 FY, a jump of nearly 49% year on year.
Single appeal sets Sorby back (0) November 8, 2013 A single appeal has been lodged against KBL Mining’s Sorby Hills silver, lead and zinc project in Western Australia.
New mining law centre to tackle CSG negotiations (0) November 8, 2013 Fair negotiation of landowner compensation for coal seam gas extraction is one of the issues Queensland’s new mining law research centre will be honing in on.
Deal inertia rife in mining (0) November 8, 2013 Widespread deal inertia and a gap between seller and buyer price expectations are contributing to the further decline in mining deal volumes and values over the third quarter.
BHP dumps oil exploration project (0) November 8, 2013 BHP has dumped plans to explore an oil and gas well off the The Philippines coast as the company continues to pull out of energy projects not located in the ...
State MP wants mining in water catchment banned (0) November 8, 2013 After touring parts of Sydney’s water catchment area, one NSW MP says he will take concerns over the “damage” longwall mining has caused to Premier Barry O’Farrell.
Uranium pollution fears as mine vehicle leaves authorised areas (0) November 8, 2013 The Rio Tinto subsidiary that operates the Ranger uranium mine in the Northern Territory has been accused of a safety breach after a vehicle left the mine’s controlled areas.
Downer EDI flags revenue uncertainty (19) November 7, 2013 Downer EDI says a reduction in major capital works by miners will affect the company’s bottom line, with uncertainty surrounding revenue for the 2014 financial year.
Port Hedland breaks iron ore export records, again (0) November 7, 2013 Port Hedland has posted another record month of iron exports to China, with 25.2 million tonnes of the steel making ingredient that sailed away easily beating the previous record highs ...
Linc Energy dumps coal gasification project (0) November 7, 2013 Linc Energy will close its Chinchilla underground coal gasification facility after accusing the Queensland government of siding with the rival CSG sector.
Waratah Coal’s rehabilitation efforts fail ‘environmental duty’ (0) November 7, 2013 Clive Palmer’s Waratah Coal has been slapped with an Environmental Protection Order over failures to meet its environmental duty to rehabilitate almost 300 exploration holes drilled on private properties.
Stable iron ore price a boon for miners (3) November 7, 2013 Australia’s iron ore miners have added over $65 billion to their value over the last financial year as the crash in iron prices failed to materialise.
Ausdrill halves profit forecast (139) November 7, 2013 Downgrading its profit forecasts by half, mining service company Ausdrill is the latest contractor to be hit by the weaker mining market.
Glencore CEO invited to Collinsville by concerned locals [VIDEO] (0) November 6, 2013 CEO of GlencoreXstrata, Ivan Glasenberg, has been invited to Collinsville by two concerned community members who want him to witness the impacts of the mine closure firsthand.
Leighton awarded $249m coal mine contract (0) November 6, 2013 Leighton Contractors has won a three-year, $249 million contract at the Isaac Plains open-cut coal mine near Moranbah.
Mining health and safety tips (0) November 6, 2013 An insight into the occupational risks and hazards miners face on site, and how they can avoid some of the dangers, from I Think Mining.
Picnic in protest of Santos Pilliga Forest CSG work (0) November 6, 2013 A cultural heritage camp and workshop has been set up near Ten Mile Dam in the NSW Pilliga State forest in protest of the Santos gasfield development.
Pay relief for Gujarat mine workers (0) November 6, 2013 Gujarat workers are finally set to receive wages owed to them as the company’s new managers announce plans to pour up to $350 million into the business to keep it ...
Caterpillar to cut 200 jobs in Burnie (0) November 5, 2013 Mining equipment manufacturer Caterpillar will cut 200 jobs from its Burnie plant in Tasmania’s north-west.
Queensland gas boom fires up job numbers (0) November 5, 2013 A new report by Energy Skills Queensland found the gas sector will employ more than 14,100 workers when it peaks in 2024, double the number predicted previously.
Peabody workers march in protest (0) November 5, 2013 Around 100 workers from Peabody’s Helensburgh mine marched through the small township to the company’s office yesterday before voting on a new pay deal.
200 contractors cut from Anglo’s Dawson coal mine (0) November 5, 2013 Anglo American will cut 200 contractor jobs at its Dawson coal mine in Queensland as the company moves to reduce operating costs.
GlencoreXstrata sells off PNG copper stake (0) November 4, 2013 GlencoreXstrata agreed on Friday to offload its 80 per cent stake in the undeveloped Frieda River mine in Papua New Guinea to Australian miner PanAust.
Chevron pours cold water on Gorgon expansion (0) November 4, 2013 Chevron has confirmed the expansion of its Gorgon LNG project has been shelved until the total cost of firing up its three-train facility on Barrow Island is finalised.
BHP dumps plans to develop T2 at Abbot Point (0) November 4, 2013 BHP Billiton has formally withdrawn from being the preferred developer of Terminal 2 at the Port of Abbot Point as the company also confirms it has pulled out of building ...
Peabody’s Coppabella mine workers vote in favour of new pay deal (0) November 4, 2013 Workers at Peabody Energy’s Coppabella mine have voted in favour of a new enterprise agreement which will see them receive zero, two and two and a half pay percentage increases ...
Production costs on the up at Newmont’s Boddington mine (0) November 4, 2013 While costs across Newmont Mining’s Asia Pacific operation fell, the company’s Boddington gold mine in Western Australia recorded increasing production costs for the September quarter.
Bradken/Norcast dispute settled (0) November 4, 2013 Bradken’s board has announced that it and two of its directors have resolved a dispute with Norcast in the Federal Court over bid-rigging.
Helensburgh miners urged to end pay deal dispute (3) November 4, 2013 With Helensburgh mine workers set to vote on a new enterprise agreement today, employees have been sent a letter from Peabody’s chief operations officer urging them to vote up the ...
Kevin’s Corner secures federal approval (0) November 4, 2013 The Federal Government has signed off on GVK Hancock’s Kevin’s Corner project in Queensland, making it one of the country’s largest coal mines.
And the winner is… Mining (0) November 1, 2013 More than 300 people turned out for the tenth annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards on Thursday night.
Earthquake traps nine miners in BHP mine (0) November 1, 2013 Nine BHP Billiton miners have been rescued after an earthquake rocked an underground nickel mine in Western Australia.
Shree Minerals open Tasmanian iron ore mine (0) November 1, 2013 Shree Minerals have officially opened the Nelson Bay River mine after a protracted process which saw court injunctions and protests levelled against the company.
WA moves to streamline environmental approvals (0) October 31, 2013 Western Australia has joined its eastern counterparts to become the latest state government to announce it is reforming its mining approvals process.
Boral worker blames local council for mine closure (0) October 31, 2013 Recently redundant Boral employee and local Wingecarribee councillor Graham McLaughlin has blamed a lack of council support for the closure of Boral’s Medway mine.
Fortescue looks to refinance (0) October 31, 2013 In a bid to reduce its interest rate, Fortescue Metals Group has announced it is looking to amend and re-price its $US5 billion senior secured credit facility.
Downer donates $50k a year to the Smith Family (0) October 31, 2013 Downer EDI will donate $150,000 over three years to the Smith Family to help disadvantaged Australian kids access education and learning programs.
Sandvik cuts NSW manufacturing jobs (0) October 30, 2013 Mining equipment manufacturer Sandvik will cut 37 jobs from its New South Wales operations as it battles weaker demand.
Australia should strive to be the world’s top uranium producer: AUA (0) October 30, 2013 The Australian Uranium Association has said it’s about time Australia aimed to be the world’s top uranium producer, pointing to a raft of policy changes required to meet the target. ...
Calling all women working in the NSW mining sector (0) October 30, 2013 The NSW Minerals Council is seeking women with experience in the state’s mining industry to fill out a quick survey so it can better understand how to attract and retain ...
NSW mining supports ICAC recommendations (0) October 30, 2013 Recommendations today made by the New South Wales corruption watchdog have been welcomed by the mining industry.
Komatsu cuts profit target as mining demand drops (0) October 30, 2013 Weak demand in the resource sector has forced mining equipment manufacturer Komatsu to cut its full-year operating profit forecast by a third to $2.16 billion.
BHP Billiton donates $500k to bushfire victims (0) October 30, 2013 Mining giant BHP Billiton has today donated $500,000 to aid communities affected by last week’s bushfires in New South Wales.
Wind-up order levelled at Gujarat by mine service provider (0) October 30, 2013 A company that has provided Gujarat NRE with underground mining service work has applied to have the company wound-up in a move aimed at recovering the money owed to it. ...
Helensburgh miners to vote down Peabody pay deal: union (0) October 30, 2013 More than 200 workers at Peabody’s Helensburgh Metropolitan Colliery have voted to take further strikes after the company tries to force a vote on a new enterprise agreement not approved ...
QLD exploration falls 30% (0) October 29, 2013 Queensland’s exploration scorecard is reflecting a difficult year for the state’s explorers with minerals exploration falling 31 per cent to $732 million for 2012-13.
Pilbara rental prices slide as mining boom wanes (0) October 29, 2013 Some rental property prices in the resource-rich Pilbara region have slid by more than $1000 as the shine comes off the mining boom, with vacancy rates sky-rocketing from 3 to ...
Sand mine expansion recommended for approval (0) October 29, 2013 A $5 million expansion of Calga Sand Quarry on the New South Wales Central Coast has been recommended for approval by the Department of Planning.
Strategic Graphite launches $10m raising to kick start Uley mine (18) October 29, 2013 Gearing up to restart production at its Uley mine early next year, Strategic Graphite Limited is looking to raise up to $10 million in a rights issue and share placement.
Global exploration budgets take a hit (0) October 29, 2013 Global non-ferrous metal exploration budgets have plummeted almost 30 per cent this year, new research suggests.
Six dead in gas leak at Spanish coal mine (0) October 29, 2013 A gas leak at a coal mine in Spain has killed six men and left five injured in the country’s worst mining accident in nearly 20 years.
Government commits to keeping Antarctica free of mining (0) October 29, 2013 Environment Minister Greg Hunt said Antarctica should not be a place of mineral exploitation, stating it was critical for Australia to protect the southern continent from resource exploration.
PNG seeks legal advice over seabed mining dispute (0) October 29, 2013 Papua New Guinea’s Government is seeking legal advice after the deadline passes for it to pay back seabed miner Nautilus Minerals.
Gujarat workers asked to take leave without pay, chairman steps down (0) October 28, 2013 On the same day Gujarat NRE executive chairman Arun Jagatramka stepped down, the company has asked workers to take unpaid leave, despite not paying its miners properly for over a ...
Howes criticises NSW and Victoria on CSG (0) October 28, 2013 The Australian Workers Union’s Paul Howes criticised both sides of politics and argued that Labor should embrace CSG extraction at a conference last Friday.
Voluntary redundancies on offer at Cobar gold mine (0) October 28, 2013 NewGold is looking to cut production costs, offering 45 voluntary redundancies at its Peak Gold Mines in Cobar, New South Wales.
WA Government throws support behind fracking (0) October 28, 2013 Western Australia’s government is throwing its full weight behind the development of fracking techniques in the state to unlock billions of dollars worth of shale gas.
Mining strategy for Dubbo as 1600 new jobs expected (0) October 28, 2013 The Dubbo City Mining Growth Strategy has received a leg-up from the state government, with $80,000 worth of funding directed to the project.
Bulldozer stuck on stockpile, operator rescued (0) October 25, 2013 An operator found himself trapped this morning when his bulldozer became partially engulfed in a live coal stockpile at Isaac Plains mine near Moranbah in central Queensland.
More needs to be done to protect NSW mining: Galilee (0) October 25, 2013 An industry survey of the top 26 mining companies in NSW has found they contributed around $12.8 billion on wages, goods and services last financial year but the NSW minerals ...
Science should be at the centre of mining debates: Macfarlane (0) October 25, 2013 The Federal Minister for industry Ian Macfarlane says he finds it ironic that communities which were founded on the mining industry are now ‘hot-beds of resistance’, saying some of the ...
FMG Christmas Creek miner loses leg (0) October 25, 2013 A truck driver has had his left leg amputated following an accident on Fortescue Metals Group’s Christmas Creek mine on Monday night.
Mining downturn hurts Pacific Brands’ sales (0) October 25, 2013 Pacific Brands’ CEO John Pollaers told the company’s AGM that workwear sales have been hit by the slowdown in the resources sector.
Greenland approves uranium mining (0) October 25, 2013 Greenland has approved uranium mining in the country after an extremely tight vote.
QLD grants 1400 exploration permits in a week (0) October 25, 2013 The Queensland government has approved 1400 exploration permits in seven days as it attempts to bolster the state’s mining sector.
Gujarat miners get ‘one off’ pay relief (0) October 24, 2013 Workers have had some relief in the continuing Gujarat pay issues, as the company organises a ‘one off’ payment.
Ok Tedi immunity gone, with implications beyond BHP (0) October 24, 2013 Remote Mount Fubilan, near the source of Papua New Guinea’s Tedi River, is once again the site of global controversy surrounding the Ok Tedi copper gold mine.
Fortescue Metals’ safety record under the spotlight (0) October 23, 2013 A second serious accident in three months at Fortescue Metals Group’s Christmas Creek mine has sparked concern within the mining industry.
800 Rio jobs to go as it outsources to IBM (0) October 23, 2013 Rio Tinto is expected to cut around 800 jobs globally after it signed a $100 million back-office outsourcing deal with US technology giant IBM.
KBL’s Sorby Hills gains EPA approval (0) October 23, 2013 KBL Mining has secured approval from the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority for its Sorby Hills project.
Emeco appoints new CEO (0) October 23, 2013 Emeco has appointed Ken Lewsey and its new managing director and CEO.
QCG on track to produce first LNG in 2014 (0) October 23, 2013 The start-up of QCG’s LNG plant is one step closer after the last piece of gas pipelined needed to transport CSG has been laid in Queensland.
Federal approval delayed for $15b Arrow LNG project (0) October 23, 2013 Federal approval for Arrow Energy’s $15 billion Curtis Island LNG plant has been delayed as Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt takes more time assess the potential impacts of the project. ...
BHP boosts iron ore output, stabilises coal (0) October 22, 2013 BHP Billiton has seen iron ore output surge in the third quarter, lifting 23 per cent to 49 million tonnes compared to the same time last year.
Gujarat miners walk off the job (0) October 22, 2013 Workers who had opted to stay on at two Gujarat-owned mines in the Illawarra despite not being paid for over four weeks announced they would strike if the money did ...
Gold Fields cuts 60 mining jobs (0) October 22, 2013 Gold Fields has cut 60 workers from its newly acquired Lawlers operations, and a forthcoming operational review of the company’s newly acquired Yilgarn South mines has got employees worried more ...
Santos deny claims contractors used sacred site as toilet (0) October 22, 2013 Santos has hit back at claims it used a scared Indigenous site as a rubbish dump, stating there is no evidence to support the claim, despite local Indigenous groups saying ...
Dust devil sweeps through Roy Hill mine site (0) October 22, 2013 Workers at Roy Hill mine in the Pilbara were treated to a spectacular site at the weekend as a dust devil swept through the mine’s construction site.
Locked-out Peabody workers set up camp outside mine site (0) October 22, 2013 Locked-out workers from Peabody’s Helensburgh Metropolitan Colliery have set up a camp outside the mine’s entrance in protest of actions taken by the company to idle the mine for seven ...
The current state of copper: Too soon for surplus? (0) October 22, 2013 The current notion that copper is coming back to surplus is being undermined, as French bank Natixis says Chinese stocks tell a different story.
Gold downturn leads to higher crime rates (0) October 21, 2013 Western Australia’s Gold Stealing Detection Unit says the recent downturn in the resources sector has led to an increase in the theft of mining equipment.
Peabody’s productivity gains ease the pain (0) October 21, 2013 The search for productivity gains within Peabody Energy’s business is starting to pay, with the miner announcing it has improved production unit costs by 18 per cent since 2012.
Port Kembla coal terminal workers to share in $2.5m after court win (0) October 21, 2013 Seventy-eight people who worked at the Port Kembla Coal Terminal between 1990 and 2005 will receive an average of $30,000 worth of superannuation payments each after a hearing in the ...
Peabody locks out mine workers again (0) October 21, 2013 Peabody Energy has locked workers out of Helensburgh Metropolitan Colliery again as the dispute around a new enterprise agreement continues.
NuCoal to sue Macdonald and the NSW government (0) October 21, 2013 NuCoal Resources is gearing up to launch legal action against former New South Wales mining minister Ian Macdonald and the state government.
CSG company accused of dumping rubbish on sacred Indigenous sites (0) October 21, 2013 A native title group have protested outside a Santos shopfront after claims contractors working on the GLNG pipeline destroyed a cultural heritage site by using it as a rubbish dump. ...
Aussie mining office attacked in Kyrgyzstan (0) October 21, 2013 Around 200 Kyrgyzstan nationalists have attacked Australian miner Manas Resources’ subsidiary’s local office.
BHP provides $10m for Australian Indigenous scholarships (0) October 21, 2013 BHP Billiton has provided an additional $10 million to the Australian Indigenous Education Fund for secondary and tertiary scholarships for Indigenous students.
Chinese women banned from studying mining degrees (0) October 21, 2013 Activists in China are challenging long-standing rules which ban women from studying mining degrees because “mining work is unsuitable for women”.
Gold will only go up: Hegarty (0) October 18, 2013 Gold only has one way to go, and that’s in a “north easterly” direction, former Rio Tinto executive Owen Hegarty says.
Removing blasting risks (6) October 18, 2013 A contractor’s ANFO hopper innovation is taking some of the risk out of mine development.
Hedweld triumphs at NSW Premier’s Export Awards (0) October 18, 2013 The Hunter region’s Hedweld Engineering has won the NSW Premier’s Export Award in the energy and minerals sector, its third consecutive year of success at the awards.
Explosives plant on track (0) October 18, 2013 The development of Yara International’s ammonium nitrate plant on the Burrup Peninsula is running to plan.
NSW joins Qld, streamlines mining approvals (0) October 17, 2013 Following Queensland’s example earlier this week, the New South Wales Government is moving to streamline its approvals processes for the resources sector.
Stacker gantry installed at WICET stockyard (0) October 17, 2013 Wiggins Island Coal Expert Terminal is progressing closer to completion with the first stacker gantry lifted into place at the coal stockyard.
Peabody’s dusty mine angers locals (0) October 17, 2013 Mudgee District Environment Group has accused Peabody Energy’s Wilpinjong Coal mine of disregarding its Environmental Pollution Licence twice last week, resulting in clouds of coal dust blowing through the town ...
Dairy company’s open cut coal mine given the go ahead (0) October 17, 2013 Fonterra, one of the world’s largest dairy companies, has been approved to start work on its Mangatangi open cut coal mine in New Zealand.
Abbott’s one-stop approvals shop opening soon (0) October 17, 2013 Tony Abbott’s pre-election promise of a one-stop mining approvals shop is inching closer to being realised with the states close to a deal set to hasten the process.
Miner loves grader so much he get grader tattoo (0) October 17, 2013 A man who has spent close to 25 years working on graders has clarified his feelings on the machine with a large grader tattoo.
Where the mining jobs are: Hays Quarterly Hotspots (0) October 16, 2013 Mining engineers, senior metallurgists and HV electricians are just three of the roles mining companies are looking to fill as the preference for people with experience impacts hiring decisions, says ...
Cripps defends Queensland mine safety review (0) October 16, 2013 Queensland Mines Minister Andrew Cripps has defended his review of the state’s mine safety regulations, dismissing claims by the CFMEU the reforms will lead to decreased safety.
Gujarat shareholders to vote on takeover deal (0) October 16, 2013 The fate of embattled coal miner Gujarat NRE is set to be decided today, with shareholders voting at 2pm on whether to allow Jindal Steel and Power to become the ...
Rio sees increasing tonnages in third quarter (0) October 16, 2013 Rio Tinto has lifted production results in the third quarter, stating that productivity improvements are now being realised.
SEW Eurodrive wins Rio Tinto iron ore contract (0) October 16, 2013 SEW-Eurodrive has won a multi-million dollar contract to provide Rio Tinto’s Nammuldi iron ore mine with six belt conveyor drives.
Roof collapse at Dendrobium Mine (0) October 15, 2013 Investigations are underway after a roof collapse at Illawarra Coal’s Dendrobium Mine in Mount Kembla yesterday.
Injured miner sues Xstrata for $2million (0) October 15, 2013 A miner is suing Xstrata Coal for almost $2 million, claiming he injured his back when working in muddy conditions.
Gujarat sends workers ‘useless’ payslips (0) October 15, 2013 Despite having not received payments for nearly four weeks, workers at Gujarat NRE have been sent payslips which show wages, taxes, superannuation and union fees have all been paid.
Helensburgh mine workers vote to limit coal production (0) October 15, 2013 The workforce at Peabody’s Helensburgh Metropolitan Colliery have voted in favour of taking further industrial action after the company locked them out of the mine for three days.
Treaty gives governments 15 years to end all mercury mining (0) October 15, 2013 Delegates from 140 nations and territories have signed the United Nations Minamata Convention on Mercury with the international treaty set to take effect in 90 days.
QLD streamlines exploration approvals (7) October 14, 2013 The Queensland Government has today announced an overhaul of the coal and minerals exploration approvals process, billed to halve exploration permit wait times.
Chinese government to shut 2000 coal mines in two years (0) October 14, 2013 China now accounts for 47 per cent of global coal consumption but as the country’s demand continues to climb it is now moving to clean up its domestic coal industry.
Bechtel supports Curtis Island RFS (0) October 14, 2013 The Rural Fire Brigade on Curtis Island has received a $15,000 boost from Bechtel, with the donation set to better equip its volunteer firefighters.
Copper find could see Mt Gordon reopened (0) October 14, 2013 A new copper find at Aditya Birla’s Mount Gordon mine near Mount Isa in Queensland is being reviewed by ANZ Bank, fuelling speculation about the mine’s future.
Glencore to open Ulan mines to locals (0) October 14, 2013 GlencoreXstrata will open the gates of its Ulan Coal mines to locals on November 9 as part of a community day aimed at showcasing both its open cut and underground ...
Peabody locks workers out of mine (0) October 14, 2013 More than 200 workers at Peabody’s Helensburgh Metropolitan Colliery have been locked out of the mine for 72 hours as the dispute around a new enterprise agreement continues.
Chevron pulls intimate quiz (0) October 14, 2013 A probing Chevron recruitment questionnaire which asks prospective job seekers, amongst other things, about their reproductive history has now been withdrawn.
Unsafe mine rumours not true: CFMEU (0) October 11, 2013 Rumours that operations at Gujarat NRE’s two coal mines ceased were quickly stamped out yesterday by both the company and the CFMEU.
Sirius’ Nova-Bollinger on track to catch nickel revival wave (0) October 11, 2013 Sirius Resources’ Definitive Feasibility Study for its $AU471 million Nova-Bollinger nickel mine, in Western Australia, is on track for a go-ahead decision expected in June.
GlencoreXstrata refuse to meet with Collinsville locals (1) October 11, 2013 Locals say it was an opportunity for GlencoreXstrata to present their side of the argument, but the multi-national miner refused to attend a community member meeting in Collinsville this week. ...
UGL fires Engineering CEO after less than a month (0) October 11, 2013 UGL have announced that newly appointed UGL Engineering CEO Russell Waugh will step down from the role, less than a month after being appointed.
Aurizon to cut 50 jobs in Queensland (0) October 11, 2013 Aurizon has announced it will cut 49 jobs from its Redbank and Ipswich workshops in Queensland.
Uranium One has announced it will be closing its Honeymoon uranium mine in South Australia, with around 90 people set to lose their jobs.
King Island Sheelite is working towards reopening its open cut tungsten mine, with 90 jobs set to be created if the operation resumes production.
![Dump truck slides in slippery conditions [video]](https://www.australianmining.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/wet-driving-conditions-150x150.jpg)
With the increased focus on safety for heavy vehicles, here’s a video to remind you it’s not just in-cab distractions which can cause an accident.
It was a quiet start to the week, with low volumes on the ASX at around $4 billion.
Incitec Pivot has posted a 27 per cent fall in profit, with the explosives and fertiliser maker blaming reduced demand from the mining sector and the strong Australian dollar for ...
Orica has a signed a three-year sale deal with BHP Billiton and Esso Australia Resources which will see it purchase up to 42 petajoules of natural gas over three years. ...
The China National Offshore Oil Corporation has increased its stake in the QCLNG project being constructed on Curtis Island after increasing its share in BG Group’s Surat and Bowen Basin ...
According to BC Iron’s managing director, iron ore prices will remain above $US100 a tonne for the next two years, with the expected cash cow to come off the back ...
As a court decision on whether to allow Whitehaven’s Maules Creek Mine to go ahead draws closer, Lock the Gate Alliance claim they have mounting evidence that the project received ...
Slackliners, CEOs, hamsters, and bulls are just some of the unusual props Volvo Trucks has recently used to demonstrate its trucks’ capabilities.
Despite the rejection of mining approval for what could be Europe’s largest gold mine, Gabriel Resources is still positive of Rosia Montana’s future.
Alkane Resources has announced a 13.5 per cent increase in its Tomingley gold project resource estimate.
CSG activity has been banned in water catchment areas in Sydney and the Illawarra, effective immediately, with NSW Resources Minister Chris Hartcher saying community concerns around the practice had intensified. ...
It is understood a mobile phone has been uncovered from the wreck of a haul truck involved in the accident on Fortescue Metals Group’s Christmas Creek site last month where ...
Newly sworn in MP Clive Palmer said his company Queensland Nickel will not pay a $6.2 million carbon tax bill, challenging the ATO to start legal proceedings.
Mining machinery dealer WesTrac has announced a further 650 jobs will be shed, following 375 redundancies announced in late-June, citing a reduced demand from the resources sector.
Santos CEO David Knox has reaffirmed his company will not pursue CSG exploration on properties that do not want it after being quizzed about the potential health effects of the ...
A worker has been seriously injured at a floating dock this morning in Henderson, Western Australia.
Fortescue Metals Group chairman Andrew Forrest splashing out nearly $AU11 million on FMG shares last week as the company amends its debt facility.
Glencore says the development of Berth 8 at the Port of Townsville has injected more than $20 million into the North Queensland economy.
Mining company Indicoal is seeking approval for an open cut mine near Hamilton in Tasmania.
The owner of Broken Hill’s silver, lead and zinc mine has asked workers to sacrifice $1.8 million in wage increases promised for 2014 after reporting an operating loss of $20 ...
Continued protests have seen Romania’s Government give way to the people and reject the massive proposed Rosia Montana gold mine.
Glencore opened the gates of its Ulan mine to more than 600 people over the weekend as part of a community day aimed at showcasing both its open cut and ...
Donning pink hard hats and rallying support from surrounding communities, GlencoreXstrata’s Ulan mine workforce have raised more than $27,000 dollars for the McGrath Foundation.
Rio Tinto has launched its latest diamond marketing program in China, stating that the growth in volume from its Argyle mine will help meet Asia’s growing demand for the precious ...
Workers from Peabody’s Helensburgh mine have rejected an enterprise agreement offered by the company which would have seen them receive zero, two and two pay percentage increases plus bonuses over ...
Korean steel manufacturer POSCO has announced it will offer up its 12.5 per cent share in Roy Hill Holdings as collateral for the massive Pilbara iron ore project as moves ...
Downer EDI’s CEO Grant Fenn has said that the mining slowdown has hurt the engineering company’s locomotive business, with the focus now on helping customers manage their assets.
Orica has announced a net profit of $602 million for the 2013 FY, a jump of nearly 49% year on year.
A single appeal has been lodged against KBL Mining’s Sorby Hills silver, lead and zinc project in Western Australia.
Fair negotiation of landowner compensation for coal seam gas extraction is one of the issues Queensland’s new mining law research centre will be honing in on.
Mathworks Senior Application Engineer David Willingham explains why Australian miners needs to upscale their data modelling to remain competitive.
Widespread deal inertia and a gap between seller and buyer price expectations are contributing to the further decline in mining deal volumes and values over the third quarter.
BHP has dumped plans to explore an oil and gas well off the The Philippines coast as the company continues to pull out of energy projects not located in the ...
Austin Engineering is launching its first Westech flow control body for off-highway trucks in Australia.
Ramping up production and cutting costs has seen AngloGold Ashanti’s earnings jump in the third quarter.
The QLD government has approved Bandanna Energy’s Springsure Creek coal mine’s EIS for its operations in the Bowen Basin.
The Rio Tinto subsidiary that operates the Ranger uranium mine in the Northern Territory has been accused of a safety breach after a vehicle left the mine’s controlled areas.
The Queensland Government has today revealed a plan it hopes will drive mining development in the State’s Galilee Basin.
Downer EDI says a reduction in major capital works by miners will affect the company’s bottom line, with uncertainty surrounding revenue for the 2014 financial year.
Port Hedland has posted another record month of iron exports to China, with 25.2 million tonnes of the steel making ingredient that sailed away easily beating the previous record highs ...
Linc Energy will close its Chinchilla underground coal gasification facility after accusing the Queensland government of siding with the rival CSG sector.
Clive Palmer’s Waratah Coal has been slapped with an Environmental Protection Order over failures to meet its environmental duty to rehabilitate almost 300 exploration holes drilled on private properties.
Australia’s iron ore miners have added over $65 billion to their value over the last financial year as the crash in iron prices failed to materialise.
Downgrading its profit forecasts by half, mining service company Ausdrill is the latest contractor to be hit by the weaker mining market.
Some of Rio Tinto’s largest rough diamonds from three of its operating diamond mines have gone under the hammer.
![Glencore CEO invited to Collinsville by concerned locals [VIDEO]](https://www.australianmining.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/mqdefault_1-150x150.jpg)
CEO of GlencoreXstrata, Ivan Glasenberg, has been invited to Collinsville by two concerned community members who want him to witness the impacts of the mine closure firsthand.
Leighton Contractors has won a three-year, $249 million contract at the Isaac Plains open-cut coal mine near Moranbah.
An insight into the occupational risks and hazards miners face on site, and how they can avoid some of the dangers, from I Think Mining.
Glencore’s Oaky Creek North mine has won the Australian Mines Rescue Competition at Cook Colliery.
Gujarat workers are finally set to receive wages owed to them as the company’s new managers announce plans to pour up to $350 million into the business to keep it ...
A new report by Energy Skills Queensland found the gas sector will employ more than 14,100 workers when it peaks in 2024, double the number predicted previously.
New research has found Australia’s resources sector is set to suffer the spill over effects of a sharp investment slowdown.
Around 100 workers from Peabody’s Helensburgh mine marched through the small township to the company’s office yesterday before voting on a new pay deal.
Anglo American will cut 200 contractor jobs at its Dawson coal mine in Queensland as the company moves to reduce operating costs.
Whitehaven Coal admits it has been a challenging year for the company, posting a full year loss of $82 million.
GlencoreXstrata agreed on Friday to offload its 80 per cent stake in the undeveloped Frieda River mine in Papua New Guinea to Australian miner PanAust.
Chevron has confirmed the expansion of its Gorgon LNG project has been shelved until the total cost of firing up its three-train facility on Barrow Island is finalised.
BHP Billiton has formally withdrawn from being the preferred developer of Terminal 2 at the Port of Abbot Point as the company also confirms it has pulled out of building ...
Workers at Peabody Energy’s Coppabella mine have voted in favour of a new enterprise agreement which will see them receive zero, two and two and a half pay percentage increases ...
Bradken’s board has announced that it and two of its directors have resolved a dispute with Norcast in the Federal Court over bid-rigging.
Rio Tinto and Chinalco have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together on developing new mining technology.
More than 300 people turned out for the tenth annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards on Thursday night.
Nine BHP Billiton miners have been rescued after an earthquake rocked an underground nickel mine in Western Australia.
Shree Minerals have officially opened the Nelson Bay River mine after a protracted process which saw court injunctions and protests levelled against the company.
Western Australia has joined its eastern counterparts to become the latest state government to announce it is reforming its mining approvals process.
With the judges decisions handed down all there is left to do is chill the beer and champas for Australian Mining’s 10th annual Prospect Awards, being held at the Ivy ...
Recently redundant Boral employee and local Wingecarribee councillor Graham McLaughlin has blamed a lack of council support for the closure of Boral’s Medway mine.
305 Queensland coal jobs hang in the balance as approval for the expansion of New Hope’s New Acland coal mine approaches decision day.
After months of experiments hunting for dark matter in a US former gold mine, scientists have finally released results.
Downer EDI will donate $150,000 over three years to the Smith Family to help disadvantaged Australian kids access education and learning programs.
Mining equipment manufacturer Sandvik will cut 37 jobs from its New South Wales operations as it battles weaker demand.
The Australian Uranium Association has said it’s about time Australia aimed to be the world’s top uranium producer, pointing to a raft of policy changes required to meet the target. ...
Northern Star Resources has struck coal while looking for gold in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.
The NSW Minerals Council is seeking women with experience in the state’s mining industry to fill out a quick survey so it can better understand how to attract and retain ...
Recommendations today made by the New South Wales corruption watchdog have been welcomed by the mining industry.
Weak demand in the resource sector has forced mining equipment manufacturer Komatsu to cut its full-year operating profit forecast by a third to $2.16 billion.
Mining giant BHP Billiton has today donated $500,000 to aid communities affected by last week’s bushfires in New South Wales.
Corrupt conduct over New South Wales coal licences has been possible because of policy and regulation floors, the corruption watchdog says.
A company that has provided Gujarat NRE with underground mining service work has applied to have the company wound-up in a move aimed at recovering the money owed to it. ...
Some rental property prices in the resource-rich Pilbara region have slid by more than $1000 as the shine comes off the mining boom, with vacancy rates sky-rocketing from 3 to ...
A $5 million expansion of Calga Sand Quarry on the New South Wales Central Coast has been recommended for approval by the Department of Planning.
Gearing up to restart production at its Uley mine early next year, Strategic Graphite Limited is looking to raise up to $10 million in a rights issue and share placement.
Global non-ferrous metal exploration budgets have plummeted almost 30 per cent this year, new research suggests.
A gas leak at a coal mine in Spain has killed six men and left five injured in the country’s worst mining accident in nearly 20 years.
Environment Minister Greg Hunt said Antarctica should not be a place of mineral exploitation, stating it was critical for Australia to protect the southern continent from resource exploration.
Papua New Guinea’s Government is seeking legal advice after the deadline passes for it to pay back seabed miner Nautilus Minerals.
On the same day Gujarat NRE executive chairman Arun Jagatramka stepped down, the company has asked workers to take unpaid leave, despite not paying its miners properly for over a ...
The Australian Workers Union’s Paul Howes criticised both sides of politics and argued that Labor should embrace CSG extraction at a conference last Friday.
NewGold is looking to cut production costs, offering 45 voluntary redundancies at its Peak Gold Mines in Cobar, New South Wales.
Nomad Building Solutions has placed its Queensland mining village business into care and maintenance as the company moves to cut costs.
Western Australia’s government is throwing its full weight behind the development of fracking techniques in the state to unlock billions of dollars worth of shale gas.
The Dubbo City Mining Growth Strategy has received a leg-up from the state government, with $80,000 worth of funding directed to the project.
Rio has agreed to sell off more than 50 per cent of its interest in Clermont to GlencoreXstrata for more than $1 billion.
An operator found himself trapped this morning when his bulldozer became partially engulfed in a live coal stockpile at Isaac Plains mine near Moranbah in central Queensland.
Fortescue Metals Group’s Cloudbreak mining camp has been evacuated overnight as a bushfire burns threateningly close to the site.
BHP Billiton Iron Ore and sub-contractor HWE Newman Services have been fined over $230000 for a fatal accident in Western Australia.
A graphic safety video released by Bechtel aims to teach workers how important it is to secure tools while working at heights, showing the horrific injuries that can occur by ...
Centennial Coal is cutting 120 jobs across its New South Wales operations.
An industry survey of the top 26 mining companies in NSW has found they contributed around $12.8 billion on wages, goods and services last financial year but the NSW minerals ...
The Federal Minister for industry Ian Macfarlane says he finds it ironic that communities which were founded on the mining industry are now ‘hot-beds of resistance’, saying some of the ...
A truck driver has had his left leg amputated following an accident on Fortescue Metals Group’s Christmas Creek mine on Monday night.
Pacific Brands’ CEO John Pollaers told the company’s AGM that workwear sales have been hit by the slowdown in the resources sector.
Greenland has approved uranium mining in the country after an extremely tight vote.
The Queensland government has approved 1400 exploration permits in seven days as it attempts to bolster the state’s mining sector.
The Federal Government has today released draft legislation set to repeal the Minerals Resource Rent Tax (MRRT).
Almost 40 jobs will be cut as production is halted at Boral’s Berrima Colliery this week.
Workers have had some relief in the continuing Gujarat pay issues, as the company organises a ‘one off’ payment.
Remote Mount Fubilan, near the source of Papua New Guinea’s Tedi River, is once again the site of global controversy surrounding the Ok Tedi copper gold mine.
A second serious accident in three months at Fortescue Metals Group’s Christmas Creek mine has sparked concern within the mining industry.
Rio Tinto is expected to cut around 800 jobs globally after it signed a $100 million back-office outsourcing deal with US technology giant IBM.
KBL Mining has secured approval from the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority for its Sorby Hills project.
Emeco has appointed Ken Lewsey and its new managing director and CEO.
Mining services company Bradken is warning more job cuts are on the horizon as the company struggles deal with the mining downturn.
The start-up of QCG’s LNG plant is one step closer after the last piece of gas pipelined needed to transport CSG has been laid in Queensland.
RCR Tomlinson have been awarded three major mining contracts totalling around $125 million.
Federal approval for Arrow Energy’s $15 billion Curtis Island LNG plant has been delayed as Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt takes more time assess the potential impacts of the project. ...
Workers who had opted to stay on at two Gujarat-owned mines in the Illawarra despite not being paid for over four weeks announced they would strike if the money did ...
Gold Fields has cut 60 workers from its newly acquired Lawlers operations, and a forthcoming operational review of the company’s newly acquired Yilgarn South mines has got employees worried more ...
Santos has hit back at claims it used a scared Indigenous site as a rubbish dump, stating there is no evidence to support the claim, despite local Indigenous groups saying ...
Workers at Roy Hill mine in the Pilbara were treated to a spectacular site at the weekend as a dust devil swept through the mine’s construction site.
Workers were lucky to escape serious injury when dozer and a light vehicle collided at BHP Billiton’s Mt Arthur coal mine, in the Hunter Valley on Friday.
Locked-out workers from Peabody’s Helensburgh Metropolitan Colliery have set up a camp outside the mine’s entrance in protest of actions taken by the company to idle the mine for seven ...
Anglo American has started running its innovative tunnel boring machine at the Grosvenor coal mine in Moranbah.
The current notion that copper is coming back to surplus is being undermined, as French bank Natixis says Chinese stocks tell a different story.
Mining Equipment Maintenance is looking to the future, after its founding member, Paul Waardyk, has returned to ownership.
The search for productivity gains within Peabody Energy’s business is starting to pay, with the miner announcing it has improved production unit costs by 18 per cent since 2012.
Seventy-eight people who worked at the Port Kembla Coal Terminal between 1990 and 2005 will receive an average of $30,000 worth of superannuation payments each after a hearing in the ...
NuCoal Resources is gearing up to launch legal action against former New South Wales mining minister Ian Macdonald and the state government.
A native title group have protested outside a Santos shopfront after claims contractors working on the GLNG pipeline destroyed a cultural heritage site by using it as a rubbish dump. ...
BHP Billiton has provided an additional $10 million to the Australian Indigenous Education Fund for secondary and tertiary scholarships for Indigenous students.
Activists in China are challenging long-standing rules which ban women from studying mining degrees because “mining work is unsuitable for women”.
Gold only has one way to go, and that’s in a “north easterly” direction, former Rio Tinto executive Owen Hegarty says.
A contractor’s ANFO hopper innovation is taking some of the risk out of mine development.
The story of Australia’s mining sector has been penned, with the release of The Miners book.
Gold miner Newcrest Mining has recorded back-to-back quarters of declining gold and copper production.
The Hunter region’s Hedweld Engineering has won the NSW Premier’s Export Award in the energy and minerals sector, its third consecutive year of success at the awards.
The development of Yara International’s ammonium nitrate plant on the Burrup Peninsula is running to plan.
Magnetite producer Grange Resources’ North Pit mine redevelopment is running ahead of schedule, following a rock slide in July 2012.
Outotec has announced that it will cut 500 jobs globally as it seeks to slash $71 million in costs.
After producing coke for more than 100 years, Corrimal Cokeworks has announced plans to close the operation next April.
A bushfire is raging out of control this afternoon near GlencoreXstrata’s Mangoola coal mine.
Following Queensland’s example earlier this week, the New South Wales Government is moving to streamline its approvals processes for the resources sector.
Queensland coal explorer International Coal has announced it is in discussions with Aurizon over a rail access deal for its Consuelo project in the Bowen Basin.
Wiggins Island Coal Expert Terminal is progressing closer to completion with the first stacker gantry lifted into place at the coal stockyard.
Mudgee District Environment Group has accused Peabody Energy’s Wilpinjong Coal mine of disregarding its Environmental Pollution Licence twice last week, resulting in clouds of coal dust blowing through the town ...
Gujarat NRE shareholders have voted in favour of a takeover deal by Jindal Steel, but the exact date workers can expect to be paid four weeks’ worth of wages is ...
A man who has spent close to 25 years working on graders has clarified his feelings on the machine with a large grader tattoo.
Mining engineers, senior metallurgists and HV electricians are just three of the roles mining companies are looking to fill as the preference for people with experience impacts hiring decisions, says ...
Queensland Mines Minister Andrew Cripps has defended his review of the state’s mine safety regulations, dismissing claims by the CFMEU the reforms will lead to decreased safety.
The fate of embattled coal miner Gujarat NRE is set to be decided today, with shareholders voting at 2pm on whether to allow Jindal Steel and Power to become the ...
Rio Tinto has lifted production results in the third quarter, stating that productivity improvements are now being realised.
SEW-Eurodrive has won a multi-million dollar contract to provide Rio Tinto’s Nammuldi iron ore mine with six belt conveyor drives.
Investigations are underway after a roof collapse at Illawarra Coal’s Dendrobium Mine in Mount Kembla yesterday.
Rio Tinto’s Kestrel South coal mine extension, located in central Queensland, has today been officially opened.
A miner is suing Xstrata Coal for almost $2 million, claiming he injured his back when working in muddy conditions.
Mining mogul Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest has made Australian history, making one of the biggest single philanthropic donations.
The workforce at Peabody’s Helensburgh Metropolitan Colliery have voted in favour of taking further industrial action after the company locked them out of the mine for three days.
Delegates from 140 nations and territories have signed the United Nations Minamata Convention on Mercury with the international treaty set to take effect in 90 days.
The Queensland Government has today announced an overhaul of the coal and minerals exploration approvals process, billed to halve exploration permit wait times.
China now accounts for 47 per cent of global coal consumption but as the country’s demand continues to climb it is now moving to clean up its domestic coal industry.
The Rural Fire Brigade on Curtis Island has received a $15,000 boost from Bechtel, with the donation set to better equip its volunteer firefighters.
GlencoreXstrata will open the gates of its Ulan Coal mines to locals on November 9 as part of a community day aimed at showcasing both its open cut and underground ...
More than 200 workers at Peabody’s Helensburgh Metropolitan Colliery have been locked out of the mine for 72 hours as the dispute around a new enterprise agreement continues.
A probing Chevron recruitment questionnaire which asks prospective job seekers, amongst other things, about their reproductive history has now been withdrawn.
Thousands of people have reportedly flooded the streets in Bucharest to protest Europe’s largest planned gold mine.
The Tasmanian Greens party says it supports mining, depending on the project.
Rumours that operations at Gujarat NRE’s two coal mines ceased were quickly stamped out yesterday by both the company and the CFMEU.
Sirius Resources’ Definitive Feasibility Study for its $AU471 million Nova-Bollinger nickel mine, in Western Australia, is on track for a go-ahead decision expected in June.
Locals say it was an opportunity for GlencoreXstrata to present their side of the argument, but the multi-national miner refused to attend a community member meeting in Collinsville this week. ...
FLIR has launched its new thermal imaging cameras, the FLIR Ex-Series.
UGL have announced that newly appointed UGL Engineering CEO Russell Waugh will step down from the role, less than a month after being appointed.
A proposed mining camp development slated for the Hunter Valley town of Singleton was last night rejected.
As Anglo American CEO Mark Cutifani becomes the chair of the ICMM Council he reiterates the importance of mining.