Resources

Resources industry workers will be in high demand over the next five years as project activity ramps up across Australia. Salomae Haselgrove investigates where these jobs will be and how the sector plans to fill them.

Western Australia has achieved record sales and employment in its mineral and petroleum industry in 2020 despite the hard border impacts brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 has greatly impacted the Australian mining sector and the wider capital equipment industry. State lockdowns and the threat of COVID-19 forced many mining companies to make tough decisions regarding health screening and sanitisation, as well as face external pressures such as travel restrictions, fieldwork interruptions and contractual or joint venture obligations.

The Department of Regional New South Wales (NSW) is looking for an executive director with industry experience to lead the geological survey.

Since film photography became obsolete, silver has been a bridesmaid commodity for the more favoured gold. Here, three silver companies discuss the new industrial trend that is driving the commodity back into popularity.

Fortescue Metals Group has awarded a five-year, $150 million contract for maintenance and shutdown services across its rail and port sites in Western Australia to SRG Global.

Almost half of the mining industry’s workforce is considering a move to renewables, according to a recruitment report.

Metso Outotec has launched a full line of mill discharge pumps for reliable and efficient slurry handling in minerals processing.

The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) has launched three mining skills project hubs, including an apprenticeships hub that aims to put 5000 people into work.

Sandfire Resources will secure a 19.99 per cent share of Auris once it completes the offloading the Sams Creek gold project in New Zealand.

The South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy (SACOME) has backed chief entrepreneur Jim Whalley’s call for the state government to identify the economic opportunities associated South Australia’s uranium supply.

BHP has committed to the Copper Mark Responsible Production Framework that covers areas including environment, community, human rights and governance issues.

Bis has announced a joint venture with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to launch mining technology company Auto-mate.

New South Wales has launched an underground mine explosives facility on the Central Coast to encourage further innovation and development of explosive testing.

Austmine has launched an initiative to help regional Western Australian mining equipment, technology and services (METS) companies increase their digital mining capabilities and global competitiveness.

Canada’s Geoscience BC has proposed that genomic sequencing can be used as a mineral exploration technique. 

The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) has released a world-first Social Responsibility Statement and Framework for resources professionals, highlighting the organisation’s commitment to global best practice.

Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan and Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston have announced $8.2 million in funding for resources exploration to fuel the state’s COVID-19 recovery.

Kirkland Lake Gold has recorded strong production results for the June quarter as the Fosterville gold mine in Victoria continues to bolster its gold output.

Bellevue Gold will transition to the project development phase at the Bellevue gold project in Western Australia after confirming a high-grade resource.