Western Australia

Northern Star Resources has set up the future of the Super Pit gold mine in Western Australia with a major increase to the reserves at the historic site.

Mineral Resources (MinRes) has felt the effect of Western Australia’s COVID-19 border closures during the March quarter as a shortage of haulage drivers meant tonnes of iron ore were left untouched.

Spot gold prices have risen to a high of $US1759.70 ($2298.06) per ounce on Thursday, reaching its highest point in over a month.

Ramelius Resources has achieved its quarterly production target despite an unplanned shutdown at the Edna May gold mine in Western Australia last month.

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.

Salt Lake Potash has launched commissioning of Australia’s first sulphate of potash (SOP) processing plant at Wiluna in Western Australia ahead of first production later this year.

Western Australia plans to streamline its mine approvals process and prevent any overlaps following a review of administrative agreements in the state.

Australia’s mining workforce has continued a steady climb in numbers, with national coal mining employment reaching a record high, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Ramelius Resources has exceeded its gold production guidance for the December 2020 quarter, with 72,896 ounces to round out the calendar year.

Newmont Corporation has detailed its long-term outlook for its gold operations globally, including a production increase at the Boddington mine in Western Australia starting 2021.

Western Areas has progressed construction at the Odysseus nickel mine in Western Australia and expects to mine the first tonnes from the site in the 2021 September quarter.

BHP Nickel West, IGO and Lynas Corporation have joined Western Australia’s Future Battery Industry taskforce to enhance the state’s critical minerals industry.

Western Australia expects to create around 3000 data science jobs over the next decade, according to a report prepared by the state’s Data Science Innovation Hub and KPMG.

The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia (CME) has estimated that 60 per cent of Australia’s fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) workforce is from Queensland, with Western Australia’s eased border restrictions serving as welcomed news for the mining sector.

The Western Australian government has released a digital resource that connects jobseekers in the mining industry to employment and training opportunities.

FMR Investments was formed in 2007 when specialist hard rock underground mining services provider Barminco – founded in 1987, divested its contracting business.

Rio Tinto’s Future Minds Accelerator program has provided future skills courses to kindergarten to year 12 students and educators in Western Australia.

The PR 776 mining dozer entered a competitive marketplace of 70-tonne dozers when Liebherr launched the machine four years ago. Ben Creagh looks at how the PR 776 has established a presence in Australia.

Horizon Minerals is set to acquire the Kalpini gold project in Western Australia from private consortium NBT Metals for $2.75 million.

Super Pit joint owners Northern Star and Saracen Mineral Holdings are set to combine, having agreed to a merger-of-equals worth $16 billion.