Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston today launched Australia’s first code of practice to help promote and maintain mentally healthy workplaces for FIFO workers in the resources and construction sectors. The code was developed following extensive public consultation. The ‘Mentally healthy workplaces for fly-in fly-out workers in the resources and construction sectors’ code aims to […]
WA Cashes in on Lithium Boom as Work Begins on World’s Largest Lithium Refinery
What is expected to be the world’s largest lithium refinery has reached a major milestone, with construction starting on the $1 billion project south of Perth. The Kemerton-based refinery, led by United States company Albemarle, is expected to produce 100,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide each year — more than double that of a refinery planned for […]
WA Government to Close Ex-Mining Town
Former Pilbara mining town Wittenoom, which inhabits an area highly contaminated with blue asbestos, will be closed by the Western Australian Government after protracted attempts to relocate the last three residents. Wittenoom, which was degazetted in 2007 and has not received electricity for over a decade, was a bustling Pilbara town from 1939 to 1966 due […]
Wesfarmers $1.5b bid for Rare Earths Miner Lynas
Wesfarmers is planning to dip into its war chest from the spin-off of Coles and the sale of its coal assets and Kmart Tyre and Auto, proposing a $1.5 billion acquisition of rare earths miner Lynas. The conglomerate has made a cash offer of $2.25 per share — a premium of nearly 45 per cent […]
Fortescue Metals Group Set To Open Autonomous Vehicle Research Centre
Mining company Fortescue Metals Group is exploring how it could apply autonomous mobility technology in an urban environment, announcing it plans to establish a new research and development centre in Karratha, Western Australia. The Fortescue Future of Mobility Centre will leverage the company’s success in using autonomous technology across its mining operations. Fortescue has been using […]
WA Iron Ore Ports Clearing Due to Cyclone Veronica
BHP has shut down the world’s largest iron ore export port, Port Hedland, as Cyclone Veronica bears down on the West Australian coast. The miner has suspended all port and rail activities in the region, telling workers to get to safety ahead of the category three cyclone smashing into Western Australia’s north-west coast near Karratha, […]
Bill Shorten Pledges Millions for WA Mining Research Centre
Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says Labor will go halves with the WA Government and other parties on a new $46 million research centre for mining in Perth. The Australian Future Mines centre would see the CSIRO, Australian Academy of Sciences, universities and industry help map the nation’s resources. Mr Shorten said two-thirds of the […]
Driverless Trucks Collide at WA mine
No one was hurt when two autonomous trucks collided at a BHP iron ore mine in the Pilbara over the weekend. The mining giant told The West Australian that the collision between the driverless vehicles happened about 11pm on Saturday at the Jimblebar mine site, about 40km easy of Newman. A company spokeswoman told the […]
Salmonella Sweeps Karratha Mining Camp
Workers based at a Karratha mining camp were so sick, some “felt like they were dying” as a salmonella epidemic reportedly affecting up to 50 FIFO workers, hospitalising at least 20 and leaving mattresses lining the porches of dongas. Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union state secretary Mick Buchan believed poor camp conditions at […]
WA Ditches Carbon Offset Rules
A directive from Western Australia’s Environmental Protection Authority that all new emissions-intensive projects should be carbon-neutral put in jeopardy proposed new LNG projects worth over $45 billion and triggered warnings of threats to the broader resources industry that underpins the state’s economy. Oil and gas producers had expressed concern that the proposed guidelines would jeopardise a […]