Archived News for Industry Professionals
The Minister for Defence Stephen Smith has released a progress report from the expert panel preparing the Defence Force Posture Review.
The Force Posture Review is addressing the range of present and emerging global, regional and national strategic and security factors which require careful consideration for the future. It is being undertaken by the Department of Defence and overseen by an expert panel comprising national security experts, Dr Allan Hawke and Mr Ric Smith, both former Secretaries of the Department of Defence.
These strategic and security factors include:
Report shows healthy investment in WA resources
The December edition of the WA Resources and Economics Report, released by the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia (CME), shows that the resources sector is continuing to display strong growth.
Silver Lake Resources to acquire Phillips River Mining
Gold mining company, Silver Lake Resources, has announced an agreement with Phillips River Mining Ltd to merge the Phillips River’s assets into Silver Lkae by a Schem of Arrangement. The acquisition has a transaction value of approximately $20m or about 2.5% of Silver Lake’s current market capitalisation.
Queensland cropping lands protected from mining
Queensland’s best agricultural land is now officially protected from mining under Strategic Cropping Land Act 2011.
Thiess JV wins $260m Onslow port project
A joint venture between Thiess and Belgian company Besix has won a $260 million contract to develop the breakwater and materials offloading facility (MOF) of the Chevron-operated Wheatstone Project, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) and domestic gas project in Western Australia.
New CEO for Brockman
Brockman Resources Limited has appointed Russell Tipper, formerly General Manager with Aquila Resources Limited, as Chief Executive Officer.
QR National gets green light on Central Queensland Integrated Rail Project EIS
The Queensland Co-ordinator General has declared the Central Queensland Integrated Rail Project (CQIRP) as a “significant project”, clearing the way for QR National to embark on the environmental impact statement.
Woodside considers possible part-sale of Browse development
Woodside Petroleum has confirmed in a statement to the Australian Securities Exchange that it is considering the sale of some of its equity in the Browse LNG development. The statement follows an announcement in December that it was seeking to delay its final investment decision, required by mid-2012 under the terms of the Browse Basin retention lease, until into the first half of 2013.
Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development announced
Environment and Water Minister Tony Burke has appointed an interim committee of experts to provide independent scientific advice on coal seam gas and large coal mining.
Fair Work Australia approves Newlands Coal work contracts
A decision by Fair Work Australia to allow 154 workers at Xstrata’s Newlands coalmine in Queensland to opt out of a collective union agreement in favour of common law contracts could have wider implications for future work relations cases.
Aurecon and JKTech form strategic alliance
Aurecon and mining services company JKTech have entered into a strategic alliance to be known as JK Aurecon to provide assessment of mine processing and enabling infrastructure.
Sinopec announces Australia Pacific LNG deal
Chinese oil giant Sinopec has announced an amended deal with Australia Pacific to buy 7.6 tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG through to 2035, up from 4.3 million (mtpa).
Rhineheart doubles wealth in Pilbara deal
Gina Rhineheart, already Australia’s richest person, has nearly doubled her wealth after her company, Hancock Prospecting, sold a 15 per cent stake of its Pilbara Roy Hill project to South Korean steel giant Posco.
Government releases report into infrastructure adaptation to climate change
The Federal Government has released a report analyzing the extent to which existing regulatory frameworks support action by major infrastructure sectors in adapting to climate change.
Research connects CSG to methane emissions
Researchers from Cornell University in the United States have found a connection between hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, and the release of substantial amounts of stored methane gas.
Rio's Cape York bauxite mine proposal challenged
Rio Tinto’s $1.4 billion bauxite mine expansion on Cape York could be subject to reconsideration by the Federal Government following pressure from environmental groups for Rio Tinto to be prosecuted for failing to identify threats to the Great Barrier Reef resulting from the passage up to 700 ships annually between Cape York and the Gladstone alumina refinery.
Hays quarterly report: Resources and mining professionals
Recruitment specialist Hays has released its January to March quarterly report into labour and skills demand, examining the ‘current hotspots of recruitment activity and trends’.
Australia-Pacific LNG signs deal with Sinopec
Australia-Pacific LNG (APLNG) has signed a binding agreement with the Sinopec Group of China that will see Sinopec take a total of 7.6 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per annum from the APLNG Project in Gladstone in Queensland. It is the largest LNG supply agreement in Australian history.
RBA releases mining industry research paper
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has released a report into the state of the mining industry in Australia, detailing the ‘remarkable turnaround' of the sector during the 2000s.
WA commits to Esperance Port
The Western Australian Government has announced its formal support of the expansion of Esperance Port, with State Transport Minister Troy Buswell announcing plans to increase capacity by up to 20 million tonnes per annum in a staged plan.
Mount Isa master plan to be released
A master plan that is set to coordinate the development of freight infrastructure in north west Queensland over the next 50 years is set for release by the Mount Isa to Townsville Economic Development Zone (MITEZ).