John Phaceas

Any easing of BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto’s infrastructure restrictions is sure to upset smaller Pilbara operators.

ASPIRING iron ore miners in virtually every corner of the state now have a collective voice to promote their cause, following the formation of the Yilgarn Iron Producers Association last week

Woodside chairman Michael Chaney expects a "good slate of candidates" to put their hand up for the top job of Australia's premier oil and gas producer, in the wake of chief executive Don Voelte's decision to retire in the middle of next year.

Eric Ripper's leadership of the state Labor party came under friendly fire today when federal resources minister Martin Ferguson questioned the state opposition's attacks on the compulsory acquisition of land at James Price Point for an LNG processing hub

Miners will have more chances to comment on the proposed mining tax in coming months, even though the government's tax implementation panel still aimed to report by the end of the year, federal resources minister Martin Ferguson said today.

Chinese-controlled Perth miner Perilya has unveiled a friendly $186 million takeover of Canadian copper miner GlobeStar Mining Corporation that will see the base metals producer spread its wings to the Caribbean and Canada.

The rising Australian dollar took the gloss off another strong performance by WA exporters in the 2009-10 financial year.

TWO Perth mining entrepreneurs are canvassing private investors and iron ore buyers for up to $15 million to start development of the Kimberley’s first onshore iron ore mine.

JUST as Australia overall once rode on the sheep’s back, the fate of Western Australia arguably now rides in the back of an iron ore haul truck.

ENERGY Minister Peter Collier will next week underline the government’s plan to shore up the state’s energy security by visiting a major gas storage facility near Dongara with the potential to boost Western Australia’s gas supplies by 15 per cent.

TESTING the federal government’s flexibility on the final shape of its planned mining tax will be the focus of resources company executives when they meet with the Don Argus-led tax implementation panel in Perth over the next two days.

TUMBLING Australian-dollar oil and gas prices took the wind out of the sails of Western Australia’s petroleum producers last financial year, despite the state further cementing its title as the nation’s premier petroleum exporter. According to Department

State energy minister Peter Collier has moved to reassure Western Australian electricity generators they will continue to receive tens of millions of dollars in capacity credit payments following a revamp of Verve Energy's operating contract.

THE gulf between gas buyers and producers in Western Australia continues to widen as local industry pushes harder for government intervention to curb rising prices and force suppliers to deliver more gas.

THE ‘donga’ has long been ubiquitous at most Western Australian mine sites as a relatively cheap and effective form of on-site accommodation that can deployed rapidly and then re-used at the end of a project’s life.

THE Federal government has agreed the powers of the National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority need to be expanded significantly to avert any repeat of major incidents such as the Montara oil spill or Varanus Island gas explosion.

French energy giant Total has definitively ruled out any reversal of the decision to process gas from the $20 billion Ichthys gas project in Darwin.

Brazilian mining giant Vale has started legal action against Perth-based Aquila Resources after rejecting the Tony Poli-led iron ore and coal miner's valuation of the Belvedere coal project in Queensland.

Controversial junior bauxite miner Bauxite Resources has agreed to enter a revised heads of agreement with Chinese conglomerate Yankuang Resources to build a major alumina refinery in the South West.

ADMINISTRATORS of Rick Stowe’s failed Griffin coal and energy empire now hope to wrap up a sale of the debt-laden private group in December after being forced to seek more time to complete the process last week.

Rio Tinto’s $850 million commitment to ramp-up underground development at the Argyle diamond mine signals a fundamental shift in diamonds that will have major ramifications in WA. John Phaceas reports.

ONE of India’s largest oil and gas refiners has heralded the dawn of a new era of Indian investment in Western Australia after

STATE energy minister Peter Collier has rejected claims a major overhaul of local electricity market rules will frighten off private investment in the sector.

Western Australia's resources sector churned out another near-record performance in 2009-10, with the value of the state's mineral and petroleum output totalling $70.9 billion, according to figures released by the WA Department of Mines and Petroleum.

AN $80 million legal battle between a Perth miner and one of China’s biggest state-owned companies has again cast the spotlight on the challenges of tapping Chinese capital.

FRESH doubts have emerged over the timing of a major upgrade of transmission lines to Geraldton, after one of the region’s biggest future power consumers said it would build its own power station.

QUEENSLAND rail giant QR National is eyeing Western Australia’s booming iron ore sector as a major growth driver after it completes its proposed $7 billion float in November.

THE Warden’s Court has lifted the veil on tensions between rival iron ore miners Fortescue Metals Group and Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting amid a wider battle between mining and agriculture in the Pilbara.

GOOD faith negotiations between the state government and the Kimberley Land Council remain pivotal to whether Woodside Petroleum’s proposed $30 billion Browse liquefied natural gas project in the Kimberley goes ahead as planned in 2012.

URANIUM giant Cameco has begun canvassing communities along the proposed trucking route from its $500 million Kintyre uranium project in the Pilbara, amplifying calls for a major upgrade of transport links between Kalgoorlie and the state’s north.

Shell Australia chair Ann Pickard has dismissed recurring media and analyst speculation the energy giant was considering a renewed tilt at 34 per cent owned rival Woodside Petroleum, potentially in partnership with BHP Billiton.

SOARING gold prices above $1,400 per ounce have ensured a steady stream of gold mine developments across Western Australia.