Matt Mckenzie

Altona Mining has received Foreign Investment Review Board approval for a subsidiary of Chinese company Sichuan Railway Investment Group to invest more than $US200 million to set up its Cloncurry copper project in Queensland.

Amani Gold has signed a memorandum of understanding with a little-known Chinese investment group to raise $25 million via a share issue to fund drilling at the Giro Gold project in the Congo.

Pilbara Minerals has been given a final environmental tick for its Pilgangoora lithium project, and is now cleared for construction, but the company will be continuing work on project financing.

Shares in sandalwood supplier Quintis were down 44 per cent today after the company admitted it had lost a contract supplying Nestle five months ago, the second issue relating to a contract this year.

Shares in Zenith Energy were up 10 per cent to 55 cents after the remote generation operator listed on the ASX today, with the company planning to use the $25 million it raised to move into renewables and microgrid technology.

Three contractors have won work for Altura Mining’s planned $140 million Pilgangoora lithium mine, as the company continues work to secure debt financing for the project.

Flinders Mines is seeking to raise $16 million to advance its Pilbara iron ore project, with the company needing to fund further work to progress the mine to feasibility stage.

Perth motorsport enthusiasts may soon have the opportunity to venture to Malaysia to watch V8 supercar racing, as the country seeks new opportunities after hosting what will be its final Formula One grand prix at Sepang later this year.

The first stage of an expansion plan to double capacity at the Wiluna gold project would cost about $25 million, according to a preliminary study undertaken by Blackham Resources.

The aquaculture and fisheries industries are both attracting investor interest as businesses float significant growth plans.

The WA Independent Power Association has called for the state government to block a plan by public generator Synergy to set up a new renewable energy fund, while supporting a move to reduce Synergy’s capacity.

Resources hopeful Talisman Mining has secured a $23 million debt financing agreement to fund the Monty copper and gold project which is to be built in a joint venture with Sandfire Resources.

North Fremantle-based fashion label Empire Rose is one of three local brands to have secured deals in China in recent weeks, following the Fashion Council WA’s partnership with its Chinese counterpart.

Henderson-based shipbuilder Austal will open an Adelaide office for shipbuilding design and project management as it seeks to win a $3 billion federal government contract to build 12 new offshore patrol vessels.

Merchandise exports from Western Australia were up 35.4 per cent in March compared with that same month in 2016, as a clear trend emerges of improving trade figures for the state.

South Australian charter airline Rossair Charter Services is making a push into Western Australia, as it refines operations following the recent acquisition of Perth-based Ad Astral Aviation.

Chinese direct investment in Western Australia was more than 10 times higher last year than it had been in calendar 2015, according to the latest data compiled by KPMG and the University of Sydney.

SPECIAL REPORT: A pilot plant for WA’s second rare earth metals mine is helping broaden the state’s resources horizons.

SPECIAL REPORT: West Perth-based junior Metalicity is developing a plan to take the Admiral Bay zinc deposit in the Canning Basin to production, two years after the project was bought from the collapsed Kagara Mining.

SPECIAL REPORT: The value of investment into WA gold projects is about four times as much as this time last year, while growth in spending on lithium has been even more substantial.

The state government has proposed changes to the Corporations Act to deal with mining companies that avoid their environmental obligations.

A team of local researchers is taking the next step in a program analysing the use of chemicals in smoke to grow seeds for mine rehabilitation.

Students and hospitality workers are the key cohorts first targeted by new mobile apps GoCasual and Squaddle, both of which have been developed by Perth startups.

Chevron Australia has lost its appeal of a 2015 Federal Court ruling regarding the company’s financial and taxation relationship with its US parent, although the company has not ruled out a High Court appeal.

The Chinese company angling to buy a 50 per cent stake in the Kalgoorlie super pit has reportedly dropped the $US1.3 billion bid due to more rigid Chinese controls on capital outflows, while its bid to buy Southern Cross gold mine owner Hanking Australia has been completed.

Woodside Petroleum has engaged contractors to develop concept options for an expansion of the Pluto LNG facility for consideration as early as mid-year, while reporting an 11 per cent drop in March quarter revenue on the back of adverse weather and inventory build up.

The dramatic fall in the price of iron ore since the start of March could punch a $1.4 billion hole in the state’s finances in the next financial year.

SPECIAL REPORT: Henderson shipbuilders have plans to put on hundreds of apprentices as billions of dollars in naval investment is expected in the next few years.

Oil and gas software developer Stochastic Simulation is expected to be put up for sale, two weeks after it was put into receivership. 

The two-speed economy that hampered Western Australia during the peak years of the mining boom continues to linger in sectors where labour markets lack flexibility.

Western Australian workers would have the most to lose of any state from a major downturn in China and the least to gain from a major growth in services exports, according to new modelling from Deloitte, but an increased openness to investment opportunities might bring an upside in both scenarios.

A taxi levy to buy back plates could be a major administrative headache for the sector and punish more efficient players, according to Ingogo chief executive Hamish Petrie.