Michael Ramsey

Engineering and construction contractor Monadelphous has won a $150 million contract extension for maintenance works at Chevron's Gorgon liquefied natural gas project, as well as construction work linked to the oil and gas giant's Wheatstone project and new work in Queensland.

West Perth-based junior Avanco Resources has secured agreement for a $US12 million royalty-based investment deal with major resources investor BlackRock World Mining Trust.

Explosives and chemicals manufacturer Orica has appointed former Macmahon Holdings managing director Nick Bowen as executive global head, mining services.

Diploma Group has commenced construction on a new $32 million, 86-apartment development in West Perth.

Fortescue Metals Group will go to the WA Supreme Court to challenge the Economic Regulation Authority's decision to allow third-party access to FMG's Pilbara railway.

The state government will team up with Woodside Petroleum and Curtin University to develop two new specialist training facilities in the Pilbara as it encourages more people to live and work in the region.

Curtin University has named Deborah Terry as its next vice-chancellor, replacing the outgoing Jeanette Hacket.

Antares Energy has raised $10 million from institutional investors towards drilling activity at its Northern Star project in West Texas.

Subiaco-based miner Attila Resources says it is fully funded to move towards a final development decision on its Kodiak coking coal project following the completion of a $7 million capital raising.

Forge Group has won more than $50 million in asset management contracts in the space of four months as it looks to grow its presence in North America.

Fertiliser producer Yara Pilbara has committed more than $50 million towards housing its growing workforce in Karratha as it works towards opening an $800 million ammonium nitrate plant.

Business confidence is on the up in Western Australia in the wake of the federal election, according to new research.

Central Systems and McConnell Dowell are the latest companies to secure big contracts at Hancock Prospecting's $10 billion Roy Hill iron ore project.

Toro Energy has received approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board for its $37 million acquisition of the Lake Maitland uranium project in central Western Australia.

Perth-based contractor OTOC has won a further $16m in works at the federal government's migrant processing centre on the Pacific island of Nauru.

Western Australia's peak farming lobby says the looming closure of two Tier 3 rail lines in the Wheatbelt will force thousands of trucks onto unsafe roads.

West Perth-based financial planning firm Chambers Investment Planners has had its financial services licence cancelled by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission after entering voluntary administration.

Norton Gold Fields has cashed in on the state government's new mining rehabilitation fund scheme, securing $21.8 million in environmental bond refunds to date.

Brookfield Multiplex and BG&E have been selected to build a new $249 million underground bus station as part of the Perth City Link project.

BHP Billiton has withdrawn from a farm-in agreement with St George Mining over nickel rights attached to the East Laverton project just months after agreeing to proceed with the deal.

Perth-based oil and gas explorer WHL Energy has appointed David Rowbottam as its new managing director.

Litigation financier IMF Australia has launched an institutional placement in the hopes of raising $31.4 million as it looks to gain work and expand into new markets and will also tap shareholders for a further $10 million.

Scooter manufacturer Vmoto has boosted its funding with a $5 million capital raising as it eyes growth opportunities in China.

Premier Colin Barnett says Rio Tinto's new port expansion in the Pilbara is a sign of confidence in the resources sector which will allow Western Australia to boost its iron ore exports.

MZI Resources has secured $US41.5 million in funding from international private equity group Resource Capital Funds for the development of its Keysbrook mineral sands project.

Paladin Energy is set to slash its costs by $US23 million over the 2014 financial year and suspend all non-essential exploration activity as it looks to stem losses from a weakening uranium price.

Alinta Energy has been granted regulatory approval to supply electricity to Hancock Prospecting's $10 billion Roy Hill iron ore project.

Chevron has signed binding long-term sales and purchase agreements with Japanese utility Tohoku Electric Power Company for gas supplied from the $29 billion Wheatstone LNG project.

Macquarie Capital executive director Justin Mannolini has been appointed non-executive director of West Perth-based explorer Jindalee Resources.

Aphrodite Gold's former chief executive and former managing director have each resigned as directors of the company ahead of a planned shareholder meeting today.

West Perth-based Chalice Gold Mines has made an offer to merge with Canadian gold developer Coventry Resources as it seeks to find assets to boost its cash flow.

Perth investment house Argonaut has seen its annual profit and revenue drop following what it described as a period of substantially reduced activity in equity capital markets and mergers and acquisitions.