Rebecca Lawson

Mining and construction services company Thiess has secured its second contract over the Gorgon gas project, taking the total value of its work on the operation to $1 billion.

COPPER and zinc miner Kagara will add nickel to its base metals production portfolio with its Lounge Lizard project set to produce first nickel within the next couple of months.

An anti-uranium alliance has stepped up calls for a public inquiry into BHP Billiton's "secretive" Western Australian uranium mine, Yeelirrie.

Nickel miner Western Areas has locked in a two-year offtake agreement with China's Jinchuan Group, which will buy up to 25,000 tonnes of nickel from the Forrestania operation in Western Australia.

Perth scientist Bruce Gray has failed in his attempt to oust the chairman of Sydney-based Sirtex Medical, a company Dr Gray founded.

Canadian uranium giant Cameco has expanded its presence in Western Australia, signing a joint venture deal with Uranium Equities (UEQ) over a project located near the sizeable Kintyre uranium deposit.

Metallurgical testing company Ammtec has raised $11.5 million and plans to raise a further $2 million, as the board declares a final dividend.

West Perth-based Catalpa Resources has started construction on its $92 million Edna May gold project, just days after it announced a merger with its largest shareholder, Lion Selection.

A Chinese entity will take a major stake in Kagara after the miner raised more than $150 million from institutions and retailers.

Takeover target Dioro Exploration has urged its shareholders to take no action on a sweetened $71 million takeover bid by Avoca Resources.

Cape Lambert Iron Ore has flagged its intention to launch an all-scrip takeover offer for Perth-based Corvette Resources after its acquired a major stake from CopperCo.

Shares in Coventry Group have risen as much as 14 per cent today following an improved debt position and a return of dividends.

Gold miner Avoca Resources has ramped up its takeover for Dioro Exploration, today lifting its all-scrip offer to more than $70 million.

Fox Resources says it is in talks with a number of Chinese steel mills over a potential joint venture deal for its Mt Oscar magnetite iron ore project in the Pilbara.

Another legal showdown is looming between Murchison Metals and Sydney-based Chameleon Mining, which is claiming it is entitled to half of the the iron ore miner's Jack Hills tenements, valued at $1.5 billion.

Nearly 11,000 new vehicles were sold in Western Australia last month, down 6.3 per cent on the same time last year, new figures show.

Acquisitive Cape Lambert Iron Ore is set to gain a 37 per cent shareholding in West Perth-based explorer DMC Mining and will lobby for additional board representation.

Perth will need more than 17,000 new homes each year over the next five years to cope with its growing population, a new report shows.

Gold miner Centamin Egypt has raised $C29.6 million ($A32 million) through a private placement to three unnamed large North American resource-focused funds.

The board of BC Iron has given the go-ahead for the development of its $43 million Nullagine iron ore project in the Pilbara, but will need approval from new joint venture partner Fortescue Metals Group.

Mining identity George Jones has announced he will step down from his chairman roles at Gindalbie Metals and Sundance Resources to focus on his health, with Geoff Wedlock to assume the responsibilities.

Territory Resources has extended its standstill agreement with its financiers until mid-August, prompted by the delay of a settlement in a benchmark iron ore price between China and the major miners.

The Federal Court has dismissed a claim by Cape Australia Holdings, which was seeking relief from former employee Darren Iannello after he started a rival business.

Woodside Petroleum says a report claiming a cost blowout at the Browse gas development offshore Western Australia to $50 billion is "simply wrong".

The state mining engineer has ordered BHP Billiton to carry out an independent engineering study at its Perseverance nickel operation following the second rock-fall incident in less than a month.

Euroz has recorded a 75 per cent drop in full-year net profit for fiscal 2009, a good result given the economic climate, the stockbroking firm says.

Recreational fishers from boats will need to pay for a licence under new rules to protect the state's most popular fishing spots, with the additional funds to be placed in a trust.

Oil and gas major Shell is one of three international companies selected to supply technology to Perdaman Chemicals and Fertilisers' proposed $3.5 billion Collie urea project.

London-listed Polo Resources has spent more than $5 million building its stake in Perth-based uranium hopeful Berkeley Resources.

Union heavyweight Joe McDonald is facing fresh legal proceedings from the building watchdog for encouraging workers to stop work at a CBD construction site last month.

THE recovery in capital raising activity by Western Australian companies continued in the June quarter after the collapse in 2008.

The Rudd government has sneaked in an eleventh hour change to its unfair dismissal code which will force small busineses to pay 'go-away' money to aggrieved employees, the federal opposition claims.