Saskia Pickles

THE head of South Korean giant Posco’s recent Australian business developments, Richard Lee, is leaving the company with plans to establish himself in Perth.

The Environmental Protection Authority has rejected Sinosteel Midwest Corporation’s proposal to develop a new mine pit at its Blue Hills Mungada East hematite project due to irreversible environmental consequences.

Mineral sands explorer MZI Resources is one step closer to production following shareholders approving a $US110 million debt and equity package today.

As global calls for reducing greenhouse gas emissions get louder, WA is quietly progressing its own carbon capture and storage project

Tugboat operator Teekay Shipping and the world's fourth largest iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group have condemned the decision of 56 tugboat workers to bring Port Hedland to a halt for four hours next Wednesday .

Rio Tinto has reinvested in its partnership with Aboriginal education group Graham (Polly) Farmer Foundation, signing a three-year $2.7 million deal.

Learning how to operate and work with food delivery robots, new cleaning technology and interactive patient entertainment systems will be just part of the process for 1,000 new Fiona Stanley Hospital workers.

The costs of poor planning and delayed infrastructure in Western Australia have been revealed according to a new report from the Property Council of Australia.

On-selling leisure getaways to those attending business conferences has proved lucrative for Cable Beach Resort.

BHP Billiton says it will consider expanding its Olympic Dam copper and uranium mine in South Australia only after it improves efficiencies and can run the existing operation at full capacity.

Electrical contractor ECM Global Project Partners has signed two contracts for work on the Roy Hill and Sino Iron projects in the Pilbara worth $110 million collectively.

Eight Western Australians, including five 40under40 winners, have made the 2014 BRW Rich List with a collective wealth of $337 million.

Nickel miner Western Areas is getting closer to marketing a unique bacterial leaching project that will improve its profits by enhancing the grade of concentrate it can produce.

Atlas Iron has shrugged off concerns about current market conditions and its thin margins, using its annual general meeting yesterday to remind shareholders of its development track record in an intensely competitive environment as proof it is a survivor committed to doing what it takes.

The City of Geraldton has sold an 8.8-hectare parcel of land for $880,000 to Tersum Energy which expects to spend between $60 million and $80 million to build a 30-megawatt gas fired power station, and is in ongoing negotiations for offtake power.

Singaporean based Marine Contracting has announced it has set up shop in Western Australia, citing growing demand driven by the construction of large liquefied natural gas projects.

As the iron ore majors ramp up production, Fortescue Metals Group has an ace up its sleeve.

Broome’s Cable Beach Resort has taken top honours at this year’s tourism awards, also receiving recognition for its business and conference facilities, restaurant and catering services, and luxury accommodation.

Energy Minister Mike Nahan has hailed the removal of the carbon price as the reason behind Western Australians receiving an 8 per cent drop in electricity prices.

The man leading efforts to rebuild Christchurch after the 2011 earthquake told Business News the aftershocks that continued for more than a year were a real barrier to re-establishing confidence among those planning the city’s future.

Synergy chairman Lyndon Rowe is confident Synergy’s new board, which was boosted today with the addition of three members, will operate harmoniously.

Atlas Iron has made significant cost savings in the September quarter and increased its production guidance, but lower prices have delivered only marginal profits.

Debate over which area in the Mid West should become a Class A nature reserve has heated up as the Environmental Protection Authority increases its calls to preserve an area that Karara Mining wants to mine.

Fortescue Metals Group has extended its partnership with hockey world champions the Kookaburras for another two years, providing support in the build-up to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Iron ore production shows no sign of slowing, but getting the ore on the water may be more problematic.

The number of backdoor listings or reverse takeovers in Western Australia is likely to rise after a change in ASX policy has simplified the process for emerging companies to access capital via existing entities.

Fortescue Metals Group chief executive Nev Power has criticised what he calls "last man standing" expansion strategies by the major iron ore producers in the Pilbara while defending FMG's own expansion strategy.

The Department of Mines and Petroleum is seeking to recover about $11 million in unpaid royalties amid producer disquiet about possible royalty rate increases.

The Business News annual export review has the latest data on 33 businesses representing $122 billion in outgoing trade. It also shows that while iron ore continues to dominate, the emergence of LNG, agriculture and services will benefit from a lower dollar.

An unexpected windfall could tip $50 million into failed construction company Forge Group as its receivers continue to recover money owed and make debt payments.

Mining giant BHP Billiton plans to overtake rival Rio Tinto to become Australia's lowest cost iron ore producer, detailing plans today for an expansion of its Pilbara operations despite the slump in the commodity's price.

Geraldton-based Bhagwan Marine has announced details of its first international acquisition, confirming speculation from last week.