Saskia Pickles

As the state’s review of its electricity market seeks to turn the system on its head, investors protecting their interests have argued strongly to keep Western Australia out of the national electricity market (NEM).

A Perth based digital healthcare startup, ResApp Diagnostics has signed a heads of agreement to be fully acquired by Adam Sierakowski’s Narhex Life Sciences.

Cassini Resources, the five cent explorer that quickly graduated to a 25 cent stock in April after acquiring BHP Billiton’s West Musgrave nickel-copper project has taken a share price hit in its stride as it seeks to educate the market on its as yet unrealised potential.

A joint project between Woodside Petroleum and Curtin University is aiming to boost productivity in the construction of liquefied natural gas projects in Western Australia.

Scientists and engineers in Perth have begun quietly setting up a centre which could encourage more floating gas projects off Western Australia's coast and create local jobs.

Last month’s huge oil discovery off the Pilbara coast, which could be the largest local find in 30 years, has already provided West Perth junior Carnarvon Petroleum with a significant boost to its share price.

A new report says governments will need to balance the need to keep gas prices low for local consumers with securing royalties from producers.

WA is expected to be the world's second-largest LNG exporter by 2020.

Junior producer AWE has claimed a new gas discovery in the Mid West could be the largest conventional onshore gas discovery in Western Australia in 50 years.

Six new power stations will be built in the Mid West by private company Contract Power Australia for Horizon Power customers.

Recent changes to some airlines’ routes have provided a mixed bag for those flying into and out of Perth, with more ways to connect to Europe but fewer options to and from Asia.

Global bank UBS has delivered a scathing assessment of the financial performance of rare earths producer Lynas Corporation.

POP philosophy enterprise The School of Life is tentatively considering Perth as its second permanent Australian centre, with a temporary school testing the local waters.

Rural network provider Horizon Power has in part blamed a downturn in the economy for the company’s decision to reduce its number of electrical linesmen by 28 per cent

Westpac chief economist Bill Evans has predicted the iron ore price will go over the $100 per tonne mark next year, on the back of improved Chinese consumer confidence.

The federal government’s RET review has polarised opinion on the future of renewables in Australia.

Court action filed by both Santos and Apache is set to continue in the Western Australian Supreme Court over several disagreements relating to a joint venture of gas fields offshore in the Carnarvon basin.

KPMG associate director Nicole Lockwood has joined the new board of Infrastructure Australia, which recently became an independent statutory authority.

Change is under way in the Pilbara mining town of Newman, with BHP Billiton’s long-held dominance of the housing market moderating in the face of new residential developments and a growing rental sector.

Copper and gold miner Sandfire Resources has recorded a slightly less profitable financial year for 2013-14 but declared a maiden dividend of 10 cents per share.

Several former BHP Billiton employees made redundant from their positions at Mount Whaleback mine have engaged law firm Slater & Gordon to fight for their Newman homes amid claims the company altered aspects of its home ownership scheme.

Urban Capital Group has partnered with an overseas investor to turn a 252-hectare property into a residential estate just north of Peet’s Lakelands estate, 10 minutes from Mandurah.

Gold miner Evolution Mining has reported a $50 million net profit after tax largely due to starting commercial production at its Mt Carlton mine and significant cost reductions in response to a lower gold price.

Engineering firm Calibre Group has reported a net profit after tax of $24.4 million for the year ended June 30 2014.

The managing director of BP's Kwinana oil refinery, Desmond Gillen, says the global energy giant still has no plans to shut down the facility.

FEATURE: Two Perth-based organisations – one well established and one relatively new – are taking giant strides towards normalising and encouraging more women in mining workforces.

FEATURE: Industrial uncertainty and an urgent need for more infrastructure are putting the squeeze on iron ore exports through Port Hedland, while productivity increases and transshipment options are also being mulled over statewide.

FEATURE: Mining sector players are creating innovative solutions – particularly in the iron ore, uranium, and base metals areas, and the graduate labour market – to deal with the changing economic environment.

Iron ore prices may have softened significantly from about $US130 a tonne during the past year, but that has not stopped local miners ramping up exports.

The release of a discussion paper on how to fix the electricity market has reignited the debate over whether Synergy and Verve should be split into two separate generator-retailers.

A WA based company which is the world’s only supplier of pharmaceutical grade sandalwood oil has revealed a landmark deal it struck earlier this year was with global dermatology company Galderma.

Producing electricity for Western Australians costs at least 125 per cent more than elsewhere in Australia, according to a newly released state government discussion paper on the largest ever review of the electricity market.