Mining

The IronClad Mining and Trafford Resources' Wilcherry Hill iron ore joint venture project is progressing, with a modified development plan sent to the South Australian government receiving a tick of approval.

Rio Tinto has announced plans to cut capital expenditure by more than 20 per cent per year out to 2015, but beyond then will need to consider major new projects to support its growth objectives.

Fortescue Metals Group says it's in a position to comfortably repay debt without having to do joint ventures or sell assets as the price of iron ore remains strong.

Global crude prices have pushed higher ahead of OPEC's December meeting on the oil market, as Saudi Arabia suggested no change to the cartel's output ceiling.

CITIC Pacific says it is working hard to bring its Sino Iron project up to full production, after completing the first shipment of magnetite concentrate from the trouble-plagued development.

Global miner First Quantum Minerals is set to purchase a stake in West Perth copper junior Caravel Minerals, adding to its interests in Western Australia.

Paladin Energy managing director John Borshoff has announced strong interest in the long-running sale of a minority stake in its Langer Heinrich uranium mine in Namibia.

ERM Power's Kent Quinlan has been seconded to the role of interim chief executive at Empire Oil & Gas as they look to permanently fill the role in the near future.

Gold prices have clocked their worst November since 1978, as a brighter economic landscape fanned fears of reduced stimulus efforts by the Federal Reserve.

Sundance Resources has outlined a new approach to funding its major iron ore project in West Africa, seven months after terminating a $1.3 billion takeover agreement with Chinese company Hanlong Mining.

Nedlands company Advanced Geomechanics is hoping to extend its reach into the global subsea engineering market following its directors’ decision to sell the business to Dutch multinational Fugro.

Mining giant Rio Tinto will close its Gove alumina refinery in the Northern Territory, bringing the axe down on up to 1,500 jobs and an entire mining town.

Decmil has been awarded a $37.5 million contract for the design and construction of diesel fuel infrastructure at Hancock Prospecting's Roy Hill project in the Pilbara.

Rio Tinto has highlighted the dramatic shift in strategy by the big mining houses by unveiling a ‘low cost’ expansion for its Pilbara iron ore business, with plans to lift production at five existing mines before it considers developing any new mines.

China-based Shandong Gold looks set to secure board control at Focus Minerals, after acting chief executive and chairman Don Taig announced his intention to resign from the company.

Gold miner Ramelius is working to get its flagship asset in Western Australia profitable next year despite a weaker gold price.

Forge Group looks set to surrender a significant share of its equity to creditor ANZ Banking Group in exchange for a company-saving debt package, as spooked investors wiped more than 83 per cent from the contractor's market value.

US oil prices have tumbled to the lowest level in nearly six months after a weekly inventory report showed a surprisingly large increase in supplies.

Altona Mining is the latest Perth company to receive a first strike from shareholders against its remuneration report.

Just four months after becoming Forge Group's new lender, it appears ANZ Banking Group will need to pitch in more debt financing to keep the struggling company afloat.

Doray Minerals has officially opened its Andy Well gold project in the northern Murchison region, at a ceremony hosted by mines and petroleum minister Bill Marmion.

Bis Industries has deferred plans to launch a long-anticipated $510 million initial public offering due to what it describes as unfavourable market sentiment towards the Australian mining and resources sectors.

Sino Gas & Energy has taken advantage of a strong rally in its share price, reaching an agreement to raise $53 million at 20 cents per share, to progress development of its coal seam gas assets in China’s Ordos Basin.

Independence Group has downsized forecasted quarterly gold production at its part-owned Tropicana gold mine, after producing first gold within budget and ahead of schedule.

Perth-based Hazelwood Resources will look to raise up to $7 million to accelerate production at the ATC ferrotungsten joint venture facility in Vietnam, in which it has a 60 per cent stake.

Programmed Maintenance Services has recorded a flat half year profit despite taking a hit to revenue as a result of a slowdown in investment in the resources sector.

Brookfield Multiplex has completed construction of a $200 million accommodation village at Hancock Prospecting's $10 billion Roy Hill iron ore mine in the Pilbara.

Empire Oil and Gas shareholders showed their overwhelming lack of support today towards the company’s recently ousted directors by lodging a massive vote against the remuneration report.

Cape plc and Giovenco Industries have each been awarded major contracts at Chevron's $29 billion Wheatstone LNG project near Onslow.

Perth stockbroking firm DJ Carmichael has acted as lead manager to a $4.4 million capital raising by oil and gas explorer Rampart Energy.

Perth-based concrete construction group Whittens has been awarded a $15.5 million contract for civil concrete construction works at the Boggabri coal handling and processing plant in New South Wales.

Australia should consider a Norwegian-style sovereign wealth fund to share around the benefits of the mining boom, a union report argues.