Mining

Less than a year after planned production was due to start, Apache Corporation says its Van Gogh oil project in the Exmouth Basin has started operations today.

Shares in Regis Resources closed higher after it settled a potential liability of $24 million with Newmont Mining, paving the way for the company to finalise funding for its Duketon gold project.

Western Areas has declared its first dividend payment after it reported a turnaround to profitability for its first half-earnings due to higher production and improved nickel prices.

Shares in Monadelphous were higher after the engineering services company delivered a record half-year profit of $40.5 million, boosted by growth in the energy and infrastructure sectors.

Tony Sage is reportedly running the ruler over Griffin Coal, with the Perth businessman eyeing the collapsed company's debt.

Macmahon Holdings has been awarded a $500 million, three-year contract extension by BHP Billiton for work at two of its iron ore mines in the Pilbara.

Paladin Energy appears to be on the path to profitability, with the uranium miner today reporting a $19 million interim net loss, up from the previous corresponding period's $475.6 million loss.

Consolidated Minerals has sold its 24.7 per cent shareholding in Jabiru Metals, with East Perth-based Metals X picking up a 19.99 per stake in the miner.

Speculation from Treasurer Troy Buswell of increases to state mining royalties is damaging to the resources sector and likely to send investor cash to the banks rather than projects.

Union members at several of Alcoa Australia's Western Australian sites are preparing for industrial action tomorrow as negotiations continue for a new enterprise bargaining agreement.

Shares in emerging lithium producer Galaxy Resourecs have climbed almost 10 per cent after announcing it received the project approval and business licence for its China lithium carbonate plant in Jiangsu province.

A month after announcing an equity investment restructuring at its Fisherman's Landing LNG plant, Liquefied Natural Gas has agreed to sell the plant and associated infrastructure to Arrow Energy for $51 million.

Engineering and construction company Decmil Group has reported an after tax profit of $9 million for the first half of 2009/10, largely on the back of significant contract wins by its subsidiary, Decmil Australia.

Shares in Galaxy Resources were higher after the company finalised a long-term shipping contract for the transport of spodumene concentrate from the Esperance port to China.

Preparations for the Browse gas development have begun with Woodside Petroleum awarding several contracts for the initial design phase, a day after the joint venture partners selected a gas processing site.

Mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton are believed to have finalised the seven member senior executive team that will run their iron ore joint venture in the Pilbara.

The Western Australian government is set to gain full ownership of Australia's only gold refinery after the three partners in AGR Matthey decided to dissolve their partnership.

Two Tony Sage-led companies plan to raise up to $260 million as a condition of deals to acquire businesses associated with controversial businessman Frank Timis.

Disgruntled workers at the Pluto gas project will be offered a deal later this week after Woodside Petroleum, project manager Foster Wheeler Worley and unions came to a compromise over motelling plans.

Woodside Petroleum CEO Don Voelte this afternoon said he is 95 per cent confident Woodside's Browse project will go ahead after the project's joint venture partners agreed on James Price Point as the location to process the gas from the Browse Basin field

Sandfire Resources gained more than five per cent today after reporting positive results from last year's diamond drilling programme at the DeGrussa Copper-Gold Project, part of its wholly-owned Doolgunna Project in WA.

Tusker Gold has recommended to shareholders to accept a takeover offer from mining giant Barrick Gold which will see Barrick acquire all of the issued shares in Tusker for 80 cents per share.

Pilbara iron ore developer Aurox Resources has secured an agreement with China's leading mining engineering services provider for the provision of engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services and assistance in financing its Balla Balla projec

Gold explorer Mundo Minerals' share value has slid almost 20 per cent in trading today after announcing it will raise more than $15 million in a placement and rights issue to repay loans and further develop its Peruvian and Brazilian gold projects.

The share price of copper explorer Alchemy Resources climbed more than seven per cent today after announcing an aggressive exploration drilling campaign at its Magnus project adjacent to Sandfire Resource's Doolgunna discovery in WA's Gascoyne region.

BHP Billiton has appointed company insider Chris Campbell to head its lucrative iron ore division.

Shares in mineral exploration outfit Legend Mining have climbed more than 10 per cent in morning trade after announcing it would exercise its right to acquire a 90 per cent interest in a Cameroon iron ore project following a positive aeromagnetic survey.

Shares in exploration minnow Kings Minerals fell today after announcing plans to complete a business combination with its 71.3 per cent controlled subsidiary, San Anton Resource Corporation before listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Shares in Aurora Minerals have climbed slightly after announcing it is in discussions with its 53 per cent-owned subsidiary Desert Energy to enter into a joint venture on its wholly-owned Camel Hills Project in central Western Australia.

Fortescue Metals Group says it will vigorously defend an appeal the corporate watchdog has lodged regarding a ruling that found in favour of the miner and its chief, Andrew Forrest.

Nickel miner Panoramic Resources is forecasting to be back in the black, today lifting its interim profit guidance to $20 million compared to the $8.6 million net loss it booked the previous year.

Shares in Western Areas rose after the nickel miner said it had exceeded its calendar 2009 production target and made a strong start to 2010.