Mining

Norwegian aluminium company Norsk Hydro has abandoned its bauxite mining plans in the Mitchell Plateau region to the north Kimberley, giving back its mining leases to the state government.

A growing volume of WA contracts has prompted engineering and infrastructure company AJ Lucas to open a Perth office as it today secured a $95 million contract for works at the Gorgon gas project.

Galaxy Resources has received environmental approval for its Jiangsu lithium carbonate plant in China, which is expected to have a small environmental footprint.

West Perth-based Bathurst Resources will reverse its acquisition of a United States coal miner after a dispute arose over the original agreements.

Toro Energy could potentially expand the uranium footprint at its Wiluna project in Western Australia after it acquired two nearby uranium tenements from Liberty Resources for $1 million.

West Perth-based Sipa Resources has agreed to sell a small exploration licence in the Mid West to Sinosteel Midwest Corporation for $450,000.

Leighton Holdings, in joint venture with Italian company Eni, has secured a $900 million contract to develop the liquefied natural gas jetty and marine structures for the Gorgon project.

Woodside Petroleum has split the front-end engineering work for its Pluto expansion project by awarding dual contracts for trains 2 and 3 to KBR and its existing joint venture contractors FosterWheeler and WorleyParsons.

The Woodside Petroleum-operated North West Shelf Venture today said it was continuing to negotiate with gas retailer Alinta, owned by Babcock and Brown Power, over future gas supplies from the project following an interim ruling by an arbitrator yesterday

Mermaid Marine Australia has scored more work at the Gorgon gas project, today securing a contract worth at least $32 million to provide stevedoring and related services for the operation's supply base.

Wesfarmers has today approved a $286 million expansion of its Curragh coal mine in Queensland after striking an agreement with Stanwell Corporation.

Mid-West magnetite hopeful Asia Iron Holdings is targeting a 2012 production start at its flagship $2 billion Extension Hill project near Geraldton, after securing a major state-owned Chinese partner for the venture.

Sundance Resources has raised $85 million from international institutional investors to complete a definitive feasibility study of its Mbalam Project, including mine, process, transport and port infrastructure and also provide general working capital.

Shares in West Perth-based Regis Resources remained steady in trading today following the announcement of a $45 million debt facitlity the company will use to develop its $73 million Duketon gold project.

Shares in Territory Resources have fallen eight per cent in morning trade after the company announced it has agreed to sell its stake in India Resources, as it moves to cut its debt.

Victoria Park-based Tectonic Resources says it Phillips River gold-copper project near Ravensthorpe will cost $125 million to develop.

Premier Colin Barnett has turned the first sod at Galaxy Resources' new lithium mine site to the delight of neighbouring Ravensthorpe locals who he said were dealt a hard blow earlier in the year by the closure of the BHP Billiton nickel operation.

West Perth-based Northern Iron has further strengthened its relationship with Sinosteel, signing a spot sales contract to sell iron ore to the Chinese market.

The competition watchdog has given its final approval to the Gorgon gas project partners to jointly market gas sales to the Western Australian market, despite protests it will drive gas prices higher.

Mines and Petroleum Minister Norman Moore has today opened the Newman mining hub, a key component of BHP Billiton Iron Ore's $US1.85 billion Rapid Growth Project Four.

PTTEP Australasia says it will wait for expert assessment on damages over its Timor Sea oil leak saga, which is estimated to have cost the company more than $170 million, before deciding on whether it will resume production in the future.

Rio Tinto is rebuilding ship loading infrastructure at its Dampier Salt operation in Port Hedland, which will allow ships to be loaded faster and reduce environmental impacts.

Mirabela Nickel will ramp up production at its Santa Rita operation in Brazil over the next three months as it produces its first nickel concentrate.

Nickel miner Minara Resources has confirmed its interest in BHP Billiton's Ravensthorpe nickel operation and is exploring various funding options.

Engineering and construction company Decmil Group says it is in final stage negotiations over a $70 million contract for the Gorgon gas project while Ausgroup has been awarded $30 million worth of contracts for work on the Pluto operation.

A wholly-owned subsidiary of Nedlands-based engineering and construction services company Forge Group has been awarded a $12 million terminal tank refurbishment contract on Barrow Island as part of Chevron's $50 billion Gorgon LNG project.

The Northern Territory government has declared the gas leak detected at Chinese oil giant Sinopec's Puffin oil field in the Timor Sea poses no threat to the environment.

Aviva Corporation has started shopping around its $1 billion Coolimba power project, two weeks after Aviva's plans were cruelled by its failure to win a critical power supply tender run by state-owned retailer Synergy.

Paladin Energy has lowered its production guidance for 2009/10 as the ramp up of its two uranium mines in Namibia and Malawi was slower than anticipated but has outlined expanded growth targets for future production.

Centamin Egypt will delist from the Australian Securities Exchange due to the high costs for a shareholder base that accounts for less than 15 per cent of the miner's share capital.

Miner Mount Gibson Iron has reached a $US30 million settlement with former customer Sinom, after Sinom did not accept scheduled shipments last year.

Troy Resources is forging ahead with capital raising plans, today placing its shares in a trading halt despite protests from former chairman John Jones.