Mining

Sinosteel Midwest Corp may be forced to revise its iron ore project in the Mid West after Western Australia's environmental authority recommended that mining not proceed at one of three proposed sites.

West Perth-based explorer Forte Energy, formerly Murchison United, plans to raise $10 million through institutional investors to advance its uranium projects in West Africa.

Explorer West Australian Metals plans to raise up to $9.9 million in a bid to secure cornerstone investors for its Marenica uranium project in Namibia.

Straits Resources has entered a $5 million all-scrip option deal to offload its Whim Creek processing plant in the Pilbara to Sydney-based Finders Resources.

BP has entered a deal to sell gas from an offshore Western Australian gas field to Shell and then buy it back as liquefied natural gas after it has been processed through the Gorgon LNG project.

Fortescue Metals Group has recorded a gross profit of $US497 million ($A618 million) during the nine months to the end of March 2009.

Takeover target Bonaparte Diamond Mines has recommended shareholders reject a bid by Union Resources, deemed fair and reasonable by independent experts, in favour of the Minemakers offer.

Uranium explorer Bannerman Resources has unveiled a $37.5 million capital raising plan with commitments already received for up to $30 million.

Shares in Nedlands-based explorer Reward Minerals have slumped after the National Native Title Tribunal ruled the company cannot access its Lake Disappointment potash project.

Shares in West Perth-based Carnarvon Petroleum have risen after the company discovered oil as part of joint appraisal well in Thailand.

Subiaco-based Deep Yellow will team up with Toro Energy to explore uranium tenements in Namibia.

Fortescue Metals Group will make an upfront payment of $32 million and restructure a shipping arrangement as part of a settlement to a dispute with a shipping company.

IN just two years, Pilbara Access Management Solutions WA has increased its turnover 14-fold, from $1.

WOODSIDE Petroleum has entered a deal with Apache Corporation for the supply of gas from two Western Australian fields for a second processing train at its Pluto liquefied natural gas facility.

Environmentalists are pitching a new approach to conservation – across a region bigger than England.

ILUKA Resources has received final regulatory approval for its $420 million Jacinth-Ambrosia mineral sands project in South Australia, which allows mining to begin.

THE senior executive team at Wesfarmers has agreed to a salary freeze for two years and will forego individual bonuses potentially worth a collective $4.5 million.

Six Western Australians have made it into the top 20 of the 2009 BRW rich list with iron ore heiress Gina Rinehart taking the state's number one spot from iron magnate Andrew Forrest.

Cash-strapped Maximus Resources has put its assets up for sale, including its stake in the Windimurra uranium deposit in WA, as it resigns itself to the belief it will not be able to raise enough funds to develop its first major mine.

The first ever national audit of the resources export chain has found key infrastructure shortfalls in Western Australia's $59 billion minerals and energy sector.

Rio Tinto has agreed to a "realistic" cut of more than a third in iron ore prices with Japan's biggest steel maker, as its customers face up to challenging market conditions.

West Perth-based Catalpa Resources has cleared the final hurdle for the development of its $92 million Edna May gold project in Westonia after receiving final environmental approval.

An infrastructure sharing deal struck earlier this year has substantially lowered start up costs for Atlas Iron's next operation with the Wodgina iron ore mine expected to cost under $10 million.

Trading of Extract Resources shares have been halted as the South Perth-based company reveals it is in another dispute with its major shareholder Kalahari Uranium.

Australasian Resources is considering selling its non-iron ore assets after a merger with Clive Palmer's Resource Development International was called off.

Fox Resources is aiming to generate cash in the short-term after it launched test work on nickel and copper ore stockpiles at its Pilbara operation, which was placed on care and maintenance last year.

South Perth-based Cooper Energy says it has had to reduce oil production from a new well in South Australia after reaching production capacity at nearby fields.

A fairly uncommon wine blend from WA winery, Houghton Wines has taken out top honours at a prestigious wine show in London.

Oil and gas explorer Red Fork Energy has raised $5 million through a placement to fund the development of its projects in Oklahoma.

Shares in Vmoto have soared after the company secured a $US23 million ($A30 million) deal to supply 30,000 scooters to Vietnam.

West Perth-based Continental Capital has taken a further step towards establishing itself as a coal producer after securing a $20 million debt facility and a deal to acquire two more coal assets.

Heron Resources has suffered a blow with Brazilian mining giant Vale withdrawing from the $2 billion Kalgoorlie nickel joint venture, leaving the West Perth-based company looking for a new partner.