Mining

Minister Bill Johnston says his department is having its own trouble recruiting staff to process exploration approvals, in response to industry calls for faster lead times to access ground.

Posco's plan to build a hot briquetted iron plant in Port Hedland is advancing, while other South Korean businesses are weighing WA hydrogen investments, according to Alannah MacTiernan.

Seasoned mining executive Neil Biddle will return to ASX-listed minerals processor TNG as non-executive chair, nine years after leaving the company to join Pilbara Minerals.

Geologist and mining executive Craig Williams, who led the rise of Equinox Minerals to a $US7 billion success story, has announced he is retiring from all boards of ASX companies.

Plans to build the $4 billion-plus Balla Balla iron ore project are still progressing, with backers seeking federal environmental approval for a 45 million tonne per annum port facility.

Compass Group is hoping to expand its Kambalda East accommodation for mine site workers with a $30 million addition.

Queensland-based Thiess has won a $700 million contract to provide mining and maintenance services on Fortescue’s new Iron Bridge magnetite project in the Pilbara.

The shortage of workers in the resources and infrastructure sectors will peak at 84,000 in two years’ time and would be worse if not for project cancellations, Pit Crew has found.

Keen to leave a rocky FY22 behind, St Barbara is leveraging its Leonora gold assets as central to any consolidation play in the region, as negotiations with Genesis Minerals continue.

Northern Star Resources will buy up to $300 million in shares back from investors over the next 12 months.

Andrew Forrest has lauded outgoing iron ore boss Elizabeth Gaines as one of Australia’s most inspiring leaders as the miner prepares to navigate new challenges and pick up the pace on renewables.

Contractor Decmil still hopes to sell its Homeground Accommodation precinct in Queensland within a year, providing a major boost to working capital.

Mineral Resources has formally commenced its $3 billion Onslow iron ore project and flagged further rapid growth in the business while also reporting a sharp fall in annual profit.

The former boss of Indigenous mining contractor Cundaline Resources has accused the company of unfairly sacking him and failing to pay out his shares.

Andrew Forrest’s Wyloo Metals will make its first move into rare earths by backing ASX-listed aspiring producer Hastings Technology Metals for $150 million via a convertible notes arrangement.

A contractor of failed builder Pindan claims its decision to work on Rio Tinto’s $90 million Gudai-Darri mine camp has cost it $3 million, as it gears up to claw back the facilities it supplied.

The Amanda Lacaze-led miner is celebrating a record profit on the back of higher rare earths prices ahead of a year of big investment into expanding production capacity.

Wesfarmers boss Rob Scott has announced a “solid” full-year profit, and expressed concern about labour shortages and cost uncertainty affecting new investments, but is positive about next week's jobs summit.

Shares in Strike Resources fell 22 per cent following a decision to put iron ore deliveries on hold due to lower commodity prices, despite celebrating its maiden shipment this week.

Mining Minister Bill Johnston has vowed to safeguard the state’s tenements register amid backlash from industry and legal professionals over a court ruling that threatens to nullify a host of permits.

A probe has cast doubt over AvidSys's ability to repay $1.3 million to contractor Decmil after it was revealed the company's debts exceed $26 million.

Mount Gibson Iron has disclosed that repairs to its Koolan Island processing plant will take at least four months, affecting its planned increase in iron ore sales.

BCI Minerals will defer awarding any new contracts to construct its $1.2 billion salt and potash project in light of ongoing inflationary pressures.

Iluka Resources has recorded a 185 per cent leap in net profits amid falling global supply options for mineral sands, but says future sales could be bound by production capacity.

Westgold Resources has braced investors for a hefty write-down across several assets ahead of its full-year results this week, mirroring a similar update by fellow mid-tier Ramelius Resources.

Growing demand for lithium raw materials has boosted Pilbara Minerals’ sales revenues by more than $1 billion in 12 months, delivering the company’s first full-year profit.

Claims of insider trading and delivering $8 million in contracts to associates have been lobbed by MinRes against sacked manager-turned-’whistleblower’ Steven Pigozzo.

Perenti Global will pocket $5.4 million after selling a stake in its technology business idoba to Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation.

A Pindan contractor allegedly left $1 million out of pocket by the company’s collapse is now pursuing Rio Tinto for the cash, demanding it hand back the facilities at Gudai-Darri.

OreCorp has talked up the prospects for its Nyanzaga gold project in Tanzania despite revealing a big increase in expected pre-production capital costs.

MACA has reported a $42.8 million net profit due to a strong pipeline of work across WA’s resources sector, but is providing few details on the status of a much-discussed takeover.

Gold Road Resources has bumped up its stake in De Grey Mining to nearly 20 per cent via Credit Suisse but says a takeover attempt is not on the cards yet.