Energy

Two Perth-based resource companies have today entered deals to acquire assets in South Africa with Continental Capital acquiring a coal mine for $24 million while Coal of Africa will buy the remaining interest in a coal company.

Perth-based Coal of Africa has executed binding agreements that will see it take full ownership of a South African coal company.

VDM Group has sold the surplus assets of its subsidiary Civmec, including the name, for more than $2 million as part of the group's restructure and consolidation strategy.

LNG boom big boost to economy; Karoon Gas 'bullish' on Browse Basin project; Investors sweat on Fortescue update to $400m costs drive; Stokes' power play tipped to escalate; China shuts the door on diplomats

BHP Billiton has today confirmed that it will start the formal evaluation of divestment as a potential future option for the Ravensthorpe nickel mine.

Ratings agency Standard & Poor's has upgraded its long- and short-term corporate credit rating for Rio Tinto following the completion of the $US15.2 billion ($A19.5 billion) rights issue.

China claims proof on Rio 'spy'; ANZ roasted on almonds; Firepower boss faces criminal charges; Stokes No 2 after fresh Packer raid; Thiess wins second big Gorgon deal

West Perth-based oil and gas explorer GB Energy has launched legal action against wave energy developer Protean Power and two of its directors over an earn in agreement.

West Perth-based Range Resources will go ahead with plans to raise $2.5 million which will be used to fund a new deal with a UK company over two oil and gas blocks in Georgia.

Booze business shows the hypocrisy of regulations used to curtail competition.

AS the Kevin07 campaign swept Labor into power almost two years ago, Australia's economy was riding high on a commodities and property boom underpinned by cheap debt.

RESEARCH undertaken at Curtin University has opened the door to potentially massive cost savings for oil and gas explorers around the globe.

Samsung wins $3.5bn Collie project PERDAMAN Chemicals and Fertilisers, the company behind the $3.5 billion urea plant near Collie, has awarded an engineering and construction contract to Samsung Engin

THE first $1 million is always the hardest to earn, or so the saying goes.

A new era of industrial relations has begun, but many believe the system takes Australia back 20 years.

THE first ripples of a dramatic restructure of energy giant Shell's global business have reached Perth as the company seeks to slash its cost base, stay competitive and speed up its project development decision-making.

East Perth-based Coretrack has flagged its intention to assess potential merger and acquisition opportunities as part of plans to increase the company's presence in the global energy sector.

An anti-uranium alliance has stepped up calls for a public inquiry into BHP Billiton's "secretive" Western Australian uranium mine, Yeelirrie.

Western Australian helicopter company Heliwest has secured a contract for BHP Billiton's Rapid Growth Project 5 in the Pilbara.

Nickel miner Western Areas has locked in a two-year offtake agreement with China's Jinchuan Group, which will buy up to 25,000 tonnes of nickel from the Forrestania operation in Western Australia.

Political pressure claims on Gorgon gas prices; Mining slump hits states; Funds attack fees with passive aggression; Oil giants accused of skimming; Bosses face new IR laws on bias

Wesfarmers' fertiliser subsidiary CSBP has entered into a new gas supply arrangement with Apache Corporation following a confidential settlement over a dispute relating to the Varanus Island gas explosion.

Wesfarmers has announced changes to its senior management team with Tom O'Leary appointed as managing director of the group's energy division and Tim Bult to look after the business development arm.

Union takes on Pilbara giants; Woodside push on Browse leases will test Ferguson; PM too defensive on China: Keating; Plan to upgrade skills for recovery; Future Fund urges Telstra board change

Woodside Petroleum says a report claiming a cost blowout at the Browse gas development offshore Western Australia to $50 billion is "simply wrong".

The state mining engineer has ordered BHP Billiton to carry out an independent engineering study at its Perseverance nickel operation following the second rock-fall incident in less than a month.

Oil and gas major Shell is one of three international companies selected to supply technology to Perdaman Chemicals and Fertilisers' proposed $3.5 billion Collie urea project.

Auditors 'misled' in Great Southern scandal; Unions defy PM's restraint call; China buckles on iron price; Browse gas plant in cost blowout; Shoppers answer the stimulus call

It is not that Perth dealmakers are joining the dole queues, they have just had a little more time on their hands recently.

THE state government has pledged to fast-track new gas specification legislation that is critical for development of BHP Billiton's $1 billion Macedon domestic gas project.

Union push for 6pc wage rise; Mid-West broadband rollout fast-tracked; Rio plays hard ball at ore talks; Suitors like the look of Lady Annie; Raisings and Rio give deal makers reason to celebrate

Work on the near $1 billion Southern Seawater desalination plant near Binningup will start in three weeks after the state government today signed contracts with the Spanish-led consortium building the project.