Mining

State parliament today passed legislation to broaden the gas specifications of the state's main gas pipelines, removing a key obstacle to BHP Billiton's plans to develop the $1 billion Macedon gas project off Exmouth.

The Foreign Investment Review Board has given the green light for a Chinese entity to take a controlling interest in Perth-based Moly Mines, in a $US200 million deal that was first unveiled a month ago.

Murchison Metals-backed iron ore miner Crosslands Resources has significantly boosted the proposed scale of its Jack Hills iron ore development north-west of Meekatharra in the Mid West.

Heavy equipment sales and rental company Emeco expects its 2010/11 earnings to be at the lower end of its earnings guidance of between $46 million and $53 million on the back of a stronger Australian dollar.

Gold and base metals explorer, Rubianna Resources has launched an initial public offer of 30 million shares at 20 cents each to raise $6 million to embark on drilling and exploration programmes across nine Mid West projects.

Gold exploration company Cortona Resources has announced plans to raise $10.3 million to accelerate the development of its Dargues Reef gold project in New South Wales.

Former Environmental Protection Authority chairman Barry Carbon has today been appointed to the board of Bauxite Resources, which is currently awaiting approval for its bauxite operation from the Department of Environment.

A revitalised Macmin Silver will list on the local stock market tomorrow as Alcyone Resources, a year after it fell into administration on the back of the global financial crisis.

Subiaco-based Allied Gold has revealed plans to raise up to $C155 million ($A158 million), its second major capital raising for the calendar year.

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.