Mining

WHAT impact does a mission statement for your business/organisation have on the performance of your people? Does it make them get out of bed any quicker on Monday mornings?

FAMILY-OWNED and run Thrifty WA last month celebrated 30 years as one of the state's most successful vehicle rental companies.

MANY technology and innovation conferences in Western Australia have a sub theme that can be summed up as 'life after the resources boom', but the chair of next week's Leading Lights conference has a different focus.

Perth-based Mirabela Nickel Ltd has drawn down the full $70 million loan from Russian company Norilsk Nickel.

West Perth-based Centaurus Resources Ltd has offloaded most of its Australian assets to Clancy Exploration Ltd for $300,000 in a bid to focus on its portfolio of projects in Brazil.

Shares in Subiaco-based Rox Resources Ltd have risen 13 per cent on news that its Myrtle zinc-lead project contains over $4 billion of zinc and lead.

Engineering company Neptune Marine Services Ltd has finalised a $35 million acquisition of its second offshore construction vessel, with $7 million worth of contracts already locked in.

Brokerage Hartleys has downgraded its recommendation for Macmahon Holdings Ltd from Buy to Hold due to relative valuation.

The state's ranking as the nation's riskiest territory for mining investment comes as "no surprise", the Chamber of Minerals and Energy said.

Engineering firm Clough Ltd has secured a further $20 million in work for its vessel, Normand Clipper in the Gulf of Mexico for Apache Corporation and Oceaneering International.

The potential merger between CBH Resources Ltd and Perilya Ltd will have to go ahead without the Mount Oxide copper project, after formal agreements were executed for the $20 million scrip sale.

Emerging producer Atlas Iron Ltd expects to disclose its off-take arrangements shortly as it today received the final environmental approval for its Pardoo iron ore project in the Pilbara.

Apex Minerals NL said it is "judicious" to implement a hedging project to protect its exposure to the Australian dollar gold price over the next three years.

West Perth-based Equinox Minerals Ltd has secured a new $103 million loan facility, underwritten by a banking syndicate, for its Lumwana copper project in Zambia.

After teething problems with its processing plant, uranium miner Paladin Energy Ltd has achieved full production during the September quarter at its Langer Heinrich mine in Namibia.

Subiaco-based Poseidon Nickel Ltd will sack at least nine workers after the company said yesterday it had suspended work at the underground Mt Windarra Nickel Project in the Goldfields.

The global financial turmoil has hit the Andrew Forrest-chaired Poseidon Nickel Ltd, with the company suspending mining activities at its Mt Windarra underground mine in the Goldfields.

Grange Resources Ltd will pocket more than $13 million in cash after it agreed to sell a 30 per cent stake of its Southdown magnetite iron ore deposit to Sojitz Resources and Technology Pty Ltd.

WESTERN Australia formally lost its bid to host a multi-billion dollar liquefied natural gas plant on Friday, with Japanese company Inpex Ltd and project partner Total E&P Australia announcing Dar

WHILE the September quarter could best be described as a dismal one for initial public offers, the number of Western Australian firms listing on the stock market has largely remained steady compared with the previous quarter.

Bass Metals Ltd’s registered office has been changed to: 16 Thelma St, West Perth 6005. Postal address and contact numbers remain the same.

THE Note’s family got the suitcase out and started packing when we heard Rio Tinto’s train drivers were pulling $140,000pa. How good can you get it?

IT has been a tough past few months for companies looking for extra cash, with the surge in market volatility causing investors to further tighten the purse strings.

Autodom Ltd Scott Mutton has been appointed non-executive director following the resignation of Zelko Lendich.

CHINA continues to dominate Western Australia’s export focus, generating more than $16 billion in revenue in 2007-08, according to figures from the Department of Industry and Resources.

Brockman Resources Ltd has signed a native title agreement over its Pilbara iron ore project, putting it on track to achieve first production late next year.

Balcatta-based Perseus Mining Ltd has estimated capital costs for its gold project in Ghana to cost $220 million as the definitive feasibility study remains on track for completion in April next year.

Brisbane-based Norton Gold Fields Ltd will move to acquire the remaining shares in West Perth-based Bellamel Mining Ltd after its friendly takeover offer closed yesterday.

Mount Gibson Iron Ore Ltd has today confirmed that is not involved in any discussions with any parties concerning a takeover.

Brokerage Hartleys has upgraded its rating for Ausdrill Ltd to Buy after Macmahon Holdings Ltd allowed its takeover bid to lapse.

Perth-based CGA Mining Ltd expects to start producng gold from its $250 million Philippines project in the first quarter of next year as construction of the operation runs ahead of schedule.

Impairment losses and write-downs of inventories has hit mineral sands miner Matilda Minerals Ltd, which posted a full year net loss of $17.3 million for fiscal 2008, up from the previous year's net loss of $3.1 million.