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.
BHP Billiton is believed to be formally preparing to test the waters for a potential sale of its failed $US2.2 billion Ravensthorpe nickel mine, near Hopetoun.
Opposition spokesperson Alannah MacTiernan has called for the removal of BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto representatives on port authority boards due to constant conflict of interest.
Premier Colin Barnett says the government will consider looking at stamp duty legislation as he prepares to meet with BHP Billiton boss Marius Kloppers tomorrow over the Pilbara merger with Rio Tinto.
THE third attempt in a decade to merge the iron ore assets of BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto could resolve this issue for good, with Premier Colin Barnett seemingly prepared to negotiate over a long list of demands.
BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto will set up a production joint venture comprising all of their iron ore assets in Western Australia, in a move expected to save them billions of dollars.
BHP Billiton has taken further steps to develop its Yeelirrie uranium deposit near Wiluna, immediately attracting criticism from environment groups but winning support from the pro-uranium state government.
Around 240 employees and contractors at BHP Billiton's Leinster nickel operations will be affected by the company's decision to halt activities at the Rocky's Reward open pit mine.
BHP Billiton says it Yeelirrie uranium project could be the state's first uranium mine as it works closely with government agencies over an appeals process.
Nickel miner Western Areas is seeking new offtake deals for 2010 onwards after allowing BHP Billiton to take Norilsk Nickel's share of concentrate until the end of the year.
The state government says it will order work to stop at any BHP Billiton mines where workplace breaches are found, after five recent deaths at the company's Pilbara iron ore sites.
Nickel producer Western Areas has signed an offtake and $45 million financing agreement with BHP Billiton, with the funds earmarked for mine development and plant expansion.
BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers has admitted the Ravensthorpe nickel operation was not the "finest investment decision" as the miner reported a 56.5 per cent drop in first half profit.
BHP Billiton could redeploy some of the sacked workers from its Ravensthorpe nickel mine to its iron ore operations in the Pilbara, as the miner confirms that it will buy back 60 houses in the Hopetoun area.
BHP Billiton has reportedly made a series of commitments to the unemployed mine workers from the Ravensthorpe nickel operation, including the redeployment of up to 200 former employees.
Premier Colin Barnett has reportedly indicated the government could buy back some houses in the Ravensthorpe and Hopetoun areas following BHP Billiton's decision yesterday to close its nickel operation.
BHP Billiton has today announced plans to cut 2100 jobs in Western Australia as it suspends operations at its Ravensthorpe nickel mine indefinitely and scales back production at its Mt Keith nickel mine on the back of a falling metal price.
Shares in BHP Billiton have climbed higher despite a report the miner could close its Ravensthorpe nickel mine and some 700 employees may lose their jobs.
BHP Billiton says it will focus on brown-field expansion projects including its Western Australian iron ore operations, to help carry it through the current economic uncertainty.
BHP Billiton's approval to proceed with further expansion works at its Pilbara iron ore operations has proved to be a boon for Macmahon Holdings, which today secured a $50 million contract with the miner.
BHP Billiton has emerged from its decision to dump a $100 billion-plus takeover for rival Rio Tinto Ltd with 'buy'recommendations from analysts, while Standard & Poor's has maintained its rating for Rio but warns of a downgrade.
The value of BHP Billiton's Ravensthorpe and Yabulu nickel operations have been written down by $US2.1 billion ($A3.3 billion), which equates to three quarters of its total investments in the related projects.
BHP Billiton will go ahead with its iron ore expansion works, today approving its $US4.8 billion ($A7.5 billion) Rapid Growth Project 5 for its Pilbara operations.
MIGRATION is such a broad ranging and complex issue that it needs to be concentrated in a single arm of government, the recent WA Business News migration forum was told.
Perth-based engineering firm, GRD Minproc has been awarded an ore processing technology contract on the world's largest uranium deposit and a world scale copper and gold resource, BHP Billiton's Olympic Dam Expansion Project.
THE expansion of existing iron ore projects, and the commissioning of new mines, is expected to increase pressure on the Pilbara's already squeezed port and rail infrastructure.
BHP Billiton's iron ore and associated port operations have been suspended until further notice following the death of a 19 year-old man at the Yandi mine site late yesterday.
Capacity at Port Hedland's inner harbour is set to increase to cater for the iron ore expansion projects by BHP Billiton, which today secured an agreement with the state government.
Transfield Services has secured a $120 million three-year contract to provide asset management services to BHP Billiton Nickel West in Western Australia.
Contrary to media reports, plans for development of a multi-user outer harbour facility at Port Hedland do not depend on a commitment by BHP Billiton Ltd to develop a new export facility.
BHP Billiton Ltd is close to sanctioning another stage of its Pilbara iron ore expansion but chief executive Marius Kloppers kept quiet on plans to build an outer habour in Port Hedland.
BHP Billiton Ltd is expected to restart rail and port activities at its Nelson Point operation shortly after a 52 year old employee was killed on site yesterday.
