SPECIAL REPORT: Discussion about a sale of Western Power is taking place against a backdrop of rapid technological change in the sector, as networks brace for an onslaught of competition from battery storage.
Rio Tinto has announced the 50th anniversary of its first contracted iron ore shipment from the Pilbara, as debate continues around the adequacy of its royalty payments and the legacy for indigenous people in the region.
Engineering group RCR Tomlinson has won a $120 million contract to build processing infrastructure at Rio Tinto's Silvergrass iron ore mine in the Pilbara.
The share market has closed only modestly higher, despite US markets hitting record levels overnight, weighed down by weakness from market heavyweights Westpac and Telstra.
Brendon Grylls was something of a change-agent when he got the Royalties for Regions policy implemented, but his plan to tax iron ore tonnages has business worried.
The Australian share market has closed slightly higher, with the big banks holding up the bourse in light trading following a weak lead from US markets
Brendon Grylls has snatched back leadership of the WA Nationals and will press the Barnett government to support his plan to slug BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto with a $5 per tonne mining tax.
A move flagged by National Party leadership challenger Brendon Grylls to effectively double the rate of the royalty paid by the state's two biggest iron ore miners would make Western Australia one of the most punitive jurisdictions for taxes on production of the commodity.
ANALYSIS: Politics and business never mix well, which is something the state government is about to discover with news that former Nationals WA leader Brendon Grylls is eyeing a return to his party's top job.
Local innovators and resources industry professionals, including Karara Mining, Barminco and Fortescue Metals Group, were recognised at two separate awards ceremonies held this week.
Rio Tinto says it will spend $US338 million developing its Silvergrass iron ore mine in the Pilbara, on the same day it disclosed a slump in underlying earnings and dividend payments.
Spotless Group has secured a long-term extension to its management contract at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre after committing to invest $50 million and take full responsibility for the PCEC's core assets.
Iron ore shipments contributed more than $45 billion to the Western Australian economy in the 12 months to June, a figure well down on last year, according to BNiQ, despite a pick-up in volumes by the state's major producers.
Digital entertainment system business Swift Networks has won a contract to provide its services to Rio Tinto's Jerriwah Village near Tom Price, for an undisclosed sum.
Perth-based IT firm Velrada has announced a $10 million contract to support the expanding Pilbara operations of global facilities management company Sodexo.
Peter McBain has stepped down as chief executive of mining and civil contractor Brierty after a series of financial and operational setbacks, and will be replaced by the company's chief operating officer.
A fuel supply system at Rio Tinto's Cape Lambert port and work on a loading jetty at Ichthys's Darwin LNG facilities are among $140 million of contracts recently won by Monadelphous.
A task-based risk assessment was not performed before a drill fitter was fatally crushed while working on a rig at Rio Tinto's Channar mine in the Pilbara.
Rio Tinto has maintained its 2016 guidance for iron ore shipments at 350 million tonnes after lifting June quarter volumes by 6 per cent from a year ago, helped by expanded infrastructure and unwinding of stocks in Western Australia.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service today received $23.7 million from the state government's Royalties for Regions program to help fund additional and replacement aircraft as well as developments at its Broome facilites.
Mt Gibson Iron has received preliminary Environmental Protection Authority approval for development of its Iron Hill deposits northeast of Dalwallinu, although there is still some process to go before work can begin.
A former Choice Industrial Training employee has been fined nearly $2,300 after being found guilty of falsely assessing candidates for high-risk work licences.
A ramp-up of iron ore exports has lifted annual throughput at Port Hedland to a new record of 460.4 million tonnes, with the combined Pilbara Ports Authority tracking for a figure of 633.5mt per year.
Rio Tinto's decision to shelve development plans for its $US20 billion Simandou iron ore project in Guinea could risk the project falling into the hands of a Chinese competitor.
Perth-based contractor NRW Holdings has built on its relationship with Queensland miner Middlemount Coal, winning a $25 million extension to its contract.
Kwinana's future as an important centre of value-added mineral processing is being threatened by a potential double closure of major projects – the BHP Billiton-run nickel refinery and the Alcoa of Australia-operated alumina refinery.
The Australian dollar gold price hit an all-time record of $1,826 an ounce today after Britain elected to leave the European Union, with shares in local gold miners rallying strongly even though the broader stock market tumbled more than 3 per cent.
Telstra is branching out into the resources sector, hiring two mining experts and buying a mining communications services business from Brisbane-based CBO Telecommunications.
Rio Tinto has announced a new executive team in a major reorganisation that will include iron ore boss and one-time CEO hopeful, Andrew Harding, leaving the mining giant.
