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Carnegie Corporation has entered into a deal with energy retailer Synergy to supply electricity from its wave energy project off Western Australia.

Oil and gas giant Chevron has set aside over $A35 billion towards capital and exploration spending worldwide in 2009, including Western Australia's Gorgon, Wheatstone and North West Shelf projects.

The shortage of skilled tradespeople and contractor prices in the housing sector has eased in Western Australia, according to a key industry survey.

Nickel miner Independence Group has booked an unaudited net loss of $1.2 million for the December quarter following a $7 million write-down in investments and exploration expenditure.

Nickel miner Albidon has reached an agreement with a private investment fund for a capital injection of up to $40 million through a convertible notes issue.

Mineral sands hopeful Image Resources has signed a deal with a Chinese organisation to investigate results from its North Perth Basin project and may lead to a joint venture.

West Perth-based Tap Oil says it expects to be generating revenue at near full capacity in the coming months following the Varanus Island incident, as quarterly production jumps 42 per cent.

OZ Mineral says it will book a small loss in carrying value from the sale of its stake in Nyrstar NV for $33 million as it details where 1200 job cuts were made.

A plunging nickel price over the past six months could all but wipe out Independence Group's half year earnings as the miner releases its estimates.

The expansion of Kalgoorlie's Super Pit gold mine has been approved after Acting Environment Minister John Day signed off on the expansion under a new set of stringent environmental conditions.

Miner Panoramic Resources has implemented a number of cost cutting measures to maintain sustainability in a weak nickel price environment.

A federal committee has endorsed a High Court decision related to the collapse of WA miner Sons of Gwalia that allows certain shareholders to rank equally with creditors.

The Office of Energy has recommended a 55 per cent increase in small business electricity prices, even higher than the increase it proposed in a draft report released last year.

Coordinator of Energy Jason Banks will chair a new committee that will review the state's gas supplies and examine ways to improve the management of energy emergencies.

The federal government's proposed changes to industrial relations laws could cause long-term financial harm to the state's businesses, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA explained to a Senate inquiry today.

West Perth-based Green Rock Energy, ARC Energy and Worsley Alumina are some of the preferred applicants chosen by the state government to harness geothermal energy in the Perth Basin.

Sirtex Medical says it is continuing to pursue the recovery of its legal costs and expenses of over $5.5 million as proceedings against the University of Western Australia and Bruce Gray approaches its third year.

Falling commodity prices during the December quarter has increased the payback amount by Kagara to its offtake partners as the miner delivers another period of record copper production.

Shares in industrial software provider ISS Group have slumped 32 per cent as the downturn forces the company to withdraw its profit guidance, cut jobs and a proposal to scrap the interim dividend.

Mining services company Imdex is banking on the oil and gas sector to help it through the mining downturn as it calls off an acquisition deal for Australian Drilling Specialities.

Shares in Wesfarmers have slipped today as the company launches the retail component of its capital raising efforts in a bid to reduce its debt position.

Malaga-based Advanced Engine Components has received a $1.2 million order for its natural gas vehicle system kits from Chinese company Aussen Engine (Dalian) Co.

Treasurer Troy Buswell has flagged further cuts in government spending as ratings agency Moody's warns the state's AAA credit rating will be at risk should the budget slide into deficit.

THE reduction in the number of engineering-based projects under way or in planning as a result of the downturn has alleviated the skills shortage, but care should be taken not to lose staff from the sector when the pendulum swings again.

The Science and Innovation Council review presents a creative opportunity.

CONSULTING engineers have joined the Western Australian business community in calling on the state government to implement a long-term strategic infrastructure plan.

Australia is at a crossroads with regard to its energy policy and faces some tough decisions in coming years.

DESPITE the belt-tightening currently being experienced across all industries, including the engineering sector, designers and developers say sustainable design remains key.

THE announcement this month that Citic Pacific will pay $US585 for 75 petajoules of natural gas is important, not just because it underwrites the Devil Creek project in the Pilbara and a potential new supply of domestic gas, but also because we get to see

BUSINESS brokers say the fear of retrenchment, tightening credit conditions and the search for strong cash flows are driving the market, as buyers and lenders continue to tread with caution.

LOCAL engineering firms were bombarded with calls from underprepared local councils at the end of last year seeking assistance in applying for the federal government's infrastructure handouts.

Barack Obama looks set to follow a different foreign policy path than his precessor