Mining

Lithium miner Neometals has declared a partially franked dividend of 2 cents per share, despite challenging economic times and after the company delivered $45 million to shareholders over the past four years.

BHP will hire 1,500 temporary workers across the country on six month contracts, with at least 400 to be at Western Australian iron ore operations, Business News understands, while Woodside has pledged to cut payment times for contractors.

BHP will start paying invoices from small business suppliers after just seven days and has created a $6 million fund to support labour hire companies affected by COVID-19.

Mineral Resources boss Chris Ellison has struck a deal with his brother Andrew Ellison’s company to sell two of its non-core manganese assets while also providing project funding and mining services assistance.

Engineering and construction contractor Monadelphous no longer expects its revenue to grow by 10 per cent this financial year, saying the economic slowdown and uncertain outlook meant it was unable

More than half of Spectrum Metals shareholders have accepted $208 million takeover by Ramelius Resources, resulting in a wholly unconditional offer.

Civil and mining contractor NRW Holdings has been awarded an airport upgrade contract with BHP at its Olympic Dam project in South Australia.

Hancock Prospecting subsidiary Atlas Iron has awarded a $38 million contract to MACA for early civil work at the Corunna Downs iron ore project in the Pilbara, nearly two months after it was a

Russia-based Nordgold is looking to expand its operations in Africa by making a takeover bid for Cardinal Resources after increasing its stake in the West Perth-based company to nearly 20 per cent.

Horizon Minerals has executed a $4 million loan facility with a German investment group, while also announcing a share placement to raise $2 million to fund the development of its Boorara gold project in Western Australia.

SRG Global has secured a five-year contract with Saracen Mineral Holdings to provide drill and blast services at the Thunderbox and Carosue Dam operations in Western Australia.

Infrastructure group Downer EDI's possible sale of its mining business to Perenti Global has been suspended due to the market volatility caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The federal government today announced significant investments in the energy sector, with the awarding of $69.5 million to two new cooperative research centres, and the launch of the Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre.

Perth-based contractor Decmil has disclosed it will make a provision of between $50 million and $60 million to cover money that is unpaid under its terminated contract with New Zealand’s corrections department, resulting in a loss for the half-year to December 2019.

Emerald Resources has moved closer to developing its Okvau gold project in Cambodia after signing a $US230 million ($A365 million) mining contract with MACA.

Rio Tinto has been ordered to pay long-deferred incentives worth nearly $7 million to its former chief executive Sam Walsh following a formal dispute resolution process.

Gold explorer Anglo Australian has received commitments to raise $5.5 million through a share placement to fast-track exploration at its wholly-owned Mandilla project in Western Australia.

FYI Resources has edged closer to production at its high purity alumina project in Western Australia after completing a definitive feasibility study and securing equity financing with a European investment group.

Australia's largest listed goldminer says it expects to produce around 10 per cent less gold than previously forecast due to underperformance of its mines in Western Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Mineral sands miner Tronox has decided to proceed with a new mine in NSW, leaving its two prospective West Australian mines near Dongara and Cervantes in the development queue.

SPECIAL REPORT: Capital for the junior mining sector is drying up amid growing concern the traditional business model for small explorers is broken.

South32 will continue to explore AusQuest’s projects in Australia and South America after the companies extended their strategic alliance agreement by two years.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, inductees of the WA Women’s Hall of Fame and the winners of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA Women in Resources Awards were announced over the weekend.

Lithium producer Altura Mining has received a three-year extension on its existing $244 million loan facility, but at a price of adding 5 per cent to the total loan amount and issuing additional shares to the lenders.

Perenti Global subsidiary Barminco has received a letter of intent from Canada-based Barrick Gold to provide underground mining services at the Hemlo mine in north western Ontario, under a proposed

The benchmark iron ore price has jumped to more than $US89 per tonne, continuing its month-long recovery, with the resources sector confirming that shipments to China are continuing as usual.

Encounter Resources announced today that mid-tier miner IGO plans to build on their existing partnership by entering a farm-in and joint venture deal in the Paterson Province in the Pilbara.

The amount of money raised by ASX-listed explorers increased by 19 per cent to $1.61 billion in the December quarter, primarily for larger companies with lower-risk projects, according to a new report from accounting firm BDO.

The Australian subsidiary of Spanish engineering contractor Duro Felguera has been placed into voluntary administration after becoming mired in multiple legal disputes related to construction of the Roy Hill iron ore project.

Paladin Energy has received formal approval from the government of Malawi to proceed with the sale of its Kayelekera uranium project to Perth-based Lotus Resources and Lily Resources.

Flinders Mines has gained shareholder approval to progress its Pilbara iron ore project, following months of questioning from minority shareholders over the role major shareholder Todd Corporation would play in developing the project.

Fortescue Metals Group chair Andrew Forrest has purchased an additional $242 million worth of shares in the company, shortly after Perth-based executives of other leading companies, including Peter Coleman, Ian Testrow and Bill Beament, also made big trades.