Mining

Ausdrill-Barminco joint venture African Underground Mining Services has won a US$375 million underground mining services contract at AngloGold Ashanti’s Obuasi project in Ghana.

Indigenous contractor Gumala Enterprises has secured a series of new contracts, including with iron ore miners Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton, worth a combined $15 million.

The Takeovers Panel has ordered the sale of a $60.1 million stake in gold miner Tribune Resources, along with updated disclosure from some of the company’s major shareholders.

Alkane Resources is set to take an $8 million stake in takeover target Explaurum via a share placement that breaches the conditions of Ramelius Resources’ hostile bid.

An $8.7 million deal between local mining companies Tungsten Mining and GWR Group has hit a roadblock, after the ASX said the sale could not go ahead.

Bellevue Gold (formerly Draig Resources) has boosted its coffers with a $15 million share placement to fund exploration work at the company’s Bellevue project near Leinster.

Mining logistics company Bis has launched its new mine haulage vehicle, Rexx, which has been designed and built in-house in Perth.

Government and business must involve trade unions to develop plans to train Australia’s workforce for the increased presence of automation, according to Siemens Australia chief executive Jeff Connolly.

Mineral Resources has suffered a minor delay in the construction of its $610 million lithium concentrate processing plant at the Wodgina project in the Pilbara.

Kidman Resources has announced plans to integrate the studies for its proposed Kwinana lithium refinery and Mt Holland mine near Southern Cross into a singular project, while also securing a $US100 million ($140 million) debt facility for the project.

Barminco has secured a four-year contract extension for underground mining services at Independence Group’s Nova operation in the Fraser Range.

Andrew Forrest-led Fortescue Metals Group has reported an 8.6 per cent fall in first-quarter iron ore shipments as pollution curbs in China reduced demand for its lower-grade ore.

Black Rock Mining has detailed a capital expenditure of $US115 million ($162 million) for the first phase of its Mahenge graphite project in Tanzania, with plans to begin construction next year.

Cassini Resources and OZ Minerals have appointed GR Engineering Services to complete an engineering study for their joint venture West Musgrave copper-nickel project in Western Australia.

Zenith Energy will incorporate a solar facility in its existing diesel power station at Independence Group’s Nova operation in the Fraser Range, taking capacity to 26 megawatts.

Talison Lithium and Global Advanced Metals have reached an in-principle settlement deal in their legal dispute over expansion plans for the Greenbushes mine.

Clive Palmer has launched legal action against CITIC over environmental rehabilitation funds for the massive Sino Iron project in WA, just days after his estranged Chinese joint venture partner started separate litigation.

SPECIAL REPORT: Acquisitions and pricing discounts are shaking up the rankings of WA’s main iron ore exporters.

SPECIAL REPORT: Gold Corporation, Alcoa, Roy Hill and Chevron have all posted higher revenue numbers in Business News’ annual analysis of WA’s biggest exporters.

BCI Minerals has sold its Kumina iron ore project in the Pilbara to Chris Ellison-led Mineral Resources for $35 million.

GR Engineering Services has secured a $US17.6 million contract ($25 million) to design and build a processing plant for Strandline Resources’ Fungoni mineral sands project in Tanzania.

Nickel producer Western Areas has given the green light to develop its Odysseus project following completion of a definitive feasibility study, which detailed a capital cost of $299 million.

The Environmental Protection Authority will receive a $3.3 million funding boost to deal with a recent spike in proposals in Western Australia, with the government also announcing plans for a scheme to allow the outsourcing of some assessments.

Kidman Resources says development of its planned Kwinana lithium refinery and Mt Holland project near Southern Cross will cost up to $US755 million ($1.06 billion) and generate about 700 jobs.

Barminco has been awarded a four-year extension to two mining services contracts at Gold Fields’ Agnew mine near Leinster, worth a combined $335 million.

Vanadium-focused QEM, which features experienced mining executive Daniel Harris on its board, began trading on the ASX today after completing a $5 million initial public offering.

Mineral sands aspirant Sheffield Resources has attributed a $115 million capital cost increase at its Thunderbird project to changes in the scope of work and the infrastructure ownership model.

Cheryl Edwardes and Rick Crabb know better than most what it takes to steer a troubled business through a ‘near-death’ experience.

A group of dissident shareholders led by former director David Sproule are seeking a board spill at gold-aspirant Kin Mining, including the removal of new chief executive Andrew Munckton.

Burswood-based Alkane Resources has invested $3.7 million in gold explorer Calidus Resources, with the proceeds to fund completion of a pre-feasiblity study at the Warrawoona project in the Pilbara.

Vector Resources has secured a $US35 million ($50 million) debt facility with Dubai-based conglomerate Fast Telecom to fund the acquisition of a gold project in Africa.

BHP says its first-quarter iron ore production has risen eight per cent on strong Chinese demand for high-grade ore, while nickel output fell due to a fire at Nickel West's smelter in Kalgoorlie.