Mining

The state government has approved Canadian miner Cameco’s proposed Yeelirrie uranium mine in the Goldfields, despite its failure to meet one of nine Environmental Protection Authority recommendations.

Gold-focused Kalamazoo Resources has wrapped up its first day of trading on the ASX, after completing a downsized $5 million initial public offering.

Subiaco-based Regis Resources has delivered its highest quarterly production result since September 2014, yielding 80,090 ounces in the second quarter of 2017.

Business News sat down to lunch at Julio’s with the CEO and managing director of Decmil Group, Scott Criddle, who says building relationships is an important part of his role.

Cliff Lawrenson has wrapped up his tenure as managing director of phosphate and fertiliser-focused Avenira, after accepting the top job at iron ore miner Atlas Iron last month.

Doray Minerals chairman Peter Lester has told the company he will retire on Monday to focus on his other business interests, less than two months after founding managing director Allan Kelly resigned.

Shares in BC Iron closed 20 per cent higher today after the Perth-based iron ore junior announced record quarterly earnings from its Iron Valley mine.

Aspiring miner Dacian Gold has started construction of its Mt Morgans project near Laverton, after finalising regulatory approvals and locking in a $150 million funding deal over the Christmas break.

Padbury Mining has again attracted regulatory attention, with the company acknowledging it should have notified the ASX when it negotiated potential capital raisings worth $106 million with a Hong Kong-based investor last year.

Junior gold miners Ramelius Resources and Saracen Mineral Holdings have posted solid quarters, with Ramelius achieving its production targets for a 12th consecutive quarter.

Mineral sands producer Iluka Resources has scaled back a proposed accommodation camp at the planned Cataby project near Cervantes in a move to reduce capital costs as it works to complete a feasibility study.

Ahead of a looming April deadline for a $US212 million convertible bond repayment, uranium miner Paladin Energy has announced a proposal to restructure its balance sheet by converting some debt into equity, extending the maturity date of the remaining amount, and undertaking a $US75 million capital raising.

Toro Energy has joined Vimy Resources in gaining state government approval for its uranium project expansion plans, however Environment Minister Albert Jacob is yet to make a decision on the more contentious Yeelirrie uranium mine proposal put forward by Cameco.

An improved performance by some of the state’s miners boosted the Business News index of listed Western Australian companies, the BN30, to finish almost 19 per cent higher over the year (2016).

December throughput was higher at the state’s major north-west ports, with the Pilbara Ports Authority reporting nearly 60.5 million tonnes of cargo passing over its docks in the month, up 12 per cent on the same time in 2015.

Lithium play Neometals has joined the share register of Sydney-based Estrella Resources, at the same time that company completed its acquisition of Mt Edwards Lithium, which has tenements in Western Australia.

Mid-tier iron ore miner Atlas Iron has repaid $54 million of debt to reduce its term loan to $118 million, amid expectations in will be in a net cash position by the middle of the 2017 calendar year.

Lithium exploration at Forrestania, north of Ravensthorpe, will be a priority for Marindi Metals after the company completed a capital raising worth nearly $3.2 million.

Peter Bacchus and John Turner have joined the board of Galaxy Resources, while Perth-based Craig Burton has been appointed to the board of NSW company Atrum Coal.

Environmental approvals to allow mining below the watertable have been granted for BC Iron's Iron Valley mine site, in a move that will give the company potential to extend the life of the project.

A $52 million impairment has been taken by Alcoa World Alumina Corporation on its share of the Warro gas project in the Perth Basin, after the company determined exploration results by project operator Transerv Energy did not support the existing carrying value.

The last 10 days of 2016 were a busy period for WA corporate deals, with the Rae family attracting a bumper price for its Gull New Zealand business, Chinese group MMG selling the Golden Grove mine, Diploma Group going into receivership and seven new listings on the ASX.

A number of board members have joined the list of substantial holders at Quest Minerals as the company seeks to raise money amid ongoing court battles, while Steve Formica has been appointed to the board.

Chinese chemical company Shandong Mingrui Group will buy a lithium project in Southern Mali from ASX-listed Birimian Resources in a $107.5 million deal.

The appointment of Richard Homsany as executive chairman at West Perth-based uranium hopeful Toro Energy ties up leadership changes at the company with chairman John Cahill resigning today just a month after managing director Vanessa Guthrie.

Alcoa World Alumina Corporation has locked in a contract to directly export 400,000 tonnes of bauxite from the Huntly mine in Western Australia, as the company continues a move towards shipping of the commodity in unprocessed form.

Israeli authorities placed billionaire businessman Beny Steinmetz under house arrest on Monday over allegations of bribery and corruption in Africa linked to his mining company, BSG Resources (BSGR) a

Ironbark Zinc has been awarded a mining permit for the Citronen zinc-lead project in Greenland, and will now commence advanced development and financing activities.

A Botswana copper mine is one step closer for Mod Resources after the company completed a $5.5 million institutional raising to accelerate the possible T3 development.

The competition watchdog said today it planned to deny authorisation to a proposed partnership between Virgin Australia Holdings and Alliance Aviation Services because it would lessen competition in the West Australian market.

Osborne Park-based contractor Decmil has won a $40 million contract from Rio Tinto for work on the Silvergrass greenfields iron ore mine.

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