Mining

Debt-troubled Paladin Energy has started discussions with some of its stakeholders and convertible bond holders about the looming deadline for a $US212 million repayment, as a cloud hovers over the company’s planned sale of a stake in its Langer Heinrich uranium mine to meet those repayments.

The chairmen of Perth companies South32 and Alexium International Group have singled out global firm Institutional Shareholder Services for criticism amid ongoing debate over the role of proxy advisers.

Privately held tantalum miner Global Advanced Metals has reported a $6.3 million net profit for the year to June 2016, up from a $72.2 million loss in the previous 12 months, while its two Western Australian mine sites remained under care and maintenance.

Fortescue Metals Group has recognised the family of chairman Andrew Forrest by naming four new very large ore carrier (VLOC) vessels after his wife and children.

Former MZI Resources managing director Trevor Matthews has been named chief executive of local graphite hopeful Volt Resources.

Western Areas has locked in its second nickel offtake agreement in as many days, announcing today a deal with BHP Billiton subsidiary Nickel West for product from its Forrestania nickel mine.

Aspiring miner Dacian Gold has launched a $150 million capital raising to fund a big portion of the development costs for its Mt Morgans gold project near Laverton, which is expected to begin operating by 2018.

Mineral sands miner Iluka Resources has cast doubt on its planned $375 million takeover of Sierra Rutile after detecting geotechnical risks at the West African company's tailings dams.

Perth contractor Brierty has confirmed it expects to report a significant uplift in half-year profit after cutting back costs and adopting a ‘back to basics’ strategy.

SPECIAL REPORT: When Fortescue Metals Group chairman Andrew Forrest received his most recent dividend cheque from the company, it brought the total paid out to entities he controls during the past five years to nearly $600 million.

Sundance Resources boss Giulio Casello has taken a big pay cut as the company seeks to cut costs, with the Perth-based explorer also locking in a $1.3 million investment to assist in the search for a partner for its Mbalam Nabeba iron ore project in Africa.

Australia could become the epicentre of global mining if it had more ambition and more competitive tax policies, says the chief executive of mining giant Rio Tinto.

The founding managing director of Doray Minerals has announced his resignation after nearly eight years in the role, citing personal reasons for his departure, with non-executive director Leigh Junk to fill the role until a full-time candidate is found.

Perth-based Valmec has won a $6.6 million contract to provide its services to Saracen Mineral Holdings at the gold miner’s Thunderbox operations.

Global mining giants BHP Billiton and Brazil's Vale have offered new loans to their Brazilian joint venture, Samarco, as it assesses whether it can reopen the iron ore project where a dam disaster killed up to 19 people last year.

Rio Tinto has flagged a possible 2019 start date for construction of its next big greenfields project in the Pilbara, but in the interim will rely on the rollout of its rail automation program and better asset utilisation to drive a major round of productivity improvements.

Pilbara Minerals has further bolstered its board with the appointment of Fortescue Metals Group director of operations Nick Cernotta as an independent non-executive director.

The Environmental Protection Authority has recommended approval of Fortescue Metals Group’s proposed extension plans at its Solomon iron ore operations near Tom Price, subject to a number of strict conditions.

Sydney-based Resources & Energy Group will buy Kidman Resources’ Burbanks gold mine near Coolgardie in a $4.5 million deal announced today, its second Western Australian gold project buy so far this year.

Picton-based Piacentini & Son has won a contract to undertake mining work at Galaxy Resources’ Mt Cattlin lithium project near Ravensthorpe.

Business News sat down to lunch at Julio’s with the CEO of local uranium developer Vimy Resources.

Mining junior Atlas Iron plans to be in production at its planned Corunna Downs project by March 2018, the company announced at its annual general meeting today, while current operations at Wodgina and Abydos will end in late 2017 and early 2018 respectively.

Dacian Gold says it will cost $220 million to bring its Mt Morgans gold project near Laverton into production, which it hopes to do by early 2018.

Aspiring gold miner Gold Road Resources has received the Environmental Protection Authority’s nod of approval for its proposed development of its $507 million Gruyere project near Laverton.

The state government reached a milestone in its asset sales program last night after passing a bill to enable the leasing of Port Hedland's Utah Point, despite opposition from a lobby group representing the miners that currently use the wharf facility. 

Global miner BHP Billiton says it has no clarity over the timing of a potential restart at its Samarco joint venture operation in Brazil, underlining the continuing uncertainty over the business that was hit by a fatal dam disaster last November.

The head of Perth-based Sandfire Resources has sold down a fifth of his stake in the miner, pocketing $6.1 million from the on-market trade.

ANALYSIS: Green shoots are popping up in WA as improved conditions for iron ore and gold, and strong prospects for the upcoming crop harvest, offer sources for optimism.

Global miner Rio Tinto has sacked two top executives who it sidelined last week over their role in a payments scandal related to the Simandou iron ore project in West Africa.

A local company that produces fused zirconia, which is used to make nuclear fuel rods and furnace linings, is on the hunt for processing opportunities to utilise excess capacity at its Rockingham plant.

Poseidon Nickel has landed an agreement for Kidman Resources to use its mothballed Lake Johnston infrastructure to process lithium ore from the Melbourne-based company’s Mt Holland mine, in a deal potentially worth at least $18.5 million.

Retail and mining conglomerate Wesfarmers is considering offloading its east coast coal operations following a doubling of coal prices since June.