Mining

The state’s resources industry has applauded Federal Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce’s public opposition to the WA Nationals’ planned mining tax changes, which drew return fire from Brendon Grylls.

Iron ore miner BC Iron has confirmed a $25.5 million capital raising backed by major shareholder Kerry Stokes to fund work at its Buckland project and pay off debt.

Local explorer Empire Resources is set to begin operations at its Penny’s Find gold project near Kalgoorlie, after contracting NRW Holdings to undertake mining operations at the open pit.

Perth-based contractor Macmahon Holdings has flagged a hit to its earnings for the year after terminating its contract in Nigeria and incurring losses at Newcrest Mining’s Telfer gold mine in WA.

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management has been appointed by the corporate watchdog to sell a portion of shares in Sovereign Gold Company held by former Applabs Technologies directors which were found to have been acquired invalidly.

Curtin University has announced a collaboration agreement with Victora-based Gekko Systems to commercialise new technology designed to make gold processing more efficient.

Mozambique-focused graphite explorer Metals of Africa has recruited former Atlas Iron boss David Flanagan as its new chairman.

BHP Billiton expects renewable energy to grow at the higher end of expectations but says non-renewable fuels will remain the lowest cost sources in major energy markets for the foreseeable future.

Troubled iron ore miner BC Iron has sold its majority stake in the Nullagine joint venture to Fortescue Metals Group for just $1, along with some royalty payments.

Eastern Goldfields has withdrawn its $6 million share subscription agreement proposal put forward to Windward Resources, following Independence Group’s $20.5 million takeover bid lodged last week.

Two different proposals from the Western Australian government to change the way Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton pay an iron ore charge is already damaging the state's reputation as an investment destination, a business lobby group says.

Subiaco-based minerals explorer Avanco Resources has signed an earn-in agreement with Canadian Jaguar Mining for the Gurupi gold project in Brazil, while Spitfire Materials has acquired 100 per cent of a gold project in Western Australia.

Perth-based Lithium Australia has announced plans to raise up to $12.6 million to fund ongoing exploration work at a number of its projects.

Pilbara Minerals plans to expand its Pilgangoora lithium portfolio with the acquisition of Dakota Minerals’ Lynas Find project for up to $8 million.

Continuing investment in major resources projects nearing completion contributed $35 billion to the Western Australian economy in 2015-16, around two thirds of Australia’s resources investment spend in the year, according to the Department of Mines and Petroleum.

Independence Group has put forward a $20.5 million bid for emerging nickel play Windward Resources, competing against a previous deal put forward by Michael Fotios’s Eastern Goldfields.

Mining software supplier Micromine has promoted Claire Tuder to the role of director and chief executive while also establishing an advisory board with two industry veterans.

RCR Tomlinson managing director Paul Dalgleish is no longer a substantial shareholder in the engineering group after selling $5.2 million worth of shares.

Mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton say they have no intention of taking up the state government's offer to change how they pay the controversial iron ore lease rental that Nationals WA leader Brendon Grylls wants to hike.

Heavy earthmoving equipment supplier Emeco Holdings has shrugged off a credit rating downgrade from Fitch Ratings, with managing director Ian Testrow saying the market should focus on the big picture of the company’s merger and restructuring plan.

The board of national mining equipment supplier Bradken has backed a $688 million cash takeover offer from Japan’s Hitachi Machinery Construction Co.

The state government has given its tick of approval for Rio Tinto to develop more iron ore deposits at the mining giant’s Western Turner Syncline operation near Tom Price.

A company has been fined $110,000 over the death of a worker at a mine in Western Australia's East Pilbara region.

Decmil Group has won three contracts worth about $34 million, with two of the contracts awarded to a joint venture established with a local engineering business owned by former Horizon Power boss Rod Hayes.

Western Australia’s largest indigenous contractor has parted ways with chief executive Jeff McGlinn, less than a year after the former NRW Holdings boss was lured out of retirement.

South32 Australian chief operating officer Ricus Grimbeek has pointed to the company's share price performance against BHP Billiton to show that its assets shouldn't be considered poorer quality, speaking at a WA Mining Club lunch today.

Perth-based gold explorer Breaker Resources has confirmed a $12.4 million capital raising to fund ongoing work at its Lake Roe project near Kalgoorlie.

Gold Road Resources has been given the green light to build an accommodation village and an access road at its Gruyere gold project, which it says will cost about $18 million.

Investors have reacted well to news that gold-focused companies Echo Resources and Metaliko Resources will merge in a deal worth $38.9 million.

A couple of smaller miners that rode out the slide in iron ore prices could be the early movers in a more widespread revival in the sector.

Echo Resources and Metaliko Resources are expected to announce a tie-up this week, after the two ASX-listed companies with assets in the eastern Goldfields region announced trading halts today.

Perth-based private mining contractor Barminco has posted a 30.7 per cent rise in operating profit for the 2016 financial year, with the company optimistic about prospects in the gold sector for the year ahead.