Mining

Perth-based gold explorer Primary Gold will raise up to $2.4 million for its Toms Gully mine at the Mt Bundy gold project in the Northern Territory with its appointed lead manager Patersons Securities to underwrite up to $1 million to the rights issue.

Bulletin Resources has enlisted its major shareholder Matsa Resources to acquire up to a 75 per cent interest for its Halls Creek gold projects in a $4.4 million binding term sheet.

Downer EDI has been awarded an $80 million contract for electrical work at Rio Tinto's Yandicoogina iron ore mine in the Pilbara.

Forge Group shares have risen on news it has secured a $40 million contract, helping to repair an 80 per cent single-day nose dive in late November when it announced a $127 million profit writedown on two power stations.

Leighton Holdings subsidiary Thiess has won a $570 million four-year contract extension on a coal mine owned by Wesfarmers.

BHP Billiton will slash up to 200 jobs after closing its underground nickel mine in Western Australia due to safety fears.

Oil prices have jumped after armed protesters in Libya refused to lift a months-long blockade of key oil terminals in the eastern part of the country.

Resources companies will turn to foreign workers to service $200 billion worth of oil and gas projects in the coming years unless there is greater investment in skills training, a new report has warned.

A group of large industrial gas users has urged Premier Colin Barnett to stand firm in insisting the Woodside-led Browse gas project is developed onshore.

Senex Energy has withdrawn its $752 million takeover offer for fellow Australian oil and gas producer AWE.

Freight rail operator Aurizon says no extra jobs will be lost as it shrinks the size of its rail fleet and finalises the termination of a Queensland project.

Woodside Petroleum boss Peter Coleman would love to pull off a big overseas deal and set his company up for years of strong growth.

Decmil Group has been awarded a contract extension worth up to $80 million for works on the Queensland Curtis Liquefied Natural Gas project.

Woodside Energy has opted to partially extend a leasing agreement at the Aspen Karratha Village after Aspen agreed to upgrade the facility.

Liquefied Natural Gas Limited has raised nearly $11 million to progress development at its Magnolia LNG project in Louisiana, while at the same time announcing it had appointed BNP Paribas as its p

Swick Mining Services has been awarded contracts for underground diamond coring at MMG’s Golden Grove and Rosebery mines.

Perth-based GR Engineering Services has diversified from mining into the oil & gas sector, with the purchase of Melbourne company Product Solutions for $5.75 million.

Oil prices have sunk in London on the expected return of Libyan crude to the market while US prices edged higher.

Nedlands-based potash explorer Reward Minerals has copped a speeding ticket from the ASX after its shares soared more than 56 per cent higher in the space of a week.

The Fraser Range near Norseman has yet again cemented itself as an exploration hospot, with junior base metals explorer Classic Minerals shares soaring on the ASX today on news of a substantial new

Shares in Perth-based oil and gas explorer Kinetiko Energy have tanked after the company emerged from a trading halt with news of a heavily discounted share placement.

Perth-based Xstate Resources have dropped their target of gaining 100 per cent control of Bombora Energy in an amended heads of agreement that will see them acquire 75.9 per cent of the shares on issue.

FEATURE: A diverse array of privately held and public-listed companies is angling to become the next success story in the onshore oil and gas sector.

Chevron has announced a second cost increase and further delays to its giant Gorgon gas project, with the budget now set at $US54 billion.

Gold prices have slipped after a bipartisan US budget deal soothed fears of a year-end budget crisis, sapping some of the recent investor appetite for the haven asset.

Oz Minerals has capped off a horror year with a disappointing update on its copper and gold reserves, which caused another share price plunge.

Atlantic chairman and managing director Michael Minosora has predicted a doubling in production volumes this month, as the vanadium and iron ore miner moves toward breakeven on its operating cash flow.

Engineering and construction company VDM Group will look to strengthen its balance sheet through an $18.7 million capital raising, with the company's major shareholder H&H Holdings contributing $9 million to the finance boost.

BHP Billiton is backing the US gas boom to continue and says exports from there could start within three years, which could be bad news for Australia's rival projects.

South Perth-based Alcyone Resources is on the hunt for new investment opportunities after securing a $25 million credit facility with New York investment management firm Platinum Partners.

Mining giant Rio Tinto is still trying to find out what caused a toxic spill at its Rossing Uranium mine in Namibia - the company's second major radioactive incident this month.

Subiaco-based gold explorer Ampella Mining has recommended its shareholders approve a proposed $41 million off-market takeover bid from Egypt-focused miner Centamin.