ENCOURAGING signs from two key biofuels players points to a potential recovery for the sector, recently besieged by rising feedstock costs and plant commissioning problems.
Trade opportunities The Western Australian Trade Enquiry Service is operated by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA with the support of the WA Government's Department of Industry and Resources.
Initial study results into Heron Resources' Kalgoorlie nickel project has estimated capital costs at $US1.5 billion ($A2.2 billion) and a projected mine life of 34 years.
VDM Group is expecting a better second half performance after forecasting its first half profit to fall to $3 million, prompting its shares to fall by as much as 63 per cent in trade today.
The tax office has warned mining companies to be cautious before entering into arrangements that allow for immediate deduction claims for future obligations to rehabilitate a mine site.
ZIRCON producer Australian Zircon has appointed Michael Kiernan (pictured) as a non-executive director. Mr Kiernan has mining expertise, both at an operation and management level.
BROCKMAN Resources managing director Wayne Richards has taken advantage of the recent upswing in the company's share price, exercising 1 million options in the money.
Kalahari Minerals has filed documents in the Supreme Court of Western Australia over the appointment of newly elected Extract Resources director John Main.
Fortescue Metals Group has agreed to settle a shipping contract dispute with the issue of $US22 million ($A34 million) worth of shares and has entered into a shipping joint venture.
Straits Resources will raise nearly $80 million through a convertible notes issue to the Standard Chartered Bank and has been granted an 18-month, $25 million senior debt facility by the bank.
Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group has booked a $1.1 billion net profit in its first full half-year of mining, though in line with previous periods its result has more to do with accounting adjustments than mining operations.
Nickel miner Independence Group has booked an unaudited net loss of $1.2 million for the December quarter following a $7 million write-down in investments and exploration expenditure.
Nickel miner Albidon has reached an agreement with a private investment fund for a capital injection of up to $40 million through a convertible notes issue.
Mineral sands hopeful Image Resources has signed a deal with a Chinese organisation to investigate results from its North Perth Basin project and may lead to a joint venture.
West Perth-based Tap Oil says it expects to be generating revenue at near full capacity in the coming months following the Varanus Island incident, as quarterly production jumps 42 per cent.
OZ Mineral says it will book a small loss in carrying value from the sale of its stake in Nyrstar NV for $33 million as it details where 1200 job cuts were made.
Coordinator of Energy Jason Banks will chair a new committee that will review the state's gas supplies and examine ways to improve the management of energy emergencies.
Falling commodity prices during the December quarter has increased the payback amount by Kagara to its offtake partners as the miner delivers another period of record copper production.
Mining services company Imdex is banking on the oil and gas sector to help it through the mining downturn as it calls off an acquisition deal for Australian Drilling Specialities.
THE days of widespread gender bias in the corporate world is generally considered a thing of the past, with a growing number of women rising through the ranks in both the public and private sector.
AS the world's financial woes spread to affect most commodities and industries, gold's status as a traditional safe-haven investment has helped to boost the sector.
