Shares in West Perth-based Otto Energy have surged higher today after it signed a farm-in option deal with BHP Billiton over an oil project in the Philippines, some 10 months after the initial agreement lapsed.
BHP Billiton has boosted NRW Holdings contract value for work at the Rapid Growth Project 5 by $105 million, taking the total amount to close to $200 million for the mining services company.
Shares in BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto have dropped as the mining giants enter the next stage of merging their Pilbara iron ore assets, expected to deliver more than $US10 billion in savings.
BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto are remaining quiet over their proposed Pilbara iron ore joint venture, a day before a binding merger agreement is due to be delivered.
BHP Billiton has given the go-ahead to a $US152 million ($A177 million) investment to enhance the processing of ore at its Mount Keith nickel operation in the eastern Goldfields.
Development of BHP Billiton's $1 billion Macedon domestic gas project off Exmouth has moved closer, following the formal start of front end engineering and design work.
BHP Billiton has settled almost a quarter of its total iron ore volumes at the newly agreed benchmark prices while one-third will be sold at spot and index-based prices.
BHP Billiton Iron Ore and World Vision have teamed up to form a $5 million partnership to boost care and health activities for pre-school aged children in the east Pilbara.
The state mining engineer has ordered BHP Billiton to carry out an independent engineering study at its Perseverance nickel operation following the second rock-fall incident in less than a month.
BHP Billiton is believed to be formally preparing to test the waters for a potential sale of its failed $US2.2 billion Ravensthorpe nickel mine, near Hopetoun.
IS the commercial centre of the Pilbara moving west? BHP Billiton's proposed merger of its iron ore operations with those of Rio Tinto is the latest indication of the dynamic shift under way in the north-west, one that will tend to favour Karratha as the
Opposition spokesperson Alannah MacTiernan has called for the removal of BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto representatives on port authority boards due to constant conflict of interest.
Premier Colin Barnett says the government will consider looking at stamp duty legislation as he prepares to meet with BHP Billiton boss Marius Kloppers tomorrow over the Pilbara merger with Rio Tinto.
THE third attempt in a decade to merge the iron ore assets of BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto could resolve this issue for good, with Premier Colin Barnett seemingly prepared to negotiate over a long list of demands.
WHEN Celebrate WA announced Western Australia's Citizen of Year awards for 2009 two weekends ago the presence of the University of Western Australia would not have escaped the attention of many.
BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto will set up a production joint venture comprising all of their iron ore assets in Western Australia, in a move expected to save them billions of dollars.
BHP Billiton has taken further steps to develop its Yeelirrie uranium deposit near Wiluna, immediately attracting criticism from environment groups but winning support from the pro-uranium state government.
Around 240 employees and contractors at BHP Billiton's Leinster nickel operations will be affected by the company's decision to halt activities at the Rocky's Reward open pit mine.
BHP Billiton says it Yeelirrie uranium project could be the state's first uranium mine as it works closely with government agencies over an appeals process.
Nickel miner Western Areas is seeking new offtake deals for 2010 onwards after allowing BHP Billiton to take Norilsk Nickel's share of concentrate until the end of the year.
The state government says it will order work to stop at any BHP Billiton mines where workplace breaches are found, after five recent deaths at the company's Pilbara iron ore sites.
Nickel producer Western Areas has signed an offtake and $45 million financing agreement with BHP Billiton, with the funds earmarked for mine development and plant expansion.
BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers has admitted the Ravensthorpe nickel operation was not the "finest investment decision" as the miner reported a 56.5 per cent drop in first half profit.
BHP Billiton could redeploy some of the sacked workers from its Ravensthorpe nickel mine to its iron ore operations in the Pilbara, as the miner confirms that it will buy back 60 houses in the Hopetoun area.
BHP Billiton has reportedly made a series of commitments to the unemployed mine workers from the Ravensthorpe nickel operation, including the redeployment of up to 200 former employees.
Premier Colin Barnett has reportedly indicated the government could buy back some houses in the Ravensthorpe and Hopetoun areas following BHP Billiton's decision yesterday to close its nickel operation.
