Archived News for Industry Professionals

Mineral and Metals Group has commenced its $22 million expansion of its Golden Grove copper open pit operations.

Western Australian company Strategic Marine has staked a claim in the burgeoning Queensland LNG sector, winning two major fabrication contracts with John Holland.


Under the contracts, Strategic Marine will provide design, fabrication and engineering works for John Holland’s material offloading facilities at the Queensland Curtis LNG Project (QCLNG) and the Gladstone LNG Project (GLNG).


The QCLNG and GLNG projects will use world-first technology to process coal seam gas (CSG) into liquefied natural gas (LNG).


Strategic Marine Chairman Mark Newbold said the company’s goal to become a key supplier in the booming Australian resource and energy sectors, both in WA and Queensland was now very much a reality.


"These contracts have enabled us to accelerate plans for establishing a facility in QLD to service the CSG industry, as well as the regional oil and gas industry, including neighbouring countries like Papua New Guinea," Mr Newbold said.


"We have also recently established a new operation in Karratha, in the north west of WA, which will provide clients with rapid response marine services around the clock."


Mr Newbold said Strategic Marine aimed to establish a significant stake in the Fabrication, Engineering and Marine Services sectors through out the Asia Pacific region.


"The board is committed to the diversification of the Strategic Marine Group’s global operations. In fact we are in the final stages of officially launching two new divisions within the organisation, the Marine Service Division and the Fabrication and Engineering Division.


"Each division will provide a number of synergistic benefits to the group, complementing and building on the success of our global ship building division."


Strategic Marine celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, growing from a Geraldton-based crayfishing boat builder to a multi-million dollar Australian marine vessels manufacturer with global operations spanning four countries.

Gasification developer Carbon Energy’s rights issue has raised $8.2 million – a $2.2 million shortfall on the capital raising.

Carbon Energy this week announced it had received applications for 68.7 million shares for a total value of $8.2 million under the 1 for 8 non-renounceable rights issue.

This represents a takeup of 79 percent by shareholders.

The Brisbane-based company said it anticipated placing the shortfall in the next three months, lifting the gross proceeds to $10.4 million.

Funds raised are additional to the $10 million convertible loan facility between Carbon Energy and Pacific Road Capital.

Carbon Energy was incorporated in 2006 as a joint venture between Metex and the CSIRO and Others to develop and commercialise the underground gasification of coal deposits.

The company’s aim is to build a world-class business that produces clean energy and chemicals from UCG Syngas.

Australia Pacific LNG Pty Limited (Australia Pacific LNG) and The Kansai Electric Power Company (Kansai Electric) have signed a binding Heads of Agreement for the sale and purchase of approximately 1 million tonnes of LNG per year for 20 years.

Researchers from the University of Queensland (UQ) are working with the North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation  (NQBP) to create an Australian first “advanced technology” coal terminal Dudgeon Point on the Central Queensland coast.

The Federal Government is divided over the proposal of resuming uranium exports to India, with Prime Minister Julia Gillard announcing her support of the amendment.

Mining giant Rio Tinto is set to become the owner of the largest fleet of driverless trucks after signing a deal with Komatsu.

Without a bold change of policy direction, the world will lock itself into an insecure, inefficient and high-carbon energy system, the International Energy Agency warned as it launched the 2011 edition of the World Energy Outlook (WEO). The agency‟s flagship publication said there is still time to act, but the window of opportunity is closing.

QGC has awarded Transfield Services a $19.5 million contract for gas field work in Queensland’s Surat Basin.

Engineering specialist Ausenco has been awarded the $45 million create phase engineering services contract for the US $1.8 billion Bozashakol copper project in Kazakhstan.

The benefits of the resources boom have reached a peak, with major implications for Australia’s economy, Victoria University economists Peter Sheehan and Bob Gregory have warned.

Mining giant BHP Billiton has finalised an agreement with the Western Australian Government that will see increases to the the royalty rate payable to the State for its iron ore Fines product.

A report that 'thoroughly dismantles' the claim that coal seam gas is a clean energy source has allegedly been suppressed by the company that was contracted to publish it.

Mining and resources company TNG Limited has signed a $13.4 million agreement with China’s Ao-Zhong International Minerals to co-develop the key pilot plant test work as part of TNG's Mount Peake Iron-Vanadium Project in the Territory.

The Western Australian Minister for Environment Bill Marmion has received an independent Appeals Committee report against the Environmental Protection Authority’s (EPA) recommendations against the Vasse Coal proposal.

The Federal Government has successfully passed its carbon tax package through the Federal Upper House, with the legislation due to take effect in July, 2012.

The South Australian Opposition has announced it will back the passage of the Olympic Dam expansion bill, ensuring the legislation’s passage through State Parliament before Christmas.

The Federal Government has introduced the controversial minerals resource rent tax (MRRT) llegislation before parliament, with Acting Prime Minister Wayne Swan describing the legislative package as ‘an historic reform’.

The Minserals Council of Australia (MCA) has published its Economic Impact of the Carbon Pricing Scheme, which addresses perceived ‘shortcomings’ of Treasury’s current modelling.

The University of Queensland has announced plans to establish a new centre of excellence within the Sustainable Minerals Institute for research and education in coal seam gas.