Orica, Yara to build WA ammonium nitrate plant

Mining services provider Orica has joined forces with mineral fertilizer producer Yara and explorer Apache to build a $800-million ammonium nitrate plant in Western Australia. The 330 000 t/y plant would be completed by the end of 2015, and would...

WA starts procuring land for Anketell Port

The Western Australian state government has moved to assemble the land required for the proposed Anketell Port, some 30 km east of Karratha and 10 km from Cape Lambert. Premier and state Development Minister Colin Barnett said on Wednesday that...

Woodside sells $2bn stake in Browse project

Australian oil and gas miner Woodside Petroleum has sold off a $2-billion stake in its Browse liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, in Western Australia, to Japan Australia LNG (MIMI). MIMI would take a 16% interest in the East Browse joint...

WA approves Rio's town plan

The Western Australian state government has approved diversified miner Rio Tinto’s A$300-million plan to expand the town of Wickam. The expansion of the town formed part of Rio’s plans to increase iron-ore output through the Cape Lambert port...

Barnett to support mining tax challenge

Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett has vowed to support any High Court challenge to the mineral resources rent tax (MRRT), after Parliament passed the legislation on Monday night. “If there is a High Court challenge, the state government...

WA approves A$400m Rio Tinto railway line, power investment

The Western Australian state government on Thursday cleared the way for a A$400-million rail and power investment by diversified giant Rio Tinto. Premier and State Development Minister Colin Barnett reported that the government had granted Rio a...

Apache plant boosts WA gas output 20%

Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett officially opened oil and gas explorer Apache Energy’s Devil Creek gas plant over the weekend, saying the investment in domestic gas production was important for the state’s economic future. The...

WA outlines plan to improve port efficiency as exports boom

The Western Australian government on Thursday outlined plans to reform the state’s ports in an effort to ensure that the wealth generated by the increased commodity exports delivered benefits to the state. Under the plan proposed by Transport...

Mining Indaba Schedule

New WA rental valuation policy for land affected by mining

The Western Australian Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) has welcomed the local government’s adoption of a state-wide policy to rate land affected by mining, petroleum and resource interests. Premier and State Development Minister Colin...

Chevron breaks ground at Wheatstone

Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett on Thursday hailed the start of site works at US major Chevron’s $29-billion Wheatstone liquefied natural gas (LNG) project as an exciting milestone for the state. At the groundbreaking ceremony at the...

Mitsubishi to buy Murchison stake in JV for A$325m

Shares in Murchison Metals soared more than 50% on Thursday on news that the company would sell its interest in the Crosslands and Oakajee Port and Rail (OPR) project vehicles to its joint venture (JV) partner. Japan’s Mitsubishi agreed to buy...