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Western Australia (WA) has launched a trial aimed at evaluating a new authorisation process for low-impact mining activities in the state’s mining sector.

The government aims to simplify the approval process for eligible mining activities that present minimal environmental risk and do not take place in sensitive regions.

This approach will ensure that such activities remain under a stringent regulatory framework, while increasing efficiency within the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS).

The initiative is part of the Fast-Tracking Mining Approval reforms introduced in 2022 and is set to continue until the framework is fully implemented later this year.

Throughout this period, the DEMIRS will review Programmes of Work under the Mining Act that satisfy the eligibility criteria within a single business day.

“This trial promises greater clarity and certainty for proponents to invest in new mineral exploration projects and will also free up departmental resources to prioritise compliance and more complex approvals,” commented Neil van Drunen, acting CEO of the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies.

The Albanese Labor Government has committed to building Australia’s future with a record A$2bn ($1.23bn) investment in the Australian-made aluminium industry.

Central to this effort is the introduction of a new Green Aluminium Production Credit, which will support Australian aluminium smelters transitioning to reliable, renewable electricity before 2036. 

Under this credit, facilities will be eligible for support for every tonne of clean Australian-made aluminium produced over a period of ten years.

The initiative aims to instil confidence in local aluminium smelters, encouraging them to invest and paving the way for more well-paid, secure jobs within Australia’s world-class aluminium sector.

It not only promises economic benefits for Australia but also aims to significantly reduce emissions.

BHP has awarded a joint venture of Fluor Australia and Hatch the engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contract for the proposed expansion of the company’s copper smelter and refinery facilities in South Australia.

The contract will be carried out in phases as BHP moves towards a final investment decision for the expansion, which is expected in the first half of 2027.

The first stage of EPCM activity involves an investment of more than A$40m ($24.9m) to guide strategy and planning through the project’s study phases.

In 2024, BHP outlined a pathway to almost double copper production in South Australia to deliver up to 650,000 tonnes annually from the mid-2030s.

Phase one of the expansion involves upgrading the current smelter and refinery at Olympic Dam to a two-stage smelter, as well as expanding refinery facilities to a capacity capable of producing more than 500,000 tonnes per annum of copper.

The Cook Government has announced funding to research rare earth extraction in WA, aiming to establish a new rare earth province in the region.

The initiative seeks to unlock significant high-value critical mineral resources, offering advanced processing opportunities for emerging industries.

The Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA) has allocated $175,000 to geological firm RSC Consulting to collaborate with Narryer Metals, Dreadnought Resources, Terrain Minerals, Pluto Resources and Curtin University’s Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer programme.

This research will build on previous MRIWA-supported studies that identified valuable rare earth elements (REEs) and strategic elements, like gallium and niobium, in WA’s clay-hosted mineral deposits.

The new study will focus on deposits in the mineral-rich Yilgarn region. Future stages may include establishing test facilities and exploring the potential for processing and purification of REEs.

Vertex Minerals has initiated the commissioning of a newly installed ore sorter/pre-concentrator at its Hill End Gold plant at the Reward gold mine in Australia.

The new sorter utilises TOMRA LASER sorting technology to improve gold recovery rates. The integration of this advanced sorting system is expected to enhance the plant’s efficiency and sustainability.

Vertex believes that the adoption of ore sorting technology will have a positive impact on the sustainability and profitability of operations at Reward.

The Reward gold mine has reported a 79% reduction in mass and a 337.2% increase in grade for particle sizes ranging from 8mm to 50mm.

By processing significantly higher-grade ore post-sorting and reducing the volume of feed tonnes, the plant can achieve reduced running time, operator hours and energy and water consumption, according to the company.