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Rio Tinto has announced a $143m investment to establish a research and development (R&D) facility in Western Australia, to advance its BioIron process for low-carbon ironmaking. 

Following successful trials in Germany, the new facility will scale up the innovative ironmaking process, which utilises biomass and microwave energy to convert iron ore into metallic iron during steel production. The pilot plant awill be ten times the size of the German prototype and marks the first semi-industrial scale trial of the process. 

The BioIron method has the potential to slash carbon emissions by up to 95% compared to traditional blast furnace techniques.  

Rio Tinto highlighted the steel industry’s significant carbon footprint, which accounted for 69% of the company’s scope 3 emissions in 2023. It added that the BioIron process, a result of a decade of research by Rio Tinto’s steel decarbonisation team, consumes around 33% of the electricity of other renewable hydrogen-based steelmaking processes.

Mining equipment maker Sandvik has announced a partnership with contract miner Byrnecut to develop diesel-electric loaders and trucks. The goal is to enhance sustainability and productivity in underground mining operations. 

Diesel-electric machinery offers several advantages over traditional diesel-powered equipment, including the absence of a torque converter, fewer rotating parts, and a more flexible design. These features contribute to reduced maintenance needs and operational costs while maintaining high availability. This initiative seeks to tailor equipment to Byrnecut’s specific requirements and optimise its underground activities. 

Initially, the alliance will see the partners establishing a shared vision for the optimisation of diesel-electric machines owned by Sandvik to meet Byrnecut’s operational needs. Byrnecut will then contribute to the design process and offer feedback during various stages of testing, including pre-factory, operational, and trial phases.

Rio Tinto and BHP are collaborating to test battery-electric haul truck technology in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. This initiative aims to expedite the deployment of this sustainable technology in mining operations. 

The two companies will partner with manufacturers Caterpillar and Komatsu to independently trial their battery-electric haul trucks. The testing will focus on battery performance, as well as static and dynamic charging systems, to evaluate their efficiency and productivity. 

Two Cat 793 haul trucks are to be tested in the second half of 2024 while two Komatsu 930 haul trucks will undergo trial from 2026. The trials will take place at different sites within Pilbara. 

This joint effort is aligned with the commitments of BHP, Rio Tinto, Komatsu, and Caterpillar to achieve net zero operational greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Kincora Copper has announced that it has been granted the exploration licence for the Wongarbon Project in the central region of New South Wales, Australia. 

This project is located on the northern extension of the Macquarie Arc, which is known for its porphyry geology and is considered a globally significant exploration opportunity. 

The licence encompasses an area of 173km² within the Wongarbon Magnetic Complex, which is believed to be analogous to the systems hosting several significant mines in the region. These include the former Newcrest-owned Cadia mine, Evolution Mining‘s Cowal and Northparkes mines, and Alkane Resources’ Boda-Kaiser deposits.  

The potential of the Wongarbon Magnetic Complex was initially identified by Newcrest as a large-scale target. However, the area remained untested due to Newcrest’s prioritisation of the Cadia Far East and Ridgeway discoveries at the time.

Black Cat Syndicate has obtained the necessary funding to refurbish the processing facility and restart mining at the Paulsens gold mine in Western Australia. The company secured firm commitments for a $36m (A$54.27m) placement from institutional and sophisticated investors, priced at $0.27 per share. 

Black Cat noted that the placement was backed by existing shareholders and new institutional investors from North America and Australia.  

This placement will be executed in two tranches, with the first tranche involving the issuance of 75.7 million new shares to raise $20.4m by 13 June 2024. The second tranche will see the issuance of 57.6 million new shares, raising an additional $15.6m, contingent on shareholder approval. 

Directors of Black Cat will contribute to the investment, adding $3.8m on the same terms as the placement.