Cimic Group‘s mining unit Thiess has secured a letter of agreement for a $104.8m (A$155m) contract to provide mining services to Minera Centinela’s Llano copper project in Chile. 

Minera Centinela is a joint venture between Antofagasta Minerals (70%) and Marubeni (30%). Under the contract, which is planned to commence this month, Thiess will be responsible for mining operations, maintenance, and asset management services at the greenfield copper mine.

BHP is set to trial the use of renewable fuel at its Yandi iron ore operations in Western Australia to help power mining equipment. 

As part of the trial, the firm will use renewable diesel made from hydrotreated vegetable oil, which is supplied through a collaboration with BP. During the initial three-month trial period, the renewable diesel is to be used in haul trucks and other mining equipment.

Australian firm PNX Metals has secured environmental approval for its Fountain Head gold project located approximately 170km south of Darwin, Northern Territory. 

The approval has been issued by the Northern Territory’s Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water Security under the NT Environment Protection Act 2019. The environmental approval completes the environmental impact statement process for the Fountain Head project.

Lynas Rare Earths subsidiary Lynas Malaysia has renewed its operating licence for a period of three years, effective 3 March 2023. 

Located in the Gebeng Industrial Estate near Kuantan, Malaysia, close to the Kuantan deep-water port, the Lynas Malaysia rare earths separation plant is equipped to treat the Mt Weld concentrate and produce separated rare earths oxide products.