Archived News for Industry Professionals
A central Queensland coroner has made 24 recommendations to address fatigue on roads and in the mining industry.
Coroner Annette Hennessy has handed down her findings relating to two separate road crashes in central Queensland involving coal miners driving home from work, making 24 recommendations to address road accidents.
She found driver fatigue was a possible factor in both crashes, but bad weather was a major contributor to a crash that claimed two lives near Yeppoon in 2005. The other crash was near Dysart in 2007.
Minerals Council calls for economic reform agenda
The mining boom is highlighting capacity constraints and masking underlying structural weaknesses in Australia’s economy, according to the Minerals Council of Australia’s Pre-Budget submission to the Federal Government.
Carbon price mechanism plan announced
The Prime Minister Julia Gillard has outlined the Government’s carbon price mechanism, which it plans to establish mid next year.
Draft strategy on national freight network released
The Federal Minister for Transport, Anthony Albanese, has released a draft strategy on developing a national freight network to integrate road, rail, ports and airports.
Federal Government approves Australia Pacific LNG Project
Tony Burke, Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, has approved, with strict environmental conditions, the Australia Pacific LNG project at Gladstone proposed by Origin Energy and ConocoPhillips.
Report finds safety and health improvements in Queensland’s mining industry
The Queensland Government has released its annual Queensland Mines and Quarries Safety Performance and Health Report, which shows improvements across most key measures of safety and health during 2009–10.
Location changes approved for Caval Ridge mine accommodation villages
The Queensland Government’s Coordinator-General (CG) has approved changes to the size and location of accommodation villages servicing the $4 billion Caval Ridge Mine project.
Queensland CSG industry watchdog operational
Queensland’s new LNG Enforcement Unit, established by the Queensland Government to monitor the emerging CSG-LNG industry, is up and running, headed by Andrew Brier.
NSW Coal and Gas Strategy under development
The NSW Government has released a scoping paper seeking input from the public and key stakeholder groups to guide the preparation of a NSW Coal and Gas Strategy.
Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics to be established
The Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism (DRET) has announce the decision to create a new professionally independent unit, to be known as the Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics (BREE).
Rio Tinto Gove leases renewed
The Northern Territory Government has renewed leases held by Rio Tinto Alcan on the Gove Peninsula, extending most leases for a further 42 years..
Ferguson supports uranium exports to India
The Labor Party needs to modernise its policy and allow uranium to be exported to India, federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson says.
WA plea for boom-time jobs
Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett has held a meeting with the leaders of the state’s resources industry to try to convince them to award more work to local manufacturers and contractors.
SA funds mining industry training
The South Australian Government is providing $3.6 million over the next four years to boost training in the State’s mining industry.
Noetic releases report into PPTEP oil spill incident
The Australian government has put Thai company PTTEP Australasia on notice for 18 months, but allowed to keep its offshore oil and gas exploration and production licences in Australia following receipt of an independent review of the company’s action plan following the Montara oil spill incident in the Timor Sea in 2009.
Rio Tinto approves extension of Marandoo iron ore mine
Rio Tinto has approved a $919 million investment to extend the life of the Marandoo iron ore mine by 16 years to 2030.
Analysis shows extent of flood-related coal loss
The first industry-wide analysis of lost coal production resulting from severe flooding in Queensland has reinforced the gravity of the disaster on the economy.
Airborne survey produces world first
Newly acquired data from an Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) survey has revealed geological features to depths below the Earth’s surface well beyond any previously recorded by airborne systems.
Cougar Energy puzzled by UCG site closure
Cougar Energy says it cannot understand why the Queensland Government shut down its underground coal gasification (UCG) site on environmental grounds when breaches have occurred at coal seam gas projects.
Kanmantoo copper mine to open later this year
Construction is on track for the Kanmantoo copper mine in the Adelaide Hills to reopen later in the year.
Mining by-products effective in fight against algal blooms
CSIRO research has shown that some mining by-products can be effective in preventing nutrients from entering river systems, thereby reducing the potential for algal blooms.