NewsBite

Peter Ker

This Month

New funder: Western United’s home ground in Melbourne’s far western Tarneit, has a new investor that says it will push development plans for the 62-hectare site.

A-League’s Western United rescued by US investor

US-based Maciek Kaminiski will help the club progress its plans for a multipurpose development, including a new stadium in western Melbourne’s Tarneit.

Alcoa CEO pushes for nuclear and gas, says batteries can’t save smelters

Alcoa chief Bill Oplinger has distanced himself from Rio Tinto’s suggestion that aluminium smelters could run on a mix of renewables and batteries in the future.

April

Rio warns of ‘material uncertainty’ over Bell Bay smelter’s future

Despite six years of negotiations, the mining giant and Hydro Tasmania have not reached a deal over power supply for the aluminum operation beyond December.

Big mining’s decade of inflationary pressure is ending

Market updates from Fortescue, Whitehaven and Stanmore Coal suggest production costs at Australian mines are falling after almost a decade of inflation.

Former Socceroo Steve Horvat is building a field of dreams in Wyndham City.

Ex-Socceroo star’s company pushed into liquidation

Steve Horvat has failed to convince creditors to accept a rescue deal for his company, despite rumours a big A-League payday is imminent.

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Japanese firm set for haircut on NSW coal mine sale

A 32 per cent slump in coal prices in the state over the past year has come at the wrong time for Chugoku Electric as it tries to sell its stake in the Boggabri mine.

The Pleasants Power Station was one of three that Fortescue was considering purchasing.

American billionaire raises Fortescue lawsuit stakes to $300m

Paul Tudor Jones has been pursuing the Forrest-backed mining giant over the failure of a joint venture to redevelop coal and gas power stations in the US.

Home games: a Socceroo, a subdivision and the unpaid super

A struggling plan to bankroll an A-League club with an ambitious residential development is emblematic of the financial challenges facing Australian soccer.

From left: Abra Mining chief financial officer Brendan Shalder and chief executive Matt Hine with Taurus’ Craig McGowan in Perth last week.

Taurus Funds lobs rescue plan for collapsed lead hopeful Abra Mining

The specialist resources lender, which is backed by Regal Partners, says it will also upgrade unsealed outback roads that contributed to the company’s failure.

BHP chief Mike Henry has run the miner for more than five years now.

BHP chief warns of ‘significant’ economic risks from tariffs

Mike Henry says China’s ability to ramp up domestic consumption will determine if Donald Trump’s levies will create a global economic downturn.

President Donald Trump steps out of a red Model S Tesla vehicle on the South Lawn of the White House Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Washington. (Pool via AP)

Trump’s critical minerals tariff probe boosts Aussie miners

Donald Trump could slap tariffs on Chinese rare earths and critical minerals to break Beijing’s dominance on key material for 21st century technology.

The Mount Arthur coal mine.

NSW backs BHP’s early coal mine closure

Decades of coal production will be kept in the ground after the NSW government backed BHP’s plan to shut a mine early and convert to clean energy generation.

A driverless haul truck at work at  Rio Tinto’s Gudai-Darri iron ore mine.

Rio Tinto flags $150m hit amid decade low in iron ore exports

The four cyclones that hit the Pilbara iron ore district have left the miner with a significant repair bill and a weak start to the year, the company says.

ASIC hunts gold mining executives over Russia scandal

A Russian investor was issued millions of dollars of shares in an Australian gold miner without paying for them. Now ASIC is pursuing the executives responsible.

BHP says China demand for iron ore to remain strong for several years

BHP executive Rag Udd says growth in the production of electric vehicles and other machinery in China is supporting the country’s demand for iron ore.

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Board fights and mass resignations: the battle splitting the nation’s geoscientists

A bitter struggle for control of a professional association is proving that diversity, equity and inclusion remains a lightening rod for controversy.

Metals X has decided to suspend operations at its Nifty copper mine.

Glencore seeks taxpayer bailout for Queensland copper smelter and refinery

The Swiss mining giant warned its Mt Isa copper smelter and Townsville copper refinery in Queensland were struggling and required taxpayer support.

Rio Tinto chairman Dominic Barton has battled Palliser’s calls for unification.

Norway’s sovereign wealth fund to vote against Rio Tinto unification

The huge fund intends to vote to keep Rio Tinto’s dual-listed structure, despite other shareholders supporting a bid to review it.

March

Multimillion-dollar Juukan Gorge remedy payments to remain secret

The charity regulator has granted the Indigenous foundation, set up after the destruction of the 46,000-year-old site, permission to redact its revenues.

 BHP chief executive Mike Henry with Ross McEwan, who takes over as chairman of the mining giant on Monday.

BHP’s new chairman Ross McEwan meets investors, reads up on history

The former National Australia Bank chief executive has spent the last few weeks meeting investors and reading a profile of industrialist Essington Lewis.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/by/peter-ker-hveio