Yesterday
Global Lithium chair rejects board revamp over foreign influence fears
Two directors have shut down an attempt by a rival to seize control of the WA critical minerals explorer, pledging to vote against proposals at its delayed AGM.
- Mark Wembridge
Julie Bishop hired to advise ASX-listed Greenland explorer
Energy Transition Minerals has become the latest mining client to join the former foreign minister’s consulting stable, which includes Mineral Resources.
- Elouise Fowler and Mark Wembridge
This Month
Coal price slumps to three-year low as super-cycle fades
The commodity is now selling for 23 per cent less than it was only five months ago as a surge in global supply meets a warmer-than-usual northern summer.
- Elouise Fowler and Peter Ker
FIFO mining camp operator bleeds cash as losses mount
French company Sodexo’s expansion into Australian FIFO camps has racked up nearly $177 million in cumulative losses over the past nine years.
- Peter Ker
- Opinion
- Mining
This year’s election gives miners a chance to flex their muscle
With plenty of marginal seats up for grabs, the road to power for both Labor and the Coalition could run through Western Australia, rather than western Sydney.
- Mark Wembridge
Trump’s Greenland takeover talks sends ASX-listed explorer soaring
Among the unintended consequences of the President-elect’s desire for the Danish territory has been renewed investor interest in rare earths hopeful Energy Transition Minerals.
- Mark Wembridge and Elouise Fowler
- Exclusive
- Copper
Rio bosses asked staff to ‘limit’ emailing news of cost blowout
Internal documents provided to a New York court suggest the company pushed discussions about the troubled Oyu Tolgoi project onto encrypted messaging platforms.
- Peter Ker
Spotlight falls on outliers as miners embrace paid parental leave
Miners are sweetening benefits to attract female employees. Yet Macmahon, a major employer, is resisting paid time off for new parents.
- Elouise Fowler and Mark Wembridge
- Analysis
- Mergers & acquisitions
Why the US wants BHP and Rio to get crazy rich in the Congo
BHP and Rio Tinto see just one problem with the big new copper mine Robert Friedland has built in the DRC. But the US government reckons it has the solution
- Peter Ker
Rich and powerful join Andrew Liveris’ salt mining venture
Some of Australia’s richest families have signed up for shares in the new business as the humble mineral catches the eye of battery makers.
- Peter Ker
Who’s got a big miner lurking on their share register?
The next time a big miner like BHP, Rio or Fortescue lobs a takeover bid for a small explorer, the target will probably be one of the companies on this list.
- Peter Ker
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
How AusSuper’s big critical minerals bet went belly up
It’s a wake-up call for the companies that think life’s easy when you’re backed by Australia’s most powerful investor. It isn’t.
- Anthony Macdonald
AustralianSuper takes $100m hit from collapse of cobalt miner Jervois
The battery minerals play, which was once valued at more than $1 billion, will delist from the ASX and be taken private, rendering its equity worthless.
- Mark Wembridge and Peter Ker
The billionaire, the mine, the minority stake and her lover
It’s 14 years since Gina Rinehart transferred ownership of a company to her late lover. The company controls a stake in her next big mine, but who controls it?
- Peter Ker
Five explorers riding the gold price boom
Five smaller ASX-listed miners are well-placed to take advantage of the precious metal’s soaring price.
- Mark Wembridge
December 2024
Gold miners see silver lining in big lithium and nickel layoffs
The mothballing of large West Australian critical minerals projects has come at the same time as a surge in demand for production of the precious metal.
- Mark Wembridge
Gold miner St Barbara hit with $210m PNG tax demand
The company’s ASX-listed shares fell 36 per cent after subsidiary Simberi Gold was handed a taxation bill that could endanger its viability.
- Mark Wembridge
Rio Tinto’s $10.7b lithium takeover wins shareholder approval
Chief executive Jakob Stausholm got an early Christmas present when Arcadium Lithium investors voted to accept his acquisition offer.
- Peter Ker
Lithium piles up at IGO’s WA refinery as demand slows
The miner is struggling to find customers for its battery material, as dismal prices cause a logjam of the product at its Kwinana plant.
- Mark Wembridge
Smorgon stoush triggers gold mine fire sale
One of Australia’s most powerful families have pushed their Chinese partners in the Stawell gold mine into receivership.
- Peter Ker
Australian graphite firms file US complaint against China
Novonix and Syrah Resources claim China is flooding the market with cheap graphite, and are urging US regulators to impose a 920 per cent tariff.
- Elouise Fowler
Japanese giant buys Aussie battery start-up in coal to minerals pivot
Idemitsu has taken majority control of Vecco Group as it tries to move towards investments in critical minerals and energy storage.
- Peter Ker
BHP’s Samarco class action shrinks as Brazilians quit
Four municipalities have exited a $36 billion compensation claim against the mining giant in the British courts in favour of alternative compensation.
- Peter Ker and Hans van Leeuwen
Tasmania’s huge Savage River project at risk as iron ore prices fall
Grange Resources, which is developing the mine near Burnie, said it could not fund the expansion at current and forecast prices for the commodity.
- Elouise Fowler, Mark Wembridge and Peter Ker
- Opinion
- Mining
Critical minerals manufacturing dream tempered by harsh reality
Falling prices mean Australia’s ambitions to develop the industry and downstream processing are on pause. Is this a waiting game, or is it all over?
- Jennifer Hewett