December 2024
ASX slips; Gold miners’ silver lining; China’s new stealth aircraft
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
- Analysis
- Critical minerals
Taxpayers have just made a $1.65b bet on a rare earths green premium
It’s the recipient of the second-biggest government loan in history. For the Eneabba project to succeed, everything about how minerals are priced must change.
- Peter Ker
November 2024
How a mother-in-law helped keep this ASX miner afloat
Nickel Industries revenues have topped $2.7 billion, but early on some family help was needed to finance this Fast 100 company.
- Prashant Mehra
US mining legend Robert Friedland plots ASX listing
The billionaire businessman says he will list his iron ore assets in Australia next year and will use an IPO to fund acquisitions of local critical minerals projects.
- Peter Ker
August 2024
Standard Chartered in talks to run Anglo American’s nickel sale
The unit’s underlying EBITDA has plummeted from $US110 million in the first six months of 2023 to just $US28 million in the half-year to June 30.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Indonesia suffers the consequences of cosying up to China
China helped Indonesia become the world’s dominant producer of nickel, a mineral essential for electric vehicles. As a result, it’s struggling to access the huge US market.
- Christina Lu
Gold saves the day as Diggers deals with the nickel and lithium rout
The annual Kalgoorlie conference was abuzz with the hopes and dreams of nickel and critical minerals groups – last year. How different things are now.
- Brad Thompson
July 2024
Nickel boss says Indonesia trying to distance itself from China
Nickel Industries managing director Justin Werner says Jakarta wants to attract more Western investment to an industry dominated by China.
- Brad Thompson
Indonesia moves to reduce China’s investment in nickel projects
Jakarta wants to help its industry qualify for tax credits under Joe Biden’s initiative to build a US electric vehicle supply chain.
- Updated
- A. Anantha Lakshmi
Gold miner Northern Star sees silver lining in BHP nickel woes
Northern Star managing director Stuart Tonkin says an era of some West Australian resources groups overpaying to attract and keep workers is over.
- Brad Thompson
Lynas puts the acid on Labor after BHP halts nickel work
The rare earth company’s managing director, Amanda Lacaze, says the Albanese government should step in to help stop other companies becoming collateral damage.
- Brad Thompson
Mining boss calls for policy changes with more jobs in danger
The boss of WA’s peak resources lobby group says the Albanese government needs to step up to prevent more job losses.
- Brad Thompson and Tom Rabe
IGO flags impairment in second wave of nickel pain sweeping WA
There is no end in sight to the company’s nickel nightmare as it warns of a $275 million writedown on exploration assets.
- Brad Thompson
Liontown lithium supply test of faith for Tesla after BHP nickel halt
Nickel and lithium have had a rocky ride over the past 18 months. But the outlook cannot be wider for the biggest local players in each commodity.
- Brad Thompson
How exquisite timing and meditating shaped this Rich Lister’s fortune
After deciding a career in law wasn’t for him, Kerry Harmanis turned to prospecting in WA. That decision led to the $3.1 billion sale of Jubilee Mines.
- Julie-anne Sprague
No cheers for politicians at Kalgoorlie pub as nickel work dries up
The federal and WA governments are under the gun from people caught in the crossfire of BHP’s call to suspend nickel operations.
- Brad Thompson and Tom Rabe
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Nickel is a sobering reminder of commodity fortunes
Australia has been showered with resources export wealth for nearly 20 years. BHP’s nickel operations show we still have to get the basics of cost and productivity right.
- The AFR View
Glencore warns of nickel job losses unless labour costs controlled
BHP’s decision to shut its nickel mines, smelter and refinery is already being felt across families, communities and other mining companies and businesses.
- Brad Thompson, Tom Rabe and James Hall
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
BHP’s nickel blunder a timely reminder for Australia
BHP wanted to profit from the EV boom by selling nickel to battery makers. It hasn’t worked, yet.
- Anthony Macdonald
- Updated
- Mining
BHP shuts nickel business to arrest losses
BHP will suspend nickel mining after massive losses in a move that casts doubt over thousands of jobs in Western Australia and will inflame tensions with the Albanese government.
- Brad Thompson and Tom Rabe