Our Team

Brad Thompson is The Australian’s mining reporter, covering all aspects of the resources industry and based in Perth.

Latest

(FILES) Trucks haul away ore from a pit in Tenke Fungurume Mine, one of the largest copper and cobalt mines in the world, owned by Chinese company CMOC, in southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, on June 17, 2023. Two firms, Singapore-based Trafigura and Canada's Ivanhoe Mines, signed a major deal on February 7, 2024 to export copper along a US-backed rail route from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The corridor to the Angolan port of Lobito has been part-funded by Washington as part of its efforts to help Western companies compete with China for access to African minerals. (Photo by Emmet LIVINGSTONE / AFP)

Jervois lawyers up amid calls for EGM

Collapsed cobalt play Jervois Global has hired top law firm King & Wood Mallesons to help fend off shareholders pushing for an emergency meeting in Australia.

Brad Thompson

DefenceCompanies

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos July 18, 2023: USS Canberra arrived in Sydney this morning and will be commissioned this weekend. The Ship was built in the US by Austral, an Australian ship building company. Pictured, CEO of Austral, Paddy Gregg with the ship behind him. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Austal says Trump good for business

US Navy shipbuilder Austal thinks it can pass on increases in steel and aluminium costs as a result of tariffs.

Brad Thompson

MiningMining & Energy

Australian businessman Andrew Forrest takes part in a session during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 22, 2025. (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP)

Forrest’s Fortescue raises fresh doubts over green energy projects

Andrew Forrest-led Fortescue blames Donald Trump, European policymakers and the looming federal election as it thinks twice on green hydrogen projects.

Brad Thompson

MiningMining & Energy

The Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. processing plant in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. Lynas, the only key supplier of the critical minerals outside China, has won further financial backing from Washington to build a plant in the US. Photographer: Carla Gottgens/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Forrest swoops on rare earths play as China tightens screws

Andrew Forrest-owned Wyloo unveils a deal to take control of a big rare earth project.

Brad Thompson

MiningMining & Energy

Qweekend. BCM. 1/9/08. Effetcts of Mt. Isa lead. Anode casting at the Mt. Isa Copper smelter. pic david kelly. Story Amanda Watt.

Mining a ‘whipping boy’ in Australia as Glencore’s costs climb

Glencore boss Gary Nagle says the mining industry has been a ‘whipping boy’ in Australia in recent years, and warned high power costs were a major threat to its Mt Isa Mines copper smelter and refinery.

Brad Thompson

exclusiveMining & Energy

TOMAGO, AUSTRALIA, NewsWire Photos. JANUARY 20, 2024. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaking to workers at Tomago Aluminium. Picture: NewsWire/ Adam Yip

Tomago smelter facing further strike action

The immediate future of a Rio Tinto-backed Tomago aluminium smelter that underpins the NSW energy market hangs in the balance as 560 workers dig in for a fight over pay.

Brad Thompson

MiningBusiness

Mineral Resources managing director Chris Ellison

Controversy around me is over, MinRes’ Chris Ellison declares

His board backs him to the hilt, Chris Ellison says, while telling analysts MinRes is primed for strong cash flow growth. Meanwhile, his stake plunged $142m in value.

Brad Thompson

MiningMining & Energy

BHP sponsored content feature - Nigel Wilson and Darren Coulthard, lab courier drivers, Kokatha Mining Services.

BHP goes cold on M&A as dust settles on Anglo bid

BHP is questioning the wisdom of large-scale acquisitions in the sector after its $77bn takeover tilt at Anglo American.

Brad Thompson

MiningMining & Energy

27/08/2024: BHP CEO Mike Henry. PIC: Thomas Graham

BHP boss throws down gauntlet on productivity

The mining giant says the outcome of union attempts to regain a foothold in the iron ore industry will have a big bearing on investment after its dividend fell to an eight-year low.

Brad Thompson

ManufacturingMining & Energy

An employee in front of a steel furnace at BlueScope Steel Ltd. Port Kembla steelworks in Port Kembla, Australia, on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. The world's two biggest miners, BHP Group Ltd. and Rio Tinto Group, are teaming up in a bid to develop Australia's first electric-smelting furnace, in what could prove an important step toward slashing emissions in the steel-making process. Photographer: Brent Lewin/Bloomberg

BlueScope flags threat from mass Chinese steel dumping

BlueScope has hailed Trump tariffs as a net positive, but is pushing the Albanese government to implement tough anti-dumping measures against China.

Brad Thompson and Valerina Changarathil

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/brad-thompson/page/16