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

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Albemarle's lithium refinery near Bunbury in Western Australia.

Spotlight on WA as Albemarle mothballs China lithium hub

The lithium heavyweight will shut a processing plant in China as it continues to cut costs, in a move that casts more doubt on the future of refineries built in WA.

Brad Thompson

MiningMining & Energy

The Satelite map for Tropical Cyclone Zelia. Picture - BOM

Iron ore and LNG giants brace for impact of massive cyclone

The strongest cyclone to hit WA in years is set to disrupt iron ore and LNG production.

Brad Thompson

MiningMining & Energy

Aluminium produced at Tomago smelter in NSW.

‘Didn’t work last time’: South32 casts doubt on Trump tariffs

South32 CEO Graham Kerr says Donald Trump’s tariff rollout likely to fail for a second time as higher costs are passed on to end users of aluminium.

Brad Thompson

MiningMining & Energy

The giant Super Pit or Fimiston Open Pit, the largest open pit gold mine of Australia, in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. Huge terraces of red and black stone, dirt roads leading to the bottom.Escape 9 February 2025Take A TourPhoto - iStock

Northern Star hits ‘honey pot’ left behind by Newmont, Barrick

Northern Star will reap the rewards for fixing a problem global gold majors Barrick and Newmont put in the too hard basket.

Brad Thompson

MiningMining & Energy

Wednesday 12th February 2025. BHP.BHP announces new Chairman Ross McEwan as Ken McKenzie steps down at the end of March 2025.Photograph by Arsineh Houspian.

New chair in the bank, BHP leadership focus shifts to CEO

After locking in former NAB boss Ross McEwan as its next chairman, the mining giant will turn its attention to finding a suitable successor for chief executive Mike Henry.

Brad Thompson

ExclusiveMining & Energy

An Australian company will open America’s only cobalt mine this week in a bid to tackle China’s control of the mineral that is crucial to fuelling the electric vehicle revolution. Jervois Global, run by a Bendigo mining expert, expects its Idaho mine will produce enough cobalt every year for 160,000 electric vehicle batteries. Picture: Supplied

Shareholders revolt at cobalt deal that leaves them empty handed

The board and management of cobalt play Jervois Global have been accused of tearing up $1.6bn in shareholder value as they push ahead with a voluntary administration deal in the US.

Brad Thompson

MiningMining & Energy

A water reserve pond sits in front of conveyors at the processing plant of Evolution Mining Ltd.'s gold operations in Mungari, Australia, on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Evolution Mining is Australia’s second-largest gold producer. Photographer: Carla Gottgens/Bloomberg

Gold miner Evolution flags dividend bonanza

Evolution is sitting pretty with its gold and copper mines but sees industry appetite for M&A.

Brad Thompson

Steel outlookBusiness

WHYALLA STEELWORKS TOUR - 7 February 2025. Picture: Dean Martin

Steel distributor takes swipe at Victoria, Gupta

There are bigger issues than tariffs, such as the grim Victorian economy and aggressive stock liquidation by someone “desperately trying to turn steel into cash”, says steel maker Vulcan.

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

Strike action hits Rio-backed aluminium smelter

More than 500 workers from the Newscastle smelter have started industrial action over pay as Anthony Albanese pleads with Donald Trump for tariff relief.

Brad Thompson

ManufacturingMining & Energy

Tariff threat: Aluminium producers fight to protect smelters and jobs

Australia’s top manufacturing export industry is bracing for the fallout from hefty Trump tariffs on aluminium.

Brad Thompson

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/brad-thompson/page/4