More gas in the Bass? Depends if it’s in the national interest
By taking control of the moody offshore Victorian field, Woodside could find more gas, giving it major clout in Australian energy politics.
Mining Energy
Rinehart-backed miner changes tune on Chinese money
US carmaker Ford’s unwanted lithium sold to Chinese customer as Liontown retreats from hardline stand to only doing offtake deals with Western partners.
Woodside eyes new gas with Gippsland deal
The energy major will oversee day-to-day operations of the dominant supplier of gas to Australia’s east coast and have the right to pursue and develop new gas fields in the region without Exxon’s involvement.
EPA emissions clamp on state coal industry
Environmental regulators have ordered NSW coal mines to dramatically cut emissions or face penalties, with fears the state will miss its climate targets.
Coal, renewables jostling for crown as cheapest energy
Black coal remains competitive on price as an energy source but firmed renewables will reign supreme by the end of this decade, a joint CSIRO and AEMO report finds.
MinRes turns off funds for founder’s brother
A mining company led by Chris Ellison’s brother has collapsed after MinRes refused to extend more interest-free credit, despite holding a majority stake in the business.
Rio reveals 80-year plan for Pilbara iron ore mines
Mining giant Rio Tinto has lodged environmental approval documents showing it intends to be producing iron ore in the Pilbara for decades to come.
Tamboran CEO out as US investors tighten grip on Beetaloo gas
Shareholder frustration is palpable. But the departure of Joel Riddle is a risk for a development that continues to faces significant opposition.
The energy analyst with a licence to tell it like it is
Whether it’s the future of fossil fuels or the political tensions behind energy policy, Saul Kavonic has emerged as a straight-talking voice in the Australian energy sector.
Quinbrook exit hits Cannon-Brookes’ $40bn SunCable project
More woes for billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes as partner Quinbrook scales back involvement in the $40bn SunCable project and two directors exit the board.
Feds ‘must take over talks on smelter ’
Queensland treasurer David Janetzki said the closure of the state copper smelter and refinery would national disgrace, demanding the federal government come to the negotiating table with a convincing proposal for the operations Swiss-owner to keep the lights on.
Forrest’s Fortescue dumps hydrogen projects and blames Trump
Andrew Forrest-led Fortescue takes another big step back on green hydrogen and flags $220m writedown on abandoned projects.
Morrison issues new Beijing warning after Twiggy praises Xi’s China
Scott Morrison and billionaire Andrew Forrest have engaged in a stunning war of words over China, with the former PM saying the Chinese Communist Party will be pleased with the Fortescue chairman’s attacks on his Liberal government’s handling of Beijing.
We’ve vilified China as an ‘enemy’; PM is right to make friends
It’s time Australia and China shows the world what is possible when respect triumphs over fear, and when ambition for a world no longer reliant on fossil fuels triumphs over complacency.
Woodside dumps Oklahoma hydrogen project in show of ‘discipline’
Woodside has formally abandoned plans for a hydrogen facility in the United States, a move that some investors will cheer, but environmentalists will seize on as evidence of the company’s clean energy scepticism.
Glencore’s brinkmanship exploits PM’s Whyalla weakness
With Anthony Albanese promising a blank cheque for Sanjeev Gupta’s collapsed steel mill, Glencore chief Gary Nagle wants a piece of the action.
Glencore impasse threatens job losses
The mining giant tells its hundreds of copper smelter and refinery workers it is on the brink of shutting down. It wants to strike a deal with taxpayers, offering to forfeit two-thirds of the equity for joint venture support.
BHP, Fortescue and Rinehart face Port Hedland expansion bill
Pilbara Port Authority is discussing with BHP, Fortescue and Hancock Prospecting about funding a bypass channel to help safeguard the iron ore industry.
Gupta claim of Chinese dumping thrown out
Sanjeev Gupta’s InfraBuild has failed in its quest to have regulators intervene over its claim China is dumping steel into the Australian market.
China breaks oil addiction in bid to unplug US power point
Chinese officials worry that the US and its allies could hamstring their economy by choking off foreign oil. So China has poured hundreds of billions of dollars into weaning itself off the imported stuff.
LNP offers secret perks to keep smelter open
Global mining giant Glencore has been offered several secretive financial incentives by the Crisafulli government to save hundreds of jobs after the firm threatened to close its Mount Isa copper smelter.
China back in race for giant lithium project
AVZ Minerals has Chinese battery heavyweight CATL in its legal corner as talks over control of an African lithium project with Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos-backed KoBold reach a price impasse.
Miners ask Fair Work watchdog to investigate union threats
The Minerals Council of Australia accused the Electrical Trades Union of making false and unlawful claims in an email sent to multiple employers using labour hire workers.
How BHP’s potash dream went wrong in Saskatchewan
BHP is keeping the faith in potash long-term, but looking at better ways to get bang for its buck while global supply of the crop fertiliser ingredient works against it.
BHP cost blowouts, delays cloud CEO transition plans
BHP is staring down the barrel of a $2.5bn cost blowout and delays on its big bet on potash that complicate leadership succession plans.
The tariff maths call behind Alcoa diverting its trains
Metals major Alcoa offers one of the first insights into how big companies at the front line of Donald Trump’s tariffs are navigating the new financial world.
Resources v renewables: may the most profitable win in land stand-off
Resources companies want the most profitable project to prevail in a showdown with renewables players, who they say have been unfairly hoarding land access, while miners make the money that keeps the economy fed.
Struggling Bowen faces insolvency threat from BUMA
Cash-strapped Bowen Coking Coal is frantically trying to negotiate a deal over more than $15m owed to its former mining contractor BUMA Australia.
He’s no farmer but new Rio boss is still at the mercy of the weather
Rio Tinto’s new chief executive, Simon Trott, departs his iron ore-specific role with storm clouds lingering over the company’s capacity to hit full-year guidance.
Mount Gibson digs for gold as iron ore runs dry
Iron ore miner Mount Gibson has struck a deal with Northern Star to forge a future in gold and base metals from its Koolan Island operations in WA which has reached a tipping point.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy