Professional Documents
Culture Documents
THE AUSTRALIAN
PP100007123
PTYLTD
publication
Green
light for
Olympic
Dam
expansion
BHP Billiton is set to begin heap
leaching trials at Olympic Dam
as part of its investigation into
the best method of processing
the mines copper and uranium.
(story on page 10)
www.miningoilgas.com.au
CONTENTS
PUBLISHED BY
NEWS
General News
Special Profiles
AngloGold Ashanti
22
28
Evolution Mining
Atlas Iron
Aurizon
Northern Minerals
106
Electrical Contractors
107
ABN 28 112 572 433
GENERAL MANAGER
Brad Francis
38
MANAGING EDITOR
Reuben Adams
42
SUB-EDITOR
Louise Baxter
JOURNALISTS
Rachel Dally-Watkins, Jane Goldsmith,
Courtney Pearson, Mark Scott,
Emma Brown, Jo Campbell
45
46
AusRock 2014
49
50
52
Dampier Salt
55
historical p108
Data Management
65
66
71
72
Indigenous Contractors
76
78
Eco Mining
82
86
89
92
BRISBANE OFFICE
Chris Foley (07) 3392 3003 / 0405 121 997
OFFICE MANAGER
Nikki Retallack
PRINTER
Rural Press
leisure p109
79
Meteorological Solutions
98
101
104
CONTACT US
P: (08) 6314 0300
F: (08) 9481 7322
160 Beaufort Street, Perth, WA 6000.
PO Box 8023, Perth BC, WA 6849.
E-mail the editor at editorial@miningoilgas.
com.au.
For all other emails to staff, the standard
convention is, first name (only) @miningoilgas.
com.au
94
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Adam Carriero, Joelle Chan,
Chris Wade
SALES EXECUTIVES
Biliana Harman, Donna Orton,
Christine Rippey, Paul Wilton,
Lee Darracott, Stephen Croxson
58
RESEARCHERS
Jessica Clapham, Alex Crowther,
Skye Fitzgerald
SALES MANAGER
Andrew Collett
OTHER SECTIONS
Companies Gearing Up
PTYLTD
35
105
44
Freight Forwarders
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GENERAL NEWS
Russia threatens
Australias crown
Mark Scott
RUSSIA could soon overtake Australia
as the worlds second biggest gold
producer, an industry lobby group has
warned.
The Gold Industrialists Union,
Russias peak gold producers group, last
month upgraded its 2014 output forecast
to 275t after the countrys production
soared 26.6 per cent in the first half of
the year.
Australia produced 266.1t of gold in
2013, second only to China in terms of
output, but less gold exploration in WA
may threaten to stifle further production
growth.
Gold exploration expenditure in WA
declined by about 50 per cent in the year
to March, according to the Australian
Bureau of Statistics.
Gold Industrialists Union head
Sergei Kashuba told Reuters Russian
miners were increasing production
to compensate for a global gold price
slump, with the price of the precious
metal down 28 per cent in 2013.
The Gold Royalty Response Group,
formed to lobby against potential royalty
increases in WA, warned that increased
Russian production would impact WA,
which produces about 70 per cent of the
nations gold exports.
Group spokesman Les Davis said
WA gold miners were confronting an
increasingly competitive global market
and could not sustain any further cost
increases.
The big increase in Russian gold
production comes at the same time as
gold producers in Western Australia are
putting exploration on hold, he said.
Our industry has been a mainstay
of the Western Australian economy
for more than a century but we cant
compete if we continue to face increased
cost burdens.
A WA Government review into
mineral royalties is expected to be
handed down in coming months.
Mr Davis said WA gold miners paid
their fair share of taxes and royalties in
a very tough global market.
into it immediately.
State Opposition leader Mark McGowan
said if the inquiry saved just one life, it
would be worth it.
I am confident this inquiry will examine
the issues surrounding mental health and
help avert future suicides.
However, Chamber of Minerals and
Energy of Western Australia chief executive
Reg Howard-Smith said there was no
evidence to support claims of a higher
occurrence of mental health issues in the
FIFO workforce.
He said some sought to stigmatise FIFO
employees and perpetuate myths associated
with FIFO, despite a growing bank of
research highlighting that employees
shared the same health and lifestyle outlook
as other Western Australians.
Put simply, its a matter of choice for
employees a choice about where they live
and where they choose to work, he said,
Dr Jacobs said the committee would
provide a preliminary report by the end of
the year, with a final report to be tabled in
March 2015.
For more about this issue, see the
Employee Mental Health and Wellbeing
section on page 66.
www.miningoilgas.com.au
GENERAL NEWS
Nova mining
lease secured
Mark Scott
Mark Scott
CONSTRUCTION
on
Sirius
Resources Nova nickel mine is on
track to begin early next year after
the WA Department of Mines and
Petroleum granted the projects
mining lease in record time last
month.
Located in the Fraser Range near
Balladonia, the $473 million project
would produce about 26,000t per
annum of nickel, 11,500tpa of copper
and 850tpa of cobalt in 10 years, with
an all-in sustaining cash cost of $2.32
per pound of copper.
Securing the lease allows Sirius
to begin obtaining the remaining
approval and permits in time for an
early 2015 kick-off.
Sirius managing director Mark
Bennett said the lease was another
important milestone for the project.
This shows that despite the
various fashionably negative views
often expressed, Western Australia is
a good place to explore, invest and do
business, he said.
The 25-day turnaround time
was a new record for mining lease
approvals, according to Mines and
Petroleum minister Bill Marmion.
This is 40 days less than the
target of 65 days under our revamped
approvals system, Mr Marmion said.
This is reform in action, and
means this exciting new resource in
the Fraser Range near Norseman will
likely go from discovery to production
in three years, creating more
employment in our mining sector.
The announcement came less than a
fortnight after Sirius signed a mining
agreement with the Traditional
Owners of the land containing Nova,
the Ngadju people.
According to Sirius, the agreement
includes a range of economic,
educational, vocational and cultural
initiatives for the benefit of the
Ngadju people
Mr Bennett said the agreement sets
an example for how mining companies
could engage and co-operate with
Aboriginal communities to provide
an enduring legacy stretching beyond
the mine gate.
The development of the nations
resources can be done in harmony with
the key cultural and environmental
values and aspirations of Aboriginal
and non-Aboriginal people alike, he
said.
I
would
like
to
publicly
acknowledge the Ngadju People as
traditional owners of the land, and
their right to have a say, to participate
in the venture, and to benefit from it.
Treasurer Joe Hockey called the tax a dead hand on the mining industry.
www.miningoilgas.com.au
GENERAL NEWS
Conference
Onshore option for controversial dredging
strengthens
WA-Africa ties
Mark Scott
Jane Goldsmith
WA has worked to consolidate ties
with Common Market for Eastern and
Southern Africa (COMESA) members at
Paydirts Africa Down Under conference,
after establishing a memorandum of
understanding (MoU) earlier this year.
Speaking at the Perth-based event,
WA Premier Colin Barnett said the MoU
would provide economic opportunities
for both WA and COMESA through the
sharing of knowledge and technology in
the resources and agriculture fields.
[WA] has a world class system of
legislation and regulation governing
its mineral and petroleum sectors, and
we want to pass on our experience to
assist African countries in building
resources industries that are profitable,
sustainable, safe, and beneficial to their
citizens, Mr Barnett said.
The primary aim of the MoU is
to tap into [WAs] expertise to help
African nations to further develop their
mining laws, tenement systems, and
environmental and safety standards.
This will also bring benefits to the
many WA companies with investments
in Africa, and help to build trade
relationships within the region.
WA exports to COMESAs 19 member
nations Burundi, Comoros, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt,
Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya,
Madagascar,
Malawi,
Mauritius,
Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Swaziland,
Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe
totalled $207 million in 2013.
Mr Barnett also warned COMESA
nations to resist pressure from
resources companies for subsidies.
Often international companies will
put pressure on small countries that
they should provide concessions and
even subsidise arrangements, he said.
I dont think those countries are in a
position to do that and I dont think they
should do it.
No dredging material will be dumped in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park under a new plan.
www.miningoilgas.com.au
GENERAL NEWS
Tiger snaps up
last Kipoi stake
A new acquisition deal will see Tiger
Resources become the sole owner of the
Kipoi copper project in the Democratic
Republic of Congo and the largest copper
cathode producer listed on the ASX.
Tiger already has a 60 per cent stake in
the project through its interest in project
operator La Socit dExploitation de Kipoi
SA (SEK), and will acquire the remaining
40 per cent of SEK from DRC state mining
entity La Gnrale des Carrires et des
Mines (Gecamines) for US$111 million.
Upon completion, SEK will become a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Tiger.
As part of the deal, Tiger has already paid
a US$6.5 million deposit and will make the
remaining payment before 10 November.
Once the deal has been completed, Tiger
will cede a 5 per cent interest in SEK to
the DRC Government to bring the Kipoi
projects mining title into alignment with
the current mining law and regulations.
Kipoi has been the cornerstone of our
business over the past seven years and
together with our DRC business partner
we are proud of our achievements, Tiger
managing director Brad Marwood said.
We see the potential to grow our
business by focusing on near-mine
exploration and sourcing plant feed
from elsewhere in the Kipoi region, thus
ensuring the mine should operate well into
the next decade.
We believe the acquisition of the
additional 40 per cent interest in SEK
to be earnings-accretive and offers the
opportunity to grow our business and
cement our future in the DRC as a 50,000t
per year copper cathode producer once the
proposed expansion of the SXEW facility
has been completed.
Boom effects
explored
AUSTRALIAS per capita household
income would be 13 per cent lower had the
mining boom never struck, new Reserve
Bank of Australia modelling has found.
The boom also drove up wages and
kept down unemployment, according to
an RBA report released last month, which
used macroeconomic modelling to study
the impacts of the boom on the Australian
economy, creating an alternative history
in which the boom never occurred.
The report found in 2013 the population
was 1 per cent higher as a result of higher
migration from the boom, while GDP was
up 6 per cent.
The exchange rate was 44 per cent
higher in 2013, as a result of greater global
mineral demand, higher mineral prices and
more investment in Australia.
Unemployment was 1.25 percentage
points lower in 2013 with the boom, while
wages were up 6 per cent.
A larger tax base led to higher average
tax rates, driving up household income by
about 13 per cent, and leading to a rise
in motor vehicle and durables purchases
between 25 and 30 per cent.
Despite the positive impact on living
standards, the boom had negative knock-on
effects to other industries.
Investment in manufacturing was higher
in the early years of the boom, however as
the investment boom faded, manufacturing
output began to drop.
Australias agriculture industry was hit
hardest by the increased exchange rate,
with exports about 20 per cent lower.
The Utah Point Bulk Handling Facility in Port Hedland is one of the first assets to go up for sale in a
bid to reduce state debt.
10
www.miningoilgas.com.au
GENERAL NEWS
Miner sets
sights on
Congo project
GOLD and copper miner AusAmerican
Mining will take over Chinas Shenglong
International Investment, which owns
exploration assets and a direct shipping
ore (DSO) operation in the Republic of the
Congo, the company announced this month.
AusAmerican signed a binding
agreement to acquire a 77.58 per cent in
Shenglong for US$103.44 million, to be paid
in instalments over the next two years.
Shenglong outright owns Congolese
company Societe Lulu De Mine, which hold
a 90 per cent interest in two copper assets
MPassa-Moubiri and Mindouli.
The Moubiri project is a high-grade, cash
flow positive copper-lead-zinc operation
already in production and has exported
two DSO shipments to Chinese customers,
while the Mindouli exploration permits
cover highly prospective historical mining
areas.
The company aims to fund the initial
payment through a US$60 million debt
facility, yet to be secured.
AusAmerican executive chairman Peter
Landau said the acquisition marked a
transformative milestone for the company.
The Moubiri project is a [copper/lead/
zinc] DSO asset currently in production...
we believe we can ramp up production in
the short term to provide significant cash
flow margins for the company, he said.
Mindouli is a development project
with significant exploration and feasibility
work undertaken to date and, importantly,
a clear path forward to establish the next
stage forward for development.
We believe this opportunity represents
outstanding value to current and
prospective shareholders.
The takeover is conditional on
shareholder and regulatory approval.
monitoring
requirements
and
site
decommissioning provisions.
Trialling this technology is a critical
step towards ultimately realising the
economic and employment potential of the
Olympic Dam expansion, which continues
to be of significant importance to South
Australians, Parliamentary Secretary for
the Environment Simon Birmingham said.
BHP Billitons proposal will develop
a heap leach demonstration plant of
pilot-scale to undertake a proof of concept
assessment of technology for the leaching
of copper and uranium.
The heap leach trial will use
approximately 36,000 tonnes of ore per
annum which represents less that 0.4
per cent of the annual production of the
12
www.miningoilgas.com.au
GENERAL NEWS
Clermont
jobs axed
Jobs cut at
Kestrel coal
RIO Tinto Coal Australia (RTCA) has
confirmed substantial job cuts at Kestrel
mine across September, almost a year
after its US$2 billion extension opened.
The Kestrel extension project,
which added 20 years to the mines
life and increased production capacity
to 6 million tonnes per annum of hard
coking and thermal coal, officially began
operation last October.
However, a Rio Tinto spokesperson
said with tough conditions continuing
to plague Australias coal industry, cost
reductions at Kestrel were required to
ensure the mine remained competitive.
The Australian coal mining industry
is
facing
extremely
challenging
conditions, with prices continuing
to decline through 2014 and the
Australian dollar remaining strong, the
spokesperson said.
We have worked to significantly
reduce costs and improve productivity
across all RTCA mines, but still more
needs to be done.
Regrettably, a number of roles at the
Kestrel mine need to be reduced, as part
of ongoing efforts to ensure the operation
is competitive.
We will be consulting with all
employees about these changes and
providing support for those affected.
Kestrel mine, previously known as
Gordonstone, is a joint venture with
RTCA subsidiary Queensland Coal (80
per cent).
The mine, 40km northeast of Emerald
in Central Queensland, is RTCAs
only underground coal operation and
Japanese multinational company Mitsui
Kestrel Coal Investment (20 per cent).
Jane Goldsmith
The Mt Philip prospect is within Hammer Resources Mount Isa project. [Image: Hammer Resources]
14
www.miningoilgas.com.au
GENERAL NEWS
First female
asset chief
wins award
Jane Goldsmith
AUSTRALIAs first female asset
president has taken out the top national
award recognising women in the
resources sector.
BHP Billitons Laura Tyler, asset
president at Cannington silver-lead
mine in northwest Queensland, won
the Exceptional Woman in Australian
Resources award at the inaugural
Theiss Women in Resources National
Awards (WIRNA) in Brisbane last
month.
Ms Tyler, a fly in, fly out
mother-of-three, said although great
progress had been made, there was still
a lot of work to do to advance womens
position in the sector.
We must encourage our male
colleagues to speak out on the subject,
she said.
They remain the dominant hiring
managers in our business and it is only
through their engagement that we will
see magnified change in the status quo.
I believe diversity is not only
important for individuals but also for
our businesses. Our contribution as an
industry extends beyond employment,
community development, royalties,
taxes and shareholders and into peoples
futures and dreams.
The Sunsuper Ride to Conquer Cancer will raise funds for medical research.
research teams.
In general and across the globe, cancer
research is now best done in larger,
multi-disciplinary, integrated teams.
RTCC will take place on October 18 to
19 from Perth to Pinjarra. Riders take in
more than 200km over the two days and
enjoy and overnight camp in Mandurah.
Theres nothing like it, Professor
Leedman said. Thirteen-hundred riders,
700 two-man tents, a massive marquee to
fit 1500 people, massages, hot showers and
yellow flags denoting people who have or
have had cancer which is what the event
is all about.
16
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GENERAL NEWS
Company
charged over
Pilbara death
A Rio Tinto subsidiary has been charged in
relation to the death of a mine worker in
2011.
Brent Glew died on 16 August
while working in a mobile equipment
maintenance workshop at Pilbara Irons
Brockman 2 mine, 60km northwest of Tom
Price. He was removing a tilt cylinder from
a loader when he was fatally crushed.
The WA Department of Mines and
Petroleum (DMP) charged Pilbara Iron in
late August under the Mines Safety and
Inspection Act 1994, for failing to provide a
safe working environment.
The DMP, WA Police and Rio Tinto have
all conducted independent investigations
into the incident across the past two years.
The first court mention is on 8 October
2014 at Tom Price.
Explorer lifts
Ghanaian
gold reserves
Jane Goldsmith
A Perth-based explorer has boosted its
gold ore reserves by 45 per cent at a
project in North West Ghana.
Azumah
Resources
reported
a contained a 9.1 million tonne
JORC-compliant resource at its Wa
gold project, in Ghanas upper west
region, to be accessed across a seven
year initial mine life.
The site could produce about
100,000oz of gold per annum across its
first four years.
Wa graded 2.14g per tonne of
gold for 624,000oz of gold from three
deposits Kunche and Bepkong
(adjacent to the Black Volta River by
the Ghana-Burkina Faso border), and
Julie (80km to the east).
Azumah managing director Stephen
Stone said the reserve increases were
largely derived from the Julie deposit,
where defined mineralisation increased
by 173 per cent. Julies reserves
totalled 202,000oz grading at 2.84g/t of
gold, based on a 47 per cent increase in
mineral resources.
An additional mining inventory
28,500oz of gold is contained as
inferred mineralisation within the
Kunche and Julie pits, and in optimised
pits at satellite deposits Aduane and
Collette.
This considerably larger mining
inventory
underpins
Azumahs
objective of delivering a feasibility
study for a substantially de-risked,
development-ready ... open-pit gold
operation at the Wa gold project, Mr
Stone said.
An average head-grade of 2.14g/t
[of gold], overall gold recovery of 92
per cent, granted mining leases, grid
power to site, good local and regional
infrastructure and an excellent
opportunity to grow mineral resources
combine to confirm the Wa gold
projects development credentials.
Azumah advised that it was fully
funded to complete its feasibility study
in the third quarter of 2014.
18
www.miningoilgas.com.au
GENERAL NEWS
Senegalese
gold project
approaches
production
Jane Goldsmith
AN
Australian
developer
is
fast-tracking
its
flagship
Senegal-based
gold
project
to
production after securing refining and
processing facilities.
Bassari Resources secured an
agreement with Italian gold refiner
TCA S.p.A to process ore from its
Makabingui gold project, 750km east
of Senegal capital Dakar, in mid
August.
The feasibility study for the
Makabingui open cut project estimated
that a $12 million capital investment
was required to bring the project into
operation.
The study indicated that the 11.9
million tonne resource, grading
2.6g per tonne of gold, could deliver
50,000oz per annum of gold across a
three and a half year mine life.
Securing a gold refining agreement
with TCA puts us a step closer
to fast-tracking Makabingui into
production, Bassari chief executive
Jozsef Patarica said.
We are advancing the next phase
of detailed design of the processing
plant upgrade and reviewing all
development options. Maximising the
use of existing infrastructure is our
key to keeping the capital cost low and
early gold production.
The company later announced its
successful underground scoping study
had demonstrated up to 120,000oz in
high grade underground stope targets
below Makabinguis defined Pit 1.
Bassari said the study, undertaken
by Australian Mine Design and
Development, was based on inferred
resources and encouraged further
drilling to expand the indicated
resource.
The preliminary underground
scoping study is insufficient to support
estimation of ore reserves... at this
stage, the company stated.
However,
initial
underground
assays have graded at more than 7g/t
of gold.
Mr Patarica said the underground
potential
was
additional
to
opportunities along strike from
the open pits and the much larger
potential identified at Makabingui
South.
The positive results of the
underground scoping study further
supports the significant potential
that exists at Makabingui, which
is already set to become Senegals
next large scale gold operation, Mr
Patarica said.
Our focus on unlocking significant
value from our gold resource is
delivering outstanding results which
we will continue to build on.
We have taken a material step
forward with this option to provide
additional high grade mill feed that
can extend the life of the operation to
six years.
Bassari aims to enter open cut
production at the site in the first half
of 2015.
Nunasvaara
deposit
demonstrated
that graphene the worlds strongest
material could be produced directly
from raw ore in the same single-step
process that liberates graphite, offering
a low-cost, high-quality product.
Talga managing director Mark
Thompson said the program would
provide cutting edge insight into Talgas
graphite and graphene developments,
with results that could dovetail directly
into the companys metallurgical
program and scoping study.
Talga is extremely enthusiastic to
be working with Australias national
science agency and one of the largest
and most diverse research agencies in
the world, he said.
CSIRO research scientist Mark
Bisley ambassadors Kyal and Kara Demmrich have come on board to support Real Men Wear Pink.
20
www.miningoilgas.com.au
GENERAL NEWS
Got an entry for this column? E-mail the details and a photo to editorial@miningoilgas.com.au
22
OCTOBER 2014
www.miningoilgas.com.au
We have adopted a
decisive, two-pronged
response to this weaker
gold price environment,
focused on revenue
enhancement and
improving efficiencies
by addressing costs at a
number of levels.
production next year at below our current
average cost, improving the groups cash
cost and cash flow profile.
Tropicana
Located
330km
east-northeast
of
Kalgoorlie, Tropicana was discovered
in 2005 after AngloGold followed
up an anomaly found by Australias
Independence Group in the 1990s. It
proved to be Australias biggest gold find
in a decade.
Tropicana is estimated to have an ore
reserve of 57.1 million tonnes grading
www.miningoilgas.com.au
Both Sunrise Dam and Tropicana will soon be 100 per cent fuelled by natural gas.
23
24
www.miningoilgas.com.au
OCTOBER 2014
Sunrise Dam
Now approaching its 20th year of
operations, 2013 heralded a massive shift
at Sunrise Dam, AngloGolds original
Australian asset.
Sunrise Dam, 220km northeast of
Kalgoorlie, began operations in 1996 as
an open cut mine before expanding to
include underground mining in 2003.
26
www.miningoilgas.com.au
OCTOBER 2014
AngloGold expects to start reaping the rewards of its new gold projects this year.
Pipeline project
As part of the cost-cutting drive, AngloGold
announced in July it would transition both
Engineering consultant
expands across the globe
SPECIALIST engineering consultant
ATC Williams provides tailings and
water management services to AngloGold
Ashantis Sunrise Dam gold mine in WA.
With a mine expansion in 1999, ATC
Williams initiated a central thickened
discharge (CTD) disposal system, one
of the first in Australia at the time. This
permitted full storage capacity with
nominal embankment volume.
28
www.miningoilgas.com.au
OCTOBER 2014
BHP Billiton has proven the core economic value of its iron ore assets in the first half of 2014.
30
OCTOBER 2014
www.miningoilgas.com.au
Our pursuit of
productivity gains
and operational
excellence is
delivering significant
value at [WAIO].
In June, BHP Billiton commissioned
an independent review of WAIOs
operations and productivity. The results
allegedly recommended the company cut
up to 20 per cent of WAIOs workforce
(3000 jobs), to ensure it remained
(continued on page 34)
32
OCTOBER 2014
www.miningoilgas.com.au
34
www.miningoilgas.com.au
OCTOBER 2014
We remain confident
that global demand for
iron ore will continue to
grow, though at a more
moderate rate, driven
by urbanisation and
industrialisation.
The future
Mr Wilson said BHP Billiton had a firm
outlook for WAIO production in FY2015,
with output expected to increase by 20mt
to about 245mt, and exports to service
primarily Chinese destinations.
The Shooting Goals program has encouraged girls in WAs North West to get involved in netball and
their community.
www.miningoilgas.com.au
35
The Cracow projects shift to an owner-miner model is estimated to have saved Evolution Mining more than $18 million last financial year.
Mt Rawdon also moved to an owner-miner model at the start of this financial year.
Solid results
The exploration announcements came on
the back of a strong financial year and final
quarter for Evolution, with most operations
producing in line with or above guidance.
Evolution produced 427,703oz of gold
equivalent in the 2013-2014 financial year,
up 9 per cent on the previous year.
The Mt Carlton gold project proved
Evolutions biggest outperformer in its
first full year of production, churning out
87,952oz far ahead of its guidance range
of 65,000oz to 75,000oz.
Faster than expected ramp-up and
better access to higher grade ore helped
boost the operations output.
Cracows 95,064oz also put it ahead of
market guidance and the projects shift to
an owner-miner operation was estimated
(continued on page 37)
36
OCTOBER 2014
www.miningoilgas.com.au
Instrument supplier
committed to efficient
ongoing operations
FOR nearly 20 years Pacific Rim
Technical Services (PRTS) has been
supplying instrumentation packages
to green and brownfield sites across
Australia, Asia and West Africa.
The company is proudly involved
with two Evolution Mining operations
in North Queensland; it was selected
as the package instrument supplier to
Pajingo mine when it was first built
by Normandy Mining in 1998, and was
later chosen for the general instrument
supply at the Mt Carlton mine in 2012.
As a regular visitor to both sites,
PRTS is committed to the efficient
ongoing operation of Evolution Minings
North Queensland operations.
www.miningoilgas.com.au
37
financial year.
Mt Rawdon produced 103,755oz, well
within its market guidance, and also made
the shift to an owner-miner development
in July, with cost savings expected to flow
throughout this financial year.
Evolutions sole WA project, Edna
May, produced slightly below guidance
at 80,165oz, largely due to lower than
expected grades and processing plant
issues.
38
www.miningoilgas.com.au
OCTOBER 2014
Atlas Iron developed five operational DSO mines in the North Pilbara across five years Pardoo, Wodgina, Mt Dove, Abydos and Mt Webber.
40
www.miningoilgas.com.au
OCTOBER 2014
New horizons
At last years annual general meeting,
Atlas Iron non-executive chairman David
Flanagan said the light at the end of
the Horizon I tunnel was growing ever
brighter.
In 2014-2015, our Horizon I capital
expenditure is forecast to fall to
approximately $140 million from over
$320 million this year, he said.
This is more than just a huge
milestone for our company. The ongoing
cash flow that will be generated as a
result of this period of investment can
barely be over-emphasised.
But perhaps most importantly,
these assets, this cashflow and this
conservative balance sheet that sits
behind it, open the door to the next phase
of Atlas evolution.
That next phase Horizon II will
expand the companys focus right
across the Pilbara, while also boosting
production in its north Pilbara heartland.
A feasibility study is currently
underway on the McPhee Creek project,
east of Mt Webber, which contains Atlas
biggest single DSO resource and is
expected to produce about 10mtpa.
Between Mt Webber and McPhee
Creek lies the Corunna Downs project,
which has an exploration target set at
100 to 150 million tonnes at 55 to 58 per
cent iron a target Atlas has said it is on
track to reach.
In the southeast Pilbara, about 100km
Nepean Conveyors successfully installed Atlas Irons new CV04 stockyard reclaim conveyor at the
companys Port Hedland stockyard and load-out facility.
West Core Drilling provides specialised surface core drilling rigs to drill at shallow angles (down to
minus 30 degrees).
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OCTOBER 2014
Aurizons Wiggins Island Rail Project was designed to link mines in the Southern Bowen Basin with the new Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal.
[All Images: Aurizon]
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43
Despite slower
growth and lower
commodity prices, I
remain upbeat about
long-term sustainable
growth for our
resources.
global economic activity.
So, despite slower growth and lower
commodity prices, I remain upbeat about
long-term sustainable growth for our
resources.
Looking forward, we expect short
term growth is going to be relatively
modest, albeit that there continues to
As one of Australias largest rail freight operators, Aurizon moves about 7000 tonnes of materials each day.
Strategic
relationship
reaps rewards
BMD has a proud history of delivering rail
projects with a vast array of experience
encompassing urban, rural and major
rail infrastructure projects throughout
Australia. BMD has extensive experience
working in live rail environments and has
an established client relationship with
Aurizon that has led to ongoing contracts,
furthering BMDs commitment to expand
its capability in this sector.
One recent project completed for
Aurizon was the Dalrymple Bay Coal
Terminal (DBCT) to Hay Point Services
Coal Terminal (HPSCT) 2nd Road and Q50
Flood Immunity Works in Queensland.
The project involved the duplication of
about 7km of an existing section of railway,
which makes up part of the much larger
Goonyella System, and the installation of
additional culverts to provide Q50 flood
immunity. The 924km Goonyella Rail
System services 30 coal mines where coal
is exported through the HPSCT and the
DBCT.
In the past 12 years, BMD has developed
a strong relationship with Aurizon and will
continue to provide expertise alongside
rail partner Rhomberg Rail to undertake
crucial infrastructure upgrade works in
Central Queensland. With this strategic
partnership in play, BMD will now be able
to provide Aurizon with a one-stop-shop
for completing civil and track works.
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OCTOBER 2014
Exploration at the Browns Range project, Australias first major dysprosium development.
The Browns Range exploration camp, near the WA-Northern Territory border.
Northern Minerals is
confident the mine
could extend well
beyond its initial life.
Home stretch
A major step forward for the project
came in June, with Northern Minerals
signing a co-existence agreement with
local Traditional Owners, the Jaru
people.
The agreement includes economic
and social outcomes for the Jaru people,
some of which the community will begin
to receive now, while others are linked to
production including unlisted options
in Northern Minerals.
It also offers the Jaru people
social development benefits such as
training, employment and community
development opportunities, and sets out
a framework to protect cultural heritage
throughout the projects development.
Jaru People spokesman and KRED
Enterprises chief executive Wayne
Bergmann said the agreement was a
major achievement for the Jaru people.
The negotiations over the past 18
months have been expedited because
of the strong relationship between
[Northern Minerals] and the Jaru
people, he said.
If progressed, the project has the
potential to provide many positive
economic and social benefits to the Jaru
people and the wider community.
Mr Bauk said the company would
continue to work with the Jaru people
to ensure they could create meaningful
and positive change in their community.
From the early stages of exploration
the company has engaged openly and
honestly with the Traditional Owners,
and I am proud of the strong relationship
that has developed, he said.
While
this
agreement
is
a
formalisation of this relationship, we are
committed to ongoing collaboration to
ensure future benefits are maximised.
Following the signing of the
agreement, the Browns Range project
was granted its mining lease and
Northern Minerals submitted the project
for environmental approval.
Last month the Environmental
Protection Authority recommended
the Environment minister approve the
project subject to conditions outlined in
its report, noting Northern Minerals had
proposed to apply a number of impact
avoidance and minimisation principles.
Appeals on the report closed on 1
September and the minister is expected
to make his determination on what could
be Australias first dysprosium-focused
project in coming weeks.
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45
Australian Malaysia Business Council national president Ian Jordan said trade has increased significantly since the MAFTA was established.
The agreement
is strong and
existing businesses
have benefited
from its launch...
new businesses
investigating a move
to Asia are now
seeing Malaysia as a
viable option.
Many investments have been made both
ways in the mining sector to date. There are
many opportunities for such a large industry
and those that are currently considering
pursuing opportunities in Malaysia will be
pleasantly surprised, he said.
Australias proximity to Malaysia [and] its
stable and professional business, government
and regulatory frameworks are just some
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In 2014, Austrades OzMine has been incorporated into Reed Mining Events M&E Indonesia event.
Mining is a cyclical
industry, and troughs
and peaks are to be
expected.
M&E Indonesia
Reed Mining Events is a well established
brand in Australia, regularly hosting
events across Newcastle, the Hunter
Valley and WA; M&E was cloned from
the events formula used within its
Australian events portfolio.
We took Reed Mining Events formula
Mining and Engineering Indonesia will run from 29 to 31 October at Jakarta International Expo Centre
[Image: Reed Mining Events]
in Kemayoran Jakarta.
Attendees can view company demonstrations at the OzMine and M&E Indonesia exhibitions.
[Image: Reed Mining Events]
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OCTOBER 2014
Ozmine
Ozmine is the second event within the
M&E Indonesia series. The first was
held in May, and this second instalment,
including an exhibition and conference,
aims to identify and consolidate key
Indonesian and Australian industry
players, while promoting discussions on
industrial opportunities and challenges.
Reed Mining Events is organising the
exhibition component for Austrade, and
the actual conference is going to be run
onsite at the exhibition, he said.
M&E and Ozmine are both free to
attend, with the Ozmine conference
focused on showcasing Australian
capabilities.
Event attractions
Mr Baker said M&E would emphasise
education, with several international
keynote speakers presenting at the
conference, as well as a free-to-attend
TechLab.
The TechLab is where we provide a
platform for suppliers to talk about the
technology and innovation they have to
improve efficiency, Mr Baker said.
We have a number of networking
events that will be announced soon
including night time networking events, a
combination of private VIP ones, as well
as some free-to-attend ones.
We are also finalising smaller
workshops and seminars, which will
average about half a day to a day in
length.
Into the future
Mr Baker stated that within the current
softened market environment, it was more
important than ever for mining ventures
to boost productivity.
The industry is not growing as fast as
it was after end of the investment phase
in 2011 and 2012; what companies are
The M&E and Ozmine partnership will showcase new technologies and products to the global minerals, metals and ores industries.
[Image: Reed Mining Events]
Innovative solutions to
technical problems
ULTRA-DYNAMICS seeks out innovative
technical solutions to the problems
facing industry in todays increasingly
competitive business environment. The
company strongly believes in the maxim
that if you cant measure it you cant
control it. Ultra-Dynamics is a supplier
of technologies that provide innovative
solutions for on-line process control
measurement as well as materials handling
solutions.
The ultraMOIST microwave moisture
monitor is based on the industry standard
microwave transmission technique and
provides accurate, non-contact, on-line
moisture measurement of bulk materials
directly on a conveyor belt or in a bin or
chute.
The
MAGNASAT
magnetite
measurement system is available in a
number of versions including bench top,
on-conveyor and in-pipe, for determining
the magnetite content of bulk materials.
densiMAG measures the density of
magnetic slurries directly in pipes. The
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49
Jane Goldsmith
THIS November the Australian Institute
of Minerals and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and
UNSW Australia will once again join forces
to host the third Australasian Ground
Control in Mining Conference.
Informally dubbed AusRock 2014, the
conference is Australias answer to the
international sectors rock conferences,
such as EuroRock in Europe and SinoRock
in China.
AusRock 2014s host and owner, the School
of Mining Engineering at UNSW Australia
formerly the University of New South Wales
is one of Australias leading research and
teaching universities, specialising in mining
undergraduate and postgraduate education
to support the mining industry.
Event co-host AusIMM was formed in
1893 to promote and protect the industrys
health, while providing support services
to Australias minerals professionals. It
has grown to represent more than 13,500
minerals industry members and is a
collaborative host to many mining-based
conferences across the country.
Conference development
Conference co-chairs and UNSW Australia
associate professors Paul Hagan and
Serkan Saydam said initial inspiration for
AusRock 2014 was to boost health and safety
standards, and improve standard operating
procedures within underground mines.
There was an increasing concern
in Australian mining operations about
improving the stability of underground
mines, Dr Hagan said.
We put together the first conference back
in 2003. The second was held in 2010, and
UNSW has always played host.
The original theme was to try and share
ideas amongst the geotechnical community
about new techniques, and the ways to
improve the efficiency and effectiveness of
underground systems of mining.
However, across the past decade the
event has expanded to include both open cut
and underground operations.
The original event had its main focus
on underground mining; however we
expanded it in the second conference to
include both open cut and underground, and
this conference in 2014 will have a special
emphasis on the latest developments in
design and application including several
case studies, Dr Hagan said.
AusRock always occurs in November, and
UNSW Australia and AusIMM aim to make
it a regular event every three years. The
next conference is scheduled for 2017.
AusRock 2014
AusRock 2014 is aimed at practical mine
site operators, technical support staff,
geotechnical engineers, mining engineers,
consultants and researchers in the field of
mining geomechanics and ground control.
The conference will provide an update to
all mining industry geotechnical personnel
involved in best practice in both Australasia
and overseas, and an information exchange
vehicle between the coal and metalliferous
sectors of the industry, with a focus on new
technologies and developments; industry
needs and mine site problem solving; and
practical case studies, Dr Saydam said.
The conference has grown substantially
since it began in 2010, it hosted about 100
delegates, and we received about 34 papers
for presentation. This year, we have doubled
the submissions to nearly 80 papers, and we
will likely feature about 40 at the conference.
About 180 people are expected to
attend as delegates. We have international
Delegates on the gala cruise at the 2nd Australasian Ground Control in Mining Conference in 2010.
We have international
and local delegates,
representing mining
companies, consulting
companies, academia,
and research
institutions.
Workshops
Workshop One, Block Cave Mining
Simulation with Rock Failure Process
Analysis (RFPA) code, is scheduled for 4
November, and will explore issues with
rock stability in underground mining.
Many rock engineering problems
involve potential and actual unstable
rock failure, such as rockbursts, coal and
Participants networking at the 2nd Australasian Ground Control in Mining Expo in 2010.
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OCTOBER 2014
[Image: Glencore]
The Northern
Territorys economy
is probably the best
performing economy
of any jurisdiction in
Australia.
BHP Billitons GEMCO manganese mine, on the island of Groote Eylandt in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Challenges
According to DMEs 2013 release Helping
NT Explorers Attract International
Investment, most currently mined
resources within the Territory will
be exhausted by 2030, and the region
otherwise remained fundamentally
under-explored.
Large-scale investment in mining
across the world, but particularly in
Australia investment in mining is just
not what it used to be, Mr Perkins said.
This is a gap within the Northern
Territorys mining economy there isnt
enough exploration and investment
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51
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OCTOBER 2014
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Rio Tinto Coal Australia has focused on boosting production and cutting costs in the current challenging market.
The US$2 billion expansion of the Kestrel mine took four years to complete.
www.miningoilgas.com.au
Putting a cap
on fatigue
THE innovative SmartCap fatigue
monitoring technology is taking off around
the world, with major mining companies
implementing the solution across numerous
sites. EdanSafe, through the SmartCap
system, provides a complete operator fatigue
monitoring solution.
Twelve months after first going to
market, the SmartCap system is rapidly
being taken up within the mining industry,
EdanSafe chief executive Paul Butler said.
Mining
companies
currently
implementing the technology include Rio
Tinto, along with several others in mining
and mining services.
SmartCap measures fatigue directly by
monitoring brain activity, rather than by
inferring fatigue based on other symptoms
such as eye closure or driver behaviour. This
results in improved accuracy and reduced
false alarms.
An independent validation of SmartCap
was carried out at Monash University and
Austin Hospitals Institute of Breathing
and Sleep, which showed a 94.7 per cent
sensitivity in detecting fatigue impairment.
The key strength of the SmartCap
system is that it is predictive in nature by
alerting the operator before a micro-sleep
occurs, averting dangerous fatigue events,
Mr Butler said.
This system provides a significant
breakthrough in increasing safety for
mine vehicle operators. Without effective
monitoring, mining companies are not
managing fatigue risk as well as they could
be.
Further information is available on the
SmartCap website.
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OCTOBER 2014
We have worked to
significantly reduce
costs and improve
productivity across
all of Rio Tintos
Australian coal
mines, but still more
needs to be done.
NSW
RTCA is seeking planning approvals
to extend mining at its Mount Thorley
Warkworth mine to 2035, on the back of
forecasted growth in coal demand.
The Singleton operation is managed
by RTCA subsidiary Coal & Allied and
comprises two adjacent open cut mines,
which supply international and domestic
markets with semi-soft coking coal and
thermal coal. If approved, the extension
is expected to secure jobs for around 1300
people.
Rio Tinto managing director Chris
Salisbury said it was critical for the
project to secure new planning approvals
to remain viable.
Our current planning approvals
will only allow Mt Thorley Warkworth
to maintain existing production and
employment levels until the end of 2015,
Mr Salisbury said.
Recent research has shown an
increase in community support for
continuing operations at Mount Thorley
Warkworth. The research also found
people are concerned about the negative
impacts for the Hunter Valley economy
if these planning applications are not
approved.
The company has worked towards the
mines expansion for nearly five years.
The Kestrel expansion project increased the mines production capacity to 6mtpa of hard coking coal.
Rio Tinto Coal Australia recently sold its 51 per cent stake in the Clermont coal mine.
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55
Dampier Salt exports to Asia, Europe, Africa, North America and the Middle East.
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OCTOBER 2014
support.
The construction and installation
of communication systems is a highly
skilled and demanding task, which
Air Communications handles from the
ground up with a workforce that is
HSE-compliant for Australian mine sites.
Air Communications also specialises
in tower foundation formwork, tower
audits and certification, Ladsaf fall arrest
certification, microwave installation
and commissioning, DC power system
and tower aviation warning lights, RF
feeder installation and certification,
ground (earth) installation and testing,
wireless MESH and WiMAX design
and installations, and temporary solar
powered trailers for communication and
traffic control.
Seasoned producer
primes for demand
(continued from page 55)
The cornerstones
of DSLs operating
philosophy are
environmental rigour,
social responsibility and
economic contribution.
A multi-purpose mineral
Sodium chloride is well known for its use in cooking, however only about 6 per cent of
manufactured salt is actually consumed. Salt is mainly used in industry and agriculture,
including de-icing highways within cold climates (8 per cent); as a natural appetite
control mechanism for cattle (6 per cent); and the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride (PVC
polymers), plastics and paper pulp, from its chemical products caustic soda and chlorine.
Soap, glycerine, synthetic rubber and the ceramics industry also require salt.
China and the US dominate world salt production, producing 40 per cent of global
output, although Austria, Pakistan and Canada also produce substantial quantities. It is
one of the worlds oldest industries, and is today generated via three primary extraction
processes.
Rock salt produces industrial-quality product, and is mined from underground deposits
by drilling and blasting dried crystal formations from ancient seabeds.
Solar salt is extracted via natural evaporation of seawater or brine in large condenser
concentration ponds under sunlight, and is similarly of industrial quality (with impurities).
Evaporated salt is manufactured using a controlled system of pans which boil water
away from salt brine. The resulting product is fine, with few impurities, and is most
commonly used for human consumption.
A pivot access road at Rio Tinto Iron Ores Nammuldi below water table operations.
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COMPANIES GEARING UP
Kennards Hire Lift & Shifts new modular 300t spreader beams are ideally suited to mining, oil and gas, civil construction and infrastructure projects.
www.miningoilgas.com.au
COMPANIES GEARING UP
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COMPANIES GEARING UP
High quality
service just the
tip of the iceberg
WITH a commitment to customer satisfaction
its number one priority, HK Calibrations
offers expert instrument calibration and repair
services for all instrument types, including
test and measurement instruments.
HK Calibrations recently moved its
Perth premises to a new facility in Bibra
Lake, providing a single, centralised point of
contact for WA customers who can have their
instruments calibrated in one local place.
Along with promoting the WA economy, the
enhanced facility in Bibra Lake has allowed
HK Calibrations to maintain its commitment
to unmatched turnaround times.
HK Calibrations offers a full spectrum
of services for a range of equipment
including electronic and electrical, pressure
gauges, hard gauges, flow measurement,
telecommunication,
weighing
and
temperature, gas monitoring, dumpy levels,
surveying equipment, and occupational health
and safety equipment.
All work performed by HK Calibrations
conforms with ISO/IEC 17025 2005 standards
the premier ISO standard governing
the operation of all certified laboratories.
This includes reporting uncertainties of
measurement for each calibration, as required
by this standard.
The companys average turnaround time is
48 hours, which is an added commitment to its
level of service.
HK Calibrations business management
system is maintained to SAI Global ISO
9001:2000 standards, for added assurance
of quality service for every instrument
calibration.
worldwide.
It is the only saddle seat available
in four seat sizes, to maximise comfort
across
individual
variations
in
height, body shape, gender and work
environment.
All seats are Australian made
and come with a 30-day money back
guarantee and five-year warranty.
E: info@pindariwa.com
W: www.pindariwa.com
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COMPANIES GEARING UP
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OCTOBER 2014
COMPANIES GEARING UP
Opinion & Analysis
Assessment (EOTA).
ETAG provides rigorous test regimes
addressing
product
manufacture,
installation and in service performance.
An ETA is awarded with one of 12
different options covering different types of
applications such as cracked/non-cracked
concrete, strength of concrete, edge distance
and spacing, simplified/comprehensive
design models, traceability and installation
requirements. Durability, temperature,
exposure to fire, seismic performance,
sustained tension loading and repeated/
variable loading may also be assessed.
AEFAC formed as a
voice for the industry,
motivated by the need
to lift quality and safety
standards to prevent
failures and poor
practice which were
being observed all too
frequently.
Design guidelines
Complete and accurate specification is
imperative. There are numerous national
and international examples of failures
where poor product specification has
contributed to the loss of lives.
Installation
Many anchors are sensitive to installation,
and a product with an ETA is not exempt
from poor installation practice. The best
performing anchor is limited by the quality
of its installation.
Excellent general
guidance on the selection and installation
of anchors is provided in British Standard
8539:2012 Code of practice for the selection
and installation of post-installed anchors
in concrete and masonry.
Professions in other areas of the
construction industry mandate suitably
trained and qualified personnel such
as welders to install safety-critical
components. The anchor industry has no
such requirement yet the consequences of
failure are no less. The AEFAC installer
accreditation program has been developed
to improve installation of chemical
anchors, an area where poor installation
is frequently observed. This program is
closely based on the ACI-CRSI Adhesive
Anchor Installer Certification Program
that was introduced in the US in 2011.
Installers accredited through the program
will have demonstrated best-practice
through understanding manufacturers
installation instructions and executing the
installation as directed. Correct selection,
assembly and operation of installation
equipment, adequate hole cleaning,
correct mixing technique, correct chemical
injection technique to avoid air voids and
correct technique for anchor rod insertion
must all be demonstrated.
The installer must also be able to assess
ambient conditions, protect the anchor
from disturbance during curing, correctly
torque the anchor and understand when
additional guidance is required from a
supervisor/design engineer.
The examination will comprise a
written component comprising multiple
choice questions and a practical component
covering vertical down and blind overhead
installation.
Further information
AEFAC is setting quality and safety
standards and promoting innovation in
the fastener industry. Through various
forums such as building standards and
codes, technical publications and education
events, AEFAC is raising the profile of best
practice for the anchor industry. Correct
product selection, design and installation
ensure the product performs as intended
and ensures the safety of the project.
Technical advice on all of these topics is
freely available on the AEFAC website
(www.aefac.org.au), as well as links to
key resources and the ability to sign up
for alerts on newly released material and
upcoming events.
For further information contact
AEFACs National Technical Manager, Dr
David Heath at aefac@aefac.org.au.
www.miningoilgas.com.au
COMPANIES GEARING UP
0.2ppm to 2000ppm.
The superior accuracy of the CNSolution
9310 facilitates tighter control of the cyanide
concentration in the leaching process and
oxidising agent usage in the detoxification
process, significantly reducing the amount
of cyanide needed. A 10 per cent decrease
in cyanide usage can easily translate into
savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars
per year in the leaching and detoxification
costs for a milling operation.
OI Analytical also has an Available CN
model (WAD) which will be of particular
interest to the environmental departments
of gold mining operations.
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OCTOBER 2014
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COMPANIES GEARING UP
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Data Management
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OCTOBER 2014
Mental illness in
the workplace costs
Australian businesses
around $6.5 billion a
year, and is estimated
to affect one in five
Australians in their
lifetime.
Glenn also participates in an Employee
Assistance Program, which offers a 24-hour
telephone support line. In addition he
can get up to six face-to-face counselling
sessions each year if he needs it, all of
which are confidential and can help with
any difficulties.
All-in-all,
he
considers
himself
fortunate; when a previous employer found
out about Glenns depression and anxiety
they wanted to sack him.
I think the biggest problem for some
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67
Substance abuse
The use of hard drugs such as crystal methamphetamine or ice is now an
established problem in mining communities, particularly in the FIFO workforce.
Anecdotal evidence suggests the drug is preferred by workers because it
leaves the body faster than other drugs, such as cannabis. Workers can binge
on the drug when they are rostered off and it clears from the body normally
within three days.
The 2013 National Drugs Strategy Household Survey by the Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare showed that in just three years between
2010 and 2013 the use of ice doubled across Australia. The Australian Crime
Commission reported that border seizures of amphetamine type stimulants
in 2012-2013 were the highest on record and 22,189 arrests were made in
connection with the drug in that period.
The abundance of the drug in Australias mining regions is well known. The
Newcastle Herald recently reported that 85 per cent of motorists in the Hunter
Valley who tested positive during a three-day roadside drug blitz in August had
traces of methamphetamine in their system. In June police in the Surat Basin
charged a 30-year old Gold Coast man for possessing $10,000 worth of the drug
and for allegedly dealing to rural mining towns.
While the community, government and law enforcement wrestle with the
complexities of the issue, Australian mining companies are urged to ensure that
all employees have access to both preventative and remedial information and be
encouraged to seek treatment without fear of losing their job.
An amazing
holiday that
treats mental
health
THE healthy mind for life program is a get
away, get well mental health retreat and
holiday by Greg Neville Retreats.
Greg Neville Retreats provides a
complete education on the cause and cure of
psychological stress, the issues influencing
the chemical component behind mental
health conditions, plus all the lessons of life
required to get well.
Clients can access a wealth of 25 years
experience, all while enjoying an amazing
holiday full of wonderful activities available
in the region where the farmlands meet the
high country at Lake Eildon.
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A proactive
approach to
workforce wellness
MENTAL illness has an alarming impact
on the productivity of the Australian
workforce; an impact which is exacerbated
in Australias mining industry.
Reactive approaches to mental illness in
the workplace, such as employee assistance
programs, simply park the ambulance at the
bottom of the cliff they often offer too little,
too late.
Employers need healthy, present, active
employees. With research indicating that
worker anxiety and depression increases the
likelihood of workplace accident or injury, its
prudent to implement training that directly
mitigates the risk of mental illness.
By training individuals within a
workplace in social support skills, companies
can effectively establish an early intervention
mental health workforce. In other words,
this is mental health first aid with long term
support for workers.
Keystone Counselling specialises in
Mental Health Social Support training
courses which are designed to teach critical
skills to help identify and assist those with
a developing mental health issue. Mental
Health Social Support skills are taught across
a two-day interactive workshop. They cover
critical topics including fundamentals of
mental health and practical communication
micro skills.
The workshops also help identify the
signs and symptoms of mental health
problems, establish ways to help people in
the early stages of mental health problems,
outline the fundamentals of common mental
illnesses and provide ongoing skills to assist
with common mental illnesses.
the organisation.
Richmond Fellowship WA (RFWA) is
a leading mental health agency and a
key provider of evidence-based mental
health training targeted at managers
and human resources staff.
RFWAs training provides staff with
the skills and strategies to manage
mental health challenges in the
workplace, from early intervention to
return to work.
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Successful
implementation
of ILUAs will
require ongoing
management and
monitoring of your
business.
Legislative obligations
Management of Aboriginal cultural
heritage is mandated under state- based
cultural heritage legislation. Native title
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Fiona Hook and her company Archae-aus work closely with native title groups and land developers.
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cultural
management
plans,
run
cultural awareness training and oversee
the implementation
agreements.
of
land
access
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Indigenous Contractors
Tocomwall provides Aboriginal archaeological, ecological and cultural heritage services throughout
Australia.
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Indigenous Contractors
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UWA Business School Professor Ray Fells has authored a major text on effective negotiation.
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that murderous
phenomenon
known as uncontrolled escalation.
Yet we, the great unsung majority of
the worlds population, go about our
business peacefully and moderately
effectively.
The volume of negotiation events in
highly connected societies is immense
with the advent of the internet
but few of us ever think of the true
purpose of a negotiation, nor the means
by which we do it.
By
definition,
negotiation
is
every event, in person, in writing,
or electronic, by which we seek to
influence other peoples behaviour,
or vice versa. We talk about reaching
agreement,
achieving
consensus,
mutuality or resonance, but I suggest
that the true aspirational objective
of the negotiation process ought to be
creating value.
Regrettably our instincts tend
to let us down quite dramatically,
particularly when we negotiate at
speed (the norm these days, thanks to
email and mobile phones). While the
real objective is to achieve, wherever
possible, an integrative outcome, our
instincts seem to push us towards
distributive bargaining the most
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Eco Mining
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Meteorological Solutions
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Meteorological Solutions
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PROMOTIONAL
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Meteorological Solutions
ATRAD is a leading supplier of ground-based wind profiler radar systems used for measuring atmospheric phenomena.
ATRADs radar wind profilers provide information on relevant meteorological parameters including vertical profiles of wind speed and direction.
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SPX Flow Technologys Deltech air compressors provide reliable, high performance operations with optimised energy usage.
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technicians.
ENERVACs
extensive
range
of
custom-engineered products includes sulfur
hexafluoride gas servicing equipment, water
recycling and waste minimisation systems,
air and gas dryers, dehydrators, degasifiers,
filtration systems and coolant systems, plus
all related equipment and accessories.
While ENERVAC manufactures a broad
range of standard products covering most
an international level.
AVT Services is one of Australias foremost
vacuum specialists, offering customers a
complete portfolio of new vacuum equipment
and a select range of reconditioned vacuum
pumps and pumping systems.
Whether customers are looking for rough
vacuum, high vacuum pumps, systems or
accessories, AVT can offer the most reliable
service and advice.
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Smart operators
know that keeping
equipment clean is
a vital first step in
maintenance.
Mine sites report excellent results in
improved serviceability and dramatically
increased efficiency. The mobile steam
cleaner is particularly useful for infield
breakdowns. Having the plant properly
cleaned facilitates any service, even the
routine replacement of filters and other
essential maintenance functions.
With the increase in pressures used for
cleaning, operator safety becomes a big
issue. Maintenance teams, operating in
poor conditions, can take shortcuts that
can be killers.
Injuries from water jets can prove fatal
with chemicals and bacteria forced deep
into body tissue. Resulting infections
are difficult to treat and can lead to limb
amputation and even death.
Australian Pumps have produced a
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Bertolinis new CAX series of triplex pumps offer users reduced maintenance costs and extended pump life.
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Priceless investment
in essential assets
VEHICLE and wheelwash systems and
pressure cleaners are daily necessities
and important assets for mine sites.
Water quality issues play havoc with
machine performance and on cleaning
requirements for service, before leaving
site and for weed and seed.
The ThoroughClean Water Blasters
team takes a consultative approach to
mining, oil and gas clients needs to ensure
it fully understands the environmental
and budgetary requirements before
making a recommendation.
ThoroughClean Water Blasters, along
with its national distributor and service
network, has been a force in supply and
service of high quality mine specification
pressure cleaning equipment to the mining
and associated industries for many years.
Its unique ability to supply off-the-shelf
components and custom-built pressure
cleaning equipment to meet clients
special requirements ensures customers
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Turnkey mining
services, equipment
and technologies
LAUNCHED by Bill and Joe Catalano in
Brunswick WA more than 50 years ago,
B&J Catalano has evolved into a diversified
mining, civil and bulk haulage company.
Now in its second generation of family
owners and directors, B&J Catalano
has an experienced management team
and more than 300 employees. It offers
heavy earthworks, road construction and
maintenance, crushing capabilities, port
and mining services, site rehabilitation
services, material supply, and bulk haulage
services to the construction and mining
industry throughout WA.
B&J Catalano has a modern,
well-maintained fleet of heavy equipment,
including a range of bull dozers, graders,
excavators, scrapers, off-highway dump
trucks, water carts, compaction equipment,
prime movers and trailers, including acid
and petroleum tankers, operating from its
offices in Brunswick, Perth and Geraldton.
The company prides itself on being a
technology leader, and was one of the first
companies in Australia to embrace GPS
equipment guidance technology. It now
uses GPS technology in the majority of its
mining, civil and on-road and off-road bulk
haulage fleet.
B&J Catalanos clients appreciate
dealing with a single source contractor,
which provides a range of services to its
business rather than adding complexity
and cost dealing with a range of contractors.
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Echidnas range of earthmoving and mining equipment attachments are powerful and high quality.
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professional services.
UHF RFID tags enable invisible reading
of multiple tags from a distance. For those
who have little or no experience with RFID
but imagine it is likely to become part of
their asset management toolkit, it is highly
recommended they invest in an evaluation
kit that provides some exposure to tag
performance on assets.
Not all tags are the same, which is a
good thing, but managing expectations of
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Seeking partnerships in
the resources industry
PROFILE Injection Moulding specialises
in the manufacture of a wide range of
commercial and industrial plastic products.
Profile Injection Moulding is interested
in partnering with companies looking to
substitute metal products for plastic to aid
with corrosion and friction reduction and
reduce the weight of components.
There is a wide opportunity for plastic
substitution of various mechanical
fittings, couplings and guards. New
plastics can provide a cost effective,
strong and environmentally sound
alternative to metal ones. Maintenance
and corrosion costs can be a major
issue in remote or coastal locations and
plastic can be a substitute to metals.
Profile Injection Moulding welcomes the
chance to discuss these opportunities
in more detail with interested parties
by telephone or in person at its
Plastics can provide a cost effective and environmentally sound alternative to metals.
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Freight Forwarders
Toll Global Forwarding provides a comprehensive suite of domestic and international freight
forwarding and advanced supply chain services.
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Larnec Doors & Systems products are manufactured to the highest standards.
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Electrical Contractors
Contractor committed
to quality, safety and
community
QUEENSLAND-owned and operated
electrical
contractor
Regional
Instrumentation and Electrical Services
(RIE Services) offers technical services
and expertise to the mining, oil and gas
and power sectors.
RIE Services specialises in electrical
and instrumentation services in hazardous
areas. With a leadership team with more
than 45 years of combined experience in
the field, the company is committed to
quality, safety and the environment.
Based in Southeast Queensland, RIE
Services guarantees quality, reliable,
efficient, safe and professional services
in brownfield projects, calibrations
and commissioning for all clients and
customers.
The ISO-accredited company has
worked on a number of large resources
projects in Queensland, including
as a contractor for Queensland Gas
Companys operations in the Surat and
Bowen basins.
Its highly skilled workforce has
delivered services on time and met the
specifications and requirements within
the project scope each time.
The key to RIE Services success is the
quality of its team, with staff drawn from
across the manufacturing, maintenance
and construction industries and bringing
with them skills and experience in the
instrument and electrical fields.
With a commitment to supporting the
community it operates in and an emphasis
on workplace health and safety, quality
and risk management, RIE Services has an
exceptionally good record across the board.
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historical
The Clifton Colliery, seen here circa 1900, was located near Coalcliff the site of the countrys first coal
discovery.
The Mt Kembla coal mine explosion remains Australias worst mining disaster.
Newcastle Coal Mining Companys coal arch in Australias main coal port, Newcastle, in 1897.
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leisure
Amalieborg Palace is where the Danish Royal family reside during the winter months.
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the interview
HLB Mann Judd managing partner and national mining
and resources industry group chair Norman Neill
HLB Mann Judd managing partner
Norman Neill spoke to Jane
Goldsmith.
A. Ive always
been here at
HLB. People ask
why Ive stayed
here so long,
and it essentially
came down
to the people
I work with
internally
as well as
our clients
and the
opportunities
Ive received
along the way.
At all points in my
career where Ive
wanted development
and expansion,
HLB was able to
provide those
opportunities.
I began as a graduate, so I did
various jobs such as auditing and tax
returns. Within the first few years I
concentrated on auditing and support
services, independent accountants
reports and prospectus reports. I
worked my way through the ranks; I
became a partner in 2003 and in the 10
years preceding that I was in various
managerial and supervisor roles.
In July this year I became the
managing partner of the firm in WA,
and Im keen to develop our leadership
culture.
The chair role is one of coordination
theres the behind the scenes items,
like chairing meetings, but mostly
it is about being a figurehead and
providing a point of contact for mining
representatives to share their ideas.
A. Internally, it relates to