February
Surviving mining’s boom and bust
Price bubbles have burst and priorities have shifted, but a huge opportunity exists to shape a low-carbon future. What can the mining sector do differently?
Tesla chairwoman tackles Canberra on tax breaks for nickel, lithium miners
Robyn Denholm will help spearhead the fight for tax breaks in critical minerals just days after Andrew Forrest calls out Elon Musk for buying Indonesian nickel.
- Brad Thompson
Chinese technicians parachuted in to fix ailing WA lithium plant
Battery chemical giant Albemarle’s problems with its $2.3 billion lithium hydroxide plant in WA will be tackled by an expert team from China.
- Brad Thompson
‘Complacent’ iron ore market vulnerable to lithium-style crash
Iron ore prices are not factoring in a wave of new supply, leaving the commodity vulnerable to the same collapse that smashed battery metals, Yarra warns.
- Alex Gluyas
Lithium aspirant Vulcan hopeful of $825m European loan
The financial backing of a public agency could help create a level playing field for European lithium with its US and Chinese rivals, Vulcan’s boss says.
- Hans van Leeuwen
IGO boss says review of dud nickel buy ‘confronting’
The miner has slashed the value of the two mining projects by 75 per cent – and warned investors to be prepared for even bigger write-downs.
- Elouise Fowler
Pilbara Minerals to plead case for lithium tax breaks
The lithium miner says the government needs to step up as an industry delegation heads for Canberra.
- Brad Thompson
Billionaire MinRes founder slams critics over balance sheet
Chris Ellison has blasted his critics and talked up iron ore after moving to limit production from one of the world’s biggest lithium mines.
- Brad Thompson
Mineral Resources on lithium cost-cutting mission as it exits Azure
Billionaire mining boss Chris Ellison says MinRes will focus on driving down the cost of production at its WA lithium mines while prices remain depressed.
- Brad Thompson
Sayona Mining shareholder launches $60m block trade
Canaccord Genuity’s desk launched the block trade in Sayona Mining after market close on Wednesday, seeking buyers for about 11 per cent of the company.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Nickel tax breaks a coup for ‘the other minerals council’
The government’s consideration of tax credits for critical minerals producers is emblematic of a Perth lobby group’s rise from obscurity to influence.
- Peter Ker
Why short sellers could be wrong on Pilbara and IDP
Short sellers are not always right, but investors need to understand their thinking, say the experts.
- Mark Draper
Australia seeks clarity on when Chinese ties will bar miners from US cash
The Australian government has asked the US to tighten access to its critical minerals subsidies, including by expanding bans on Chinese political party members.
- Peter Ker
Wesfarmers won’t make money off lithium at current prices
CEO Rob Scott concedes the group won’t make money off lithium at current prices, but says longer term it can deliver good returns to shareholders.
- Updated
- Carrie LaFrenz and Brad Thompson
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
BHP faces nickel reality as Wesfarmers keeps lithium faith
The brutal structural changes in the nickel sector have put BHP’s assets on the critical list. But Wesfarmers says it can play the long game in lithium.
- James Thomson
Liontown boss says more mines will close without bailout
Tony Ottaviano says politicians have done a good job of listening on the plight of the lithium and nickel industries but without action more mine closures and job losses are inevitable.
- Brad Thompson
Prices have slumped, but there’s no transition without these miners
Miners are pinning their future on metals needed for decarbonisation and many are snapping up assets around Australia.
- Peter Ker
- Opinion
- Review
Australia can save the global lithium industry from the Chinese state
The government should help establish financial trading markets for lithium-related products, a step that would reduce the risk of foreign market manipulation.
- Alex Turnbull
Terms out for Latin Resources spin-off Maverick
The float is anchored by exploration projects to be spun out of lithium mid-cap Latin Resources, which is capitalised at $410 million on the local exchange.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
- Exclusive
- Critical minerals
‘Is anyone going to pay’ for a green premium?
Resources Minister Madeleine King says she is determined to push Europeans to value “green premium” Australian critical minerals above cheaper rivals.
- Jacob Greber
