News updates on Origin Energy, Mount Isa Mines, Sunshine Gold, Centrex, Windlab, Defence tenders and more …

Origin Energy will divest its Beetaloo Basin (NT) gas interests for $60 million and royalties.

The company will undertake a strategic review of all remaining exploration permits with a view to exiting them, excluding its interests in Australia Pacific LNG.

“The decision to divest our interest in the Beetaloo and exit other upstream exploration permits over time, will enable greater flexibility to allocate capital towards our strategic priorities to grow cleaner energy and customer solutions, and deliver reliable energy through the transition,” Origin chief executive officer Frank Calabria said.

“We believe gas will continue to play an important role in the energy mix and it remains a core part of our business. Notwithstanding the prospectivity of any of these permits, typically the experience in progressing these types of projects is that the exploration and appraisal phase can be uncertain, and it can be capital intensive to bring projects into production.”

An ammonia leak at a chiller plant on the surface and a separate incident underground triggered emergency response procedures at Mount Isa Mines around lunchtime today (September 19).

The leak was detected from a valve within the sealed area of a restricted access chiller plant. Glencore said the monitoring system triggered an alarm and a controlled response in accordance with operating procedures.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Service responded as an additional control measure. No employees or contractors were impacted and the valve has been repaired.

“In a separate incident underground, a piece of falling rock struck a worker resulting in an injury. Queensland Ambulance Service responded and the worker is undergoing a precautionary medical review,” a company spokeswoman stated.

“These incidents have been reported to the regulator and we have commenced internal investigations.”

A geophysical survey has identified a compelling drill-ready target under Wilbur’s Hill at Sunshine Gold’s Ravenswood West project in North Queensland.

The TITAN IP-MT geophysical survey identified a strong, pipe-like anomaly of about 250m thick at Wilbur’s Hill.

“The geophysical survey confirms the potential for a large-scale gold system with geological affinities to the
nearby 1.0 Moz Mount Wright gold mine and 3.5 Moz Mount Leyshon gold mine,” Sunshine Gold managing director Damien Keys said.

“The Northern Fault Zone target also contains numerous coincident features. Diamond and RC drilling will commence in October 2022.”

Squadron Energy chief executive officer Eva Hanly (pictured left) has been appointed chair of renewable energy developer Windlab.

Windlab has developed more than 1GW of wind farms in North America, Australia, New Zealand and Southern Africa and amassed a pipeline of wind farm development projects in excess of 10GW.

Windlab is currently working to deliver the Clarke Creek wind farm in Central Queensland for Squadron Energy.

Tenders are open for accommodation refurbishments at RAAF Townsville. This project involves internal refurbishment works to three buildings, demolition, repaint internal walls and ceilings, repaint or replace existing painted flooring, refurbish ablutions and laundry areas, fire services, replace obsolete fire system components and upgrade fire detection system.

Tenders close October 13. Details here: Current ATM View – EST08487: AusTender (tenders.gov.au)

Phosphate miner Centrex has announced that subsidiary Agriflex has expanded its team to manage sales, pricing, shipping, and logistics coordination through the appointment of sales and pricing manager William (Bill) Milhail (pictured right).

Mr Mihail’s most recent role was as supply manager for industrial chemical fertiliser manufacturer Incitec Pivot Limited. The company has also appointed Veda Business as its shipping and logistics coordinator.

“Together they bring considerable global fertiliser industry experience in sales and export logistics, greatly assisting the operation of the Ardmore phosphate rock mine,” Centrex managing director Robert Mencel said.

Epiroc has agreed to acquire a majority stake (53 per cent) of Radlink, an Australian company that provides mines with wireless connectivity solutions.

Radlink, headquartered in Perth, designs, delivers, and integrates wireless data and voice communication networks and supporting infrastructure to surface and underground mines throughout Australia.

“Radlink’s powerful network connectivity solutions will support Epiroc as we continue to provide mining companies with automation and digital solutions that make operations safer and more efficient,” Epiroc president and chief executive officer Helena Hedblom said.