Quick fire – industry news briefs

UGL has been awarded a contract to provide brownfields construction services for Santos’ Darwin LNG life extension project. The company said works for this contract would commence immediately, with up to 100 jobs to be generated through the life of the project. Applications are now open for Round 17 of the Territory Government’s Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations program. More than half of the $3 million funding pool will be directed towards projects targeting commodities on the NT’s critical minerals list, which has recently seen the addition of two new critical minerals. Gallium and graphite increase the number of critical minerals listed in the NT from 15 to 17. In 2023, the Territory's first gallium resource was announced at Transition Minerals' Barkly rare earths‑vanadium project. Evolution Mining has appointed Nancy Guay (pictured left) as chief technical officer, accountable for various technical functions including studies, projects, long term planning, and technical services. Ms Guay has worked in various roles in Canada and Australia. She most recently held the role of VP - technology, optimisation, and innovation at Agnico Eagle Mines with oversight of 12 operations worldwide including the Fosterville gold mine in Victoria. Sedgman has acquired engineering company Prudentia Engineering, saying the move enhances its critical minerals and mineral processing expertise in copper, high purity alumina, vanadium, lithium, cobalt, rare earths, uranium and nickel. “We welcome the Prudentia Engineering people to the team and look forward to working with them," Sedgman managing director Grant Fraser said. "Sedgman Prudentia strengthens our critical minerals, energy, and chemicals capabilities while complementing our existing expertise, so we can provide our clients with a broader service offering.” The Queensland Rail network was used to transport more than 1.4 million tonnes of sugar in 2023, the most recorded since 2019. Queensland Rail head of regional Scott Cornish said it was fantastic to see the growth in freight movement go hand in hand with Queensland’s population increase and economic activity. “Last year, we also saw more than 950,000 tonnes of grain transported on our rail network – the most recorded in the last decade," he said. “We know how important our rail network is to connecting communities, and ensuring people can receive the goods they need, when they need them. “That’s why we are committed to improving and maintaining our assets that span more than 6,600km across the state through projects like our $77 million North Coast line capacity improvement, which will see freight trains being able to extend in length from around 650 metres to 950 metres.” Former APA Group chief executive officer and managing director Rob Wheals has been appointed chief executive officer of Squadron Energy, and current CEO Jason Willoughby will become chairman. Squadron executives Jason Willoughby and Rob Wheals. Squadron is owned by Andrew and Nicola Forrest’s Tattarang group. Tattarang chief executive officer John Hartman said he was pleased that two of Australia’s highest performing energy infrastructure executives are now at the helm of Australia’s largest renewable energy operator and developer. “I congratulate Jason on his move to chairman. As well as operating five wind farms delivering 1.1 gigawatts (GW), under his leadership Squadron is the only company to finance and start construction on a major wind project in Australia last year, we opened Bango Wind Farm and installed the first turbines at Clarke Creek Wind Farm.”

Quick fire – industry news briefs

Industry Queensland

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