Quick fire – industry news update

Queensland Pacific Metals has entered into a binding ore supply agreement with Maï Kouaoua Mines for up to 300,000 wmt per annum. MKM is the fourth New Caledonian mining company to enter into an ore supply agreement with QPM to feed its planned TECH battery metals plant in Townsville. QPM said it had contracted up to 2.1m wmt of nickel ore for the TECH Project, providing it with flexibility and security to meet nameplate capacity requirements of 1.6m wmt per annum. The Fitzroy mines rescue team has come out on top at this year's Queensland Mines Rescue Service Memorial Cup competition, hosted at Glencore's Oaky North mine. Fitzroy’s team, made up of employees from the Carborough Downs and Ironbark No.1 operations, also received excellence accolades for first aid and firefighting. "With a total of five teams competing, four of Fitzroy’s team members were also given the opportunity to be a part of a Barbarians team that allowed them to be exposed to further training as rescue members," the company said. Second place in the competition was claimed by the team from BMA’s Broadmeadow mine, while Thungela’s Ensham mine won third place. The proposed Winchester South open cut metallurgical coal mine continues to progress through the Queensland Government’s Coordinated Project approval process. Whitehaven Coal said its project team submitted the Response to Submissions Report to the Office of Coordinator General (OCG) late last month, answering submissions received during public notification of the revised draft EIS. The company is continuing to complete a feasibility study, with detailed studies underway across all project work streams. The Bowen Basin mine would deliver an average ROM production of 15 Mtpa at full capacity for about 30 years. Maas Group Holdings has entered a $39 million deal to acquire a controlling interest in the Austek group of companies. A further consideration $11.25 million may be payable, contingent on Austek achieving certain EBIT targets. Austek is a large asphalt services business with about 100 employees, servicing the Brisbane and Gold Coast markets, as well as regional areas of Queensland. Austek’s asphalt plant is located at Yatala. Maas has entered into a binding agreement to acquire 75 per cent of the issued share capital of Austek, subject to conditions. Work is underway on a $1.7 million maintenance outage on Unit B1 at Callide Power Station, near Biloela in Central Queensland. Owner CS Energy said Unit B1 was one of its most reliable units over summer and required some proactive maintenance to support its reliability over the winter months. About 100 people from CS Energy and Downer are in the shutdown project. The scope includes maintenance on B1’s electrostatic precipitators and condenser, and heavy electrical preventative inspections. CS Energy said the works would continue until May 15, covering what was typically a period of lower demand in the market. Resources Safety and Health Queensland has released the final draft Recognised Standard (RS) 01: Underground electrical equipment and electrical installations, reviewed by the Recognised Standard Tripartite Working Group (RSTWG). The RSTWG has considered feedback received during the first round of consultation and is now seeking further feedback from stakeholders by COB May 25. View the document HERE

Quick fire – industry news update

Industry Queensland

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