Tag Archives: MinRes

MinRes awards Indigenous-owned Coolingah with Wodgina worker transport contract

Energy minerals, Mining services, Sustainable mining, , , , , , ,

Mineral Resources (MinRes) has awarded a five-year contract to 100% Indigenous-owned business Coolingah for the dry hire of three coaches to service MinRes’ Wodgina lithium mine in the Pilbara of Western Australia.

A fleet of 57-seat coaches arrived at Wodgina during the recent NAIDOC Week and will be used to transfer MinRes’ workforce across the mine site.

Coolingah is owned and operated by Kariyarra Elder, Patricia Mason, who expressed immense pride in securing the contract, highlighting its significance in helping shape her and her family’s future.

“Thank you to MinRes for believing in me and my family, and for your support making this contract possible,” Mason said. “MinRes sees value in supporting Indigenous businesses and helping them grow and reach their potential. This contract helps open the door to future opportunities.

“I set up Coolingah to provide something to pass onto my children and grandchildren – this business is their future.”

MinRes General Manager Communities and Heritage, Heath Nelson, said the partnership underscored the company’s commitment to fostering strong relationships with Indigenous businesses and supporting their growth and development.

“We are proud of the close partnerships MinRes has formed with a range of Indigenous businesses, including Coolingah, which is owned and operated by a Traditional Owner on lands where we operate,” Heath said.

“Last financial year, MinRes significantly increased our Indigenous business spend compared to the year prior and we are committed to continuing to increase our spend by identifying Indigenous businesses to work with and support in achieving their goals.

“By collaborating with Indigenous businesses, we not only support their economic growth but also contribute to the social and cultural wellbeing of the communities.”

Coolingah has also accessed MinRes’ guaranteed finance facility, which provides additional financial support to Indigenous businesses, allowing the company to secure capital to purchase the coaches and ensure they meet operational demands at the Wodgina mine site.

“The corporate finance guarantee demonstrates MinRes’ commitment to empowering Indigenous businesses and fostering their growth and sustainability,” Nelson added.

The Wodgina mine site, 120 km south of Port Hedland in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, is one of the largest hard-rock lithium mines in the world.

MinRes takes delivery of Hitachi EX3600 excavator for Onslow Iron

Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, , , , , ,

Mineral Resources Ltd has taken delivery of a Hitachi EX3600 hydraulic excavator at its Ken’s Bore mine site, set to support its Onslow Iron project in Western Australia.

The brand new excavator was transported via four trucks, travelling 1,350 km from Perth, and will be used to construct haul roads, run of mine pad and mining broken stocks.

It made the trip along with a haul truck and drill – just some of the 15 haul trucks, three excavators and four drills that will work on site when the mine is fully operational.

MinRes’ A$3 billion ($2 billion) Onslow Iron project is, MinRes says, set to redefine mining in Western Australia, shipping around 35 Mt/y of iron ore from mid-2024. It is owned through the unincorporated Red Hill Iron Joint Venture, which is 40% held by MinRes, who will manage the project, with the other partners being Baowu, AMCI and POSCO.

Mineral Resources’ achieves energy strategy milestone with Wonmunna solar installation

Environmental, Mine operation news, Mining services, Power supply for mines, Steel and iron ore, , , , , , , , , ,

Mineral Resources (MinRes) says it has marked an important milestone in its energy strategy with the successful installation of a 2.1 MW solar-battery system at its Wonmunna iron ore project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Located 80 km northwest of Newman, the Wonmunna mine was purchased as an undeveloped project in the 2021 financial year. First ore was achieved just five months after construction began at the site and during the 2022 financial year, production from Wonmunna ramped up to 5 Mt/y.

Installation of the 5B Maverick solar technology at the Wonmunna site – complete with more than 4,000 solar panels – was completed during the 2023 financial year. Following successful testing and optimisation works, the technology is now providing significant benefits for site operations and reducing dependency on diesel fuel, MinRes says.

The combined solar-battery system will produce more that 30% of the mine’s power requirements and ultimately cut diesel consumption by approximately 760,000 litres each year, while reducing the site’s carbon emissions by around 2,000 t/y of carbon dioxide equivalent.

In addition, the crusher at the site is powered 100% by the system during the middle of the day when renewable output meets peak plant load.

During the warmer summer months, the system can achieve more than 40% displacement on any given day – and, with a 20-year life span, it can be redeployed to other operations once Wonmunna reaches its end-of-life, MinRes says.

Chief Executive Energy, Darren Hardy, said the Wonmunna solar and battery array at Wonmunna was a positive step forward in the company’s renewable energy strategy.

“MinRes is committed to pursuing renewable energy opportunities where we can and our team has been working hard to deliver a solar array and battery solution that delivers optimum output at Wonmunna,” Hardy said. “Together with natural gas, renewables will play an important role in our energy future, and MinRes continues to pursue off-grid solar power and energy storage solutions to support our remote locations.”

Gas and LNG power stations currently supporting MinRes’ lithium operations at Mt Marion in the Goldfields and Wodgina in the Pilbara are delivering significant emissions savings, according to the company. This includes a 64 MW capable power station at Wodgina, which is the largest of its kind on a mine site in the southern hemisphere, the company says.

At the upcoming Onslow Iron project, also in the Pilbara, MinRes will install a range of energy solutions designed to offset diesel with alternative fuels and renewable energy options, energy storage, and electrification of mobile equipment and transport.

MinRes says it recognises the need for meaningful action to address climate change and is committed to investing in activities that reduce the carbon intensity of its operations and maintaining best-practice environmental, social and governance performance.

The company’s Roadmap to Net Zero Emissions outlines MinRes’ pathway towards a transition to gas, renewable energy and other emerging technologies to support its operations and reduce its carbon intensity – including the company’s goal to achieve of net-zero emissions by 2050.