Tag Archives: Wodgina

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.

Altrad eyes ‘value-adding opportunity’ with Valmec acquisition

Mining mergers and acquisitions, Mining services, Power supply for mines, , , ,

ASX-listed energy services group Valmec is to be acquired by Altrad Australia Pty Ltd in a deal that values Valmec at A$52 million ($38 million).

The two have entered a binding Scheme Implementation Deed (SID) for the cash acquisition by Altrad for Valmec, with the scheme to be voted on at a shareholders meeting in mid-October 2021.

Altrad, a leader in industrial maintenance services headquartered in France, has identified Valmec as a significant value-adding opportunity for its client base and service offering.

Altrad Services Chief Executive Officer, Asia Pacific Region, Neil Sadler, said: “The acquisition of Valmec will mark another transformational milestone for our Asia-Pacific business and deliver a value-accretive step change in the scale and diversity for our company. Once the scheme is implemented, I look forward to working with my leadership team and the Valmec team to identify value-adding opportunities for our combined existing and prospective client bases.”

Among other work in the mining sector, Valmec has previously been contracted at Newmont’s Tanami project in the Northern Territory of Australia – infrastructure works at the Tanami Expansion 2 (TE2) project – and Mineral Resources Wodgina lithium project in Western Australia – delivering a gas pipeline.

Valmec secures gas pipeline facility contract at Mineral Resources’ Wodgina lithium project

Energy minerals, Mine operation news, Mineral project development, Mining services, , ,

Energy services group Valmec has secured a number of sustaining capital works contracts across its Energy & Infrastructure division, with one of these being for Mineral Resources’ Wodgina lithium project in Western Australia.

Its new works contracts – which include the Wodgina agreement, a compression installation for Beach Energy Ltd and infrastructure development works for Pilbara Ports Authority and Water Corp – have a combined value of A$10 million ($7.2 million).

The Wodgina contract will see the company complete a facility for an 81 km, 10 inch (0.25 m) gas pipeline feeding a combined 64 MW power station at the project. This pipeline is expected to be commissioned in the March quarter and be operational in the June quarter, according to Mineral Resources.

In March, Mineral Resources commenced onsite construction of essential non-process infrastructure services and utilities assets, a new crushing plant and a new 750,000 t/y spodumene concentrate beneficiation plant to produce 6% spodumene concentrate at Wodgina.