Australia

Galilee Basin mega mine by the numbers [infographic]

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The Indian-Australian consortium GVK-Hancock recently received the approval of the Australian government to move forward with its ambitious project: the Kevin’s Corner mine, located in the Galilee Basin. The development of the project is expected to start in 2015 with the first coal being produced in 2018. But, despite the economical advantages of the mine and the approval … Read more

Solomon Kings mine gets new fleet of automated Caterpillar trucks

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The Solomon Hub Kings iron mine, located in the Australian region Pilbara and managed by the company Fortescue Metals Group, has a new fleet of autonomous trucks installed by Caterpillar. The two companies signed a deal back in July, which included the complete MineStar technology suite, in order to modernize the operation. At the time, Caterpillar’s vice president, Chris Curfman, … Read more

Green group Save the Tarkine wants to block Venture Minerals’ mine

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Environmental groups keep fighting the mining activity in the Tarkine region of Tasmania, in Australia, where the fauna and flora are being affected. The organizations claim the government has failed to properly consider the impact of mining on species like the Tasmanian devil. The group Save the Tarkine is challenging the authorities’ approval given to Venture Minerals’ project, which … Read more

A closer look to the Autonomous Haulage System used by Rio Tinto

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Imagine if a 50-foot robot truck could take dangerous work away from human miners… That’s exactly what is happening in the mines operated by the major company Rio Tinto. In Australian pits, there’s a series of robotic trucks that load, haul and dump ore and waste rock at open pit mines, a job that used … Read more

Changes in New South Wales mining assessments can boost corruption

The Government of New South Wales, in Australia, is preparing changes for minings assessments that could attract the increase of corruption, says the NSW Greens group. The changes recently announced are more focused on the economic benefits and that is raising general concern in the country. John Kaye, NSW Greens MP, claims these alterations will re-create a Labor’s coal-development at … Read more