Q1 2021 DIGGING & DRILLING Magazine OUT NOW!

AUSTRALIA • CHINA • INDIA • JAPAN • NEW ZEALAND • ASIA PACIFIC

D&D JAN – MAR 2021 • ISSUE 31

AUSTRALASIA

AUSTRALASIA’S QUARTERLY OIL , GAS & MINING MAGAZINE

ENTERPRISE 1 GAS DISCOVERY IN OTWAY BASIN DIGGERS AND DEALERS MINING FORUM 2020 EVENT TOTAL & BP LEAD CHARGE IN GREEN STRATEGIC SHIFT WOODSIDE USES LARGE-SCALE COMPUTING TO DELIVER SEISMIC RESULTS

Editor’s Letter

LEN FRETWELL Publisher / Managing Editor Digging & Drilling Australasia Magazine

We congratulate Jim Walker and his team on the resounding success of the 29th annual Diggers and Dealers Mining Forum, three-day event held in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia in October 2020.

Even with hard borders and restrictions on international travel in place, this year’s attendance was 1,968 WA delegates. The Hon Mark McGowan BA LLB MLA Western Australian Premier; Minister for Public Sector Management; State Development, Jobs and Trade; Federal-State Relations made the Opening Address. The resources industry welcomed the Premier to Kalgoorlie to discuss his government’s response to the pandemic and his views on the future of the Western Australian mining industry. A much-appreciated special exemption granted to the resources sector during COVID-19 restrictions allowed mining operations to continue to generate much-needed employment and revenue for the Australian and Western Australian economies.

For the first time MRIWA awards all PhD scholarships to women in 2021. Winners will undertake innovative mining-related research at WA universities. Three PhD scholarships funded by the State Government, through the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA), have been awarded to talented professionals working to deliver innovative research relevant to the State’s mining industry. Elizabeth Wall has been awarded the Odwyn Jones PhD Scholarship, Devika Bhatia has been awarded the MRIWA PhD Scholarship for Women and a third PhD Scholarship has been offered to Alexandra Halliday. We congratulate all scholarship winners. More information about the MRIWA Scholarships program is available at https://www.mriwa.wa.gov.au/research-funding/phd-scholarship-program/ The Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) released by the Australian Federal Government confirmed the mining industry’s significant contribution to Australia’s economic recovery. This contribution is anticipated to improve the cash deficit of $15.9 billion in 2020-21.

Treasury noted that higher-than-expected iron ore prices have led to company tax receipts being $3.4 billion higher in 2020-21 than forecast in October and expects mining exports to grow by 5 per cent in 2021-22. The budget update highlights the importance of stable and mutually beneficial trade to Australian jobs, incomes and government revenue. The Morrison Government has committed to more flexible workplace relations rules, more timely environment approvals and more modern, industry-led education and training system which will strengthen economic growth.

Woodside has delivered a record annual production of 100.3 MMboe, has delivered Q4 2020 sales revenue of $920 million, up 32% from Q3 2020 and delivered sales volume of 29.1 MMboe, up 9% from Q3 2020. Woodside CEO Peter Coleman said 2020 annual production was 12% higher than in 2019. Sales revenue in Q4 2020 rose 32% compared with the third quarter on the back of higher oil and gas prices. “Our teams delivered significant progress on our growth projects during the fourth quarter.

Mr Coleman also stated production licences were awarded for the processing of Scarborough gas through an expanded Pluto facility and we remain on track for a targeted final investment decision on the development in the second half of this year. “Oil and gas prices have strengthened considerably heading into the first quarter of 2021. We agreed to our highest ever spot LNG price for delivery in the coming quarter, surpassing our previous record set in 2012. “Similarly, Vincent crude and Wheatstone condensate are also being priced at record premiums to Brent crude, compounding the impact of the sharp increases in crude pricing and reflecting continued improving economic conditions in much of Asia.

Best regards

Len F retwell Len Fretwell Publisher/Managing Editor

www.diggingdrilling.com

@DigandDrill

JANUARY – MARCH 2021 DIGGING & DRILLING MAGAZINE

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WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE »

IN THIS ISSUE 3

EDITOR’S LETTER

8

DIGGERS & DEALERS MINING FORUM 2020

12

WOODSIDE USES LARGE-SCALE COMPUTING TO DELIVER SEISMIC RESULTS

14

DE GRAY MINING FALCON GOLD DISCOVERY

18

AUSTRALIA - CHINA COAL RESTRICTIONS

22

ENTERPRISE 1 GAS DISCOVERY IN OTWAY BASIN

24

TOTAL & BP LEAD CHARGE IN GREEN STRATEGIC SHIFT

DIGGING & DRILLING PO BOX 7566, CLOISTERS SQUARE WA 6850 AUSTRALASIA TEL: +61 1300 284 637 FAX: +61 (8) 9300 9435 FEEDBACK INFO@DIGGINGDRILLING.COM NEWS INQUIRIES EDITOR@DIGGINGDRILLING.COM ADVERTISING INQUIRIES LEN.FRETWELL@DIGGINGDRILLING.COM • MOBILE: 0417 001 080 EDITOR WRITERS GUEST WRITERS SPECIAL FEATURES

LEN FRETWELL LENA KOZAK, STEPHEN DAWSON JIM WALKER – DIGGERS & DEALERS MINING FORUM, JOSEPH CHANG – ICIS EMMANUEL SOLOMON

GRAPHIC DESIGNER ZARA MATHWIN SUBSCRIPTION SUBSCRIPTION@DIGGINGDRILLING.COM PUBLISHING DIGGING AND DRILLING IS A TRADING NAME OF LF FAMILY TRUST INFORMATION ABN: 97 893 623 301 VISIT US AT WWW.DIGGINGDRILLING.COM FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @DiggandDrill COVER WOODSIDE PLUTO LNG PLANT, KARRATHA, WESTERN AUSTRALIA IMAGE SOURCE: WOODSIDE ENERGY LTD

Digging & Drilling Australasia welcomes comments and suggestions, as well as information about errors that call for corrections. We are committed to presenting information fairly and accurately.

Disclaimer: Reasonable care is taken to ensure that Digging & Drilling magazine articles and other information are up-to-date and accurate as possible, as at the time of publication, but no responsibility can be taken for any errors or omissions contained herein. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Digging & Drilling Magazine. The publisher, editors, contributors and related parties shall have no responsibility for any action or omission by any other contributor, consultant, editor or related party.

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MOMENTS IN PICS »

Diggers & Dealers

Mining Forum 2020

JANUARY – MARCH 2021 DIGGING & DRILLING MAGAZINE

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Diggers & Dealers Mining Forum 2020 With the 2020 Diggers & Dealers Mining Forum behind us, we are pleased to report that the 3-day event was a resounding success. Even with hard borders and restrictions on international travel, this year’s attendance of 1,968 WA delegates, was a fantastic outcome for attendees, sponsors, and the local Kalgoorlie economy. The WesTrac Gala Dinner, which closes off the three days of networking, presenting and exhibiting, was fully booked with 1,200 attendees.

To accommodate access to Diggers and Dealers content by those who couldn’t travel to Kalgoorlie this year, a free-to-use live stream was put in place and I am pleased to report that this reached 3,500 individual users over the three days. Four out of the fifty-four presenters were patched into the Forum using video conferencing from their hometowns and a mobile text messaging service provided easy access for those remote viewers keen to get a question to the presenter.

The majority of viewers on the streaming service were investors, along with an impressive list of fund managers, bankers, brokers, and service providers. 86% of these users were based in Australia, followed by the UK, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Germany, Singapore, Hong Kong Great Britain, Spain, China, UAE, Thailand, Philippines, South Africa, Russia, Malaysia, Ireland, Austria, Switzerland, Japan, Peru, Panama, Netherlands, Monaco, India, Ghana, Finland, Fiji, Senegal and Papua New Guinea. In total, a list of 47 countries were on the streaming service, a testament to the relevance of the Australian mining industry to the world.

The introduction of the Diggers & Dealers News Bureau staffed by two experienced journalists, Tess Ingram and Josh Chiat, provided Australian and overseas media with a stream of stories on presentations each day, plus a daily “Chairman’s wrap” and thematic stories (battery minerals and merger prospects in the gold sector).

Some eastern states media covered the forum via the live streaming facility, a major outlet conducted an on-line interview with two presenters and we set up an on-line media conference with a presenter from Sydney for the media in attendance at Diggers.

The outcome of all these factors is that, paradoxically, although “live” media presence at Diggers was slightly lower due to hard borders, overall media coverage was well up on previous years.

Adjusting the forum to be a COVID-safe event saw several

We look forward to seeing everyone in Kalgoorlie in 2021 for

changes around the venue and we were pleased to report the

the 30th year of Diggers & Dealers – 2 to 4 August.

thermal camera provided by CorpCloud, the Forum’s Network Partner took 12,500 temperature checks over the 4 days.

Message from Jim Walker, Forum Chairman.

Thank you to our Senior Sponsor, Canaccord Genuity, led by Marcus Freeman and represented on-site by Michael Manford and the WA-based team. Canaccord was unwavering in their support throughout a difficult year for events such as ours. To our other key sponsors (WesTrac, Clarke Energy, Kal Tire Mining Tire Group, Aggreko, BASF, MineArc, Linkforce, CorpCloud and The Perth Mint) our exhibitors, presenters and delegates, thank you for your support.

To our committed suite of suppliers, who ensure their services and products place the event at the forefront of technology and delivery, thank you.

JANUARY – MARCH 2021 DIGGING & DRILLING MAGAZINE

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NEWS IN BRIEF »

MCA supports rules-based trade system The MCA is aware of media reports from China that coal exports from Australia face further restrictions.

Australia and China have a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial economic and trade relationship, particularly in our high-quality minerals. The success of this relationship has relied on a rules-based trade system, which has supported many years of economic growth and job creation, especially in Australia’s regions. The MCA encourages the Australian and Chinese governments to work together to resolve these issues and restore stability to the long-term trading relationship.

In addition, given that Australia is a clear winner from free trade, the MCA rejects calls for a levy on our iron ore exports which would damage the competitiveness of our world-leading minerals companies and their reputation as low-cost, reliable producers and exporters of quality commodities.

Tania Constable, Chief Executive Officer

Woodside completes Sangomar Acquisition from Cairn

Global power industry contracts in Q4 2020: Nuclear technology up 14%

Woodside Energy (Senegal) B.V. has completed the acquisition of Capricorn Senegal Limited’s (Cairn) entire participating interest in the Rufisque Offshore, Sangomar Offshore and Sangomar Deep Offshore (RSSD) joint venture.

Nuclear technology contracts activity in Q4 2020 saw 25 contracts announced, marking a rise of 14% over the last four-quarter average of 22, according to GlobalData’s power industry contracts database.

The purchase price was US$300 million plus a working capital adjustment of approximately US$225 million, which included a reimbursement of Cairn’s development capital expenditure incurred since 1 January 2020. Additional payments of up to US$100 million are contingent on commodity prices and timing of first oil. Woodside CEO Peter Coleman said the acquisition of Cairn’s interest in the Sangomar project area offshore Senegal was value accretive for shareholders. “The development of Sangomar is being executed according to schedule.

The Senegal team recently achieved another milestone, with the award of the contract for the operations and maintenance of the floating production storage and offloading vessel which is targeted for delivery and first oil production in 2023. “The completion of the transaction with Cairn has simplified the structure of the joint venture ahead of our planned equity selldown in 2021. The Sangomar development is an attractive, de-risked asset that offers near-term production to potential buyers,” he said.

Woodside’s participating interest in the RSSD joint venture has increased to approximately 68.33% for the Sangomar exploitation area and to 75% for the remaining RSSD evaluation area. Woodside’s interest will further increase to 82% for the Sangomar exploitation area and to 90% for the remaining RSSD evaluation area subject to completion of the FAR acquisition announced on 3 December 2020. Woodside will remain operator

Looking at global power contracts activity divided by the type of technology, nuclear held the fifth position in terms of number of contracts during Q4 2020 with a 3.1% share. The proportion of contracts by category in the Nuclear technology tracked by GlobalData in the quarter was as follows: • C onsulting & Similar Services: eight contracts and a 32% share • R epair, Maintenance, Upgrade & Others: six contracts and a 24% share • Project Implementation: five contracts and a 20% share • Supply & Erection: four contracts and a 16% share • Others: two contracts and an 8% share.

Europe leads nuclear contracts activity in Q4 2020 Comparing contracts activity in nuclear technology in different regions of the globe, Europe held the top position with 20 contracts and a share of 80% during Q4 2020, followed by North America with two contracts and an 8% share and South and Central America with two contracts and an 8% share.

In fourth place was Asia-Pacific with one contract and a 4% share.

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Woodside uses large-scale computing to deliver seismic results in hours Woodside, the pioneer of the Australian LNG industry, has become one of a handful of companies worldwide to simultaneously use more than 1 million virtual Central Processing Units (vCPUs) on Amazon Web Services (AWS) infrastructure.

In late November, Woodside successfully executed the million-vCPU scale computing workload across three AWS regions in the United States. The vCPUs performed full-waveform inversion on 3,200 km2 of 3D seismic data from the Greater Sunrise gas resource, located offshore Timor-Leste.

The computing power deployed was equivalent to a stack of standard laptops 4.2 km high. The extra capacity provided by the AWS infrastructure allowed analyses to run in parallel, an approach that delivered results in less than two hours, compared with the industry-standard weeks.

“Three years ago, I challenged our subsurface and digital teams to get seismic delivered in days, not weeks,” said Woodside Chief Technology Officer Shaun Gregory.

“They met the ‘days’ challenge last year and have now surpassed it. Being able to get seismic results in hours - about 150 times faster - means that we can be decision-ready sooner. It is another example of how our technology work program, which is only a few years old, is delivering proven value to the business while making work even more meaningful and engaging for our people,” he said.

AWS Vice President Engineering Bill Vass said Woodside was one of the leading innovators globally.

Woodside is the first energy company to reach this scale,” he noted. The seismic breakthrough comes after Woodside and AWS agreed to a new partnership in 2020, whereby AWS became Woodside’s strategic cloud provider.

Image: Mia Yellagonga, Perth, Western Australia Image Source: Woodside Energy Ltd

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FEATURE ARTICLE»

Falcon – Major new gold discovery at Hemi

1.8km long, up to 80m thick, altered intrusion immediately south of Aquila.

Highlights: • New altered intrusion, 1.8km long, up to 80m thick logged in widespaced aircore drilling. Intrusion remains open to the south with aircore drilling continuing.

• Gold mineralisation defined over 1.5km in aircore drill assays with additional assays from drilling along strike pending. Initial aircore results include: − 21m @ 3.4g/t Au from 40m and 19m @ 2.1g/t Au from 68m in BXAC501 (ends in mineralisation) − 12m @ 2.0g/t Au from 93m in BXAC502 (ends in mineralisation) − 21m @ 1.1g/t Au from 102m in BXAC506 − 29m @ 1.3g/t Au from 56m in BXAC546 (using a 0.3g/t lower cutoff) • Follow-up RC and diamond drilling shows consistent gold mineralisation with intense brecciation and alteration over the northern 240m of strike and to 200m depth: − 58m @ 2.1g/t Au from 64m in HERC232 (section 7691640N) - visible gold reported 5 August 2020 − 11m @ 1.2g/t Au from 199m in HERC231 (section 7691640N) − 24m* @ 0.8g/t Au from 167m in HERC233D (section 7691720N)-ended in mineralisation *This RC precollar ends in mineralisation with the diamond core extension intersecting intensely brecciated and sulphide rich alteration for a further 69.8m downhole (assays pending). − 31m @ 1.3g/t Au from 88m in HERC234 (section 7691800N) • Mineralisation remains open beyond the current 1.8km strike and at depth

De Grey Managing Director, Glenn Jardine, commented: “The discovery of the Falcon intrusion demonstrates the potential to significantly grow the gold endowment at Hemi as we expand our drilling footprint.

Reinterpretation of the overall geology shows the Aquila intrusion strikes for 1.2km in a southwest orientation and the new Falcon intrusion strikes for over 1.8km in a distinctly northsouth orientation. Aircore drilling is continuing to track the Falcon intrusion to the south.

Opportunities to extend Hemi and to identify similar large scale, near surface Hemi-like intrusions in the Greater Hemi area are being actively pursued, with two aircore rigs in operation.”

De Grey Mining Limited ASX Announcement 2 De Grey Mining Limited (ASX: DEG, “De Grey”, “Company”) is pleased to provide the following drilling update at the Hemi Gold Discovery, located approximately 60km south of Port Hedland in Western Australia.

Recent drilling, west of Brolga and south of Aquila, has delineated a highly brecciated and extensively sulphide altered subvertical intrusion. This new intrusion has been named Falcon.

The Falcon discovery has been intersected for over 1.8km in strike, up to 80m thick and to 200m below surface. The intrusion remains open along strike and at depth. The intense alteration and style of mineralisation observed to date shows strong similarities to the Aquila zone.

Reinterpretation of the overall geology shows the Aquila intrusion strikes for 1.2km in a south-west orientation, remaining open to the west. The Falcon intrusion strikes for over 1.8km in a distinctly northsouth orientation, remaining open to the south.

Aircore drilling is continuing to track the Falcon intrusion to the south. The drilling orientation at Falcon has been realigned east to west to intersect the intrusion perpendicular to drilling.

First phase RC drilling has returned highly encouraging broad gold intercepts with diamond core extensions showing continuation of the extensively altered intrusion at depth to at least 200 metres.

Significant new gold results in Falcon drilling are provided in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Falcon – Drill hole location plan showing the new strike extension to the south of Aquila and assay results in aircore

Figure 1:

and RC drilling.

Falcon – Drill hole location plan showing the new strike extension to the south of Aquila and assay results in aircore and RC drilling.

De Grey Mining Limited ASX Announcement

JANUARY – MARCH 2021 DIGGING & DRILLING MAGAZINE

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15

FEATURE ARTICLE» Falcon RC and Diamond Drilling Initial RC drilling has defined gold mineralisation hosted in strongly brecciated, intensely altered and sulphide rich intrusion similar to the Aquila style of mineralisation. The dimensions of this newly discovered intrusion are approximately 1.8km long by +80m true thickness, providing a substantial new target immediately to the south of Aquila.

Examples of brecciation and alteration in core from HERC233D are shown below with assay results pending.

RC drilling is currently underway testing the northern most 240m

of 9m @ 4.4g/t Au with a peak of 15g/t Au, forming part of

of strike with over 1.5km of strike remaining to be RC drill tested.

the broader intercept of 58m @ 2.1g/t Au.

Significant new results (>10gm*m) from RC drilling to date

A diamond core extension to HERC233D has been drilled

include:

to a total depth of 345.3m and shows strong brecciation and

− 58m @ 2.1g/t Au from 64m in HERC232 (section 7691640N)-visible gold reported 5 August 2020 − 11m @ 1.2g/t Au from 199m in HERC231 (section 7691640N) − 24m @ 0.8g/t Au from 167m in HERC233D (section 7691720N)

intense sulphide rich alteration over a further down hole length of 69.8m from the end of the RC precollar (192.2m) to 262m (Figure 5 and 6).

Extensional RC and diamond drilling are underway on 80m spaced sections, initially targeting gold mineralisation to 200m depth. Deeper drilling will be undertaken as results warrant.

This RC precollar ends in mineralisation with the diamond

Aircore Drilling

core extension intersecting intensely brecciated and

Aircore drilling has intersected the altered intrusion over 1.8km

sulphide rich alteration for a further 69.8m downhole (assays pending). − 31m @ 1.3g/t Au from 88m in HERC234 (section 7691800N) Previously reported significant RC drilling results include: − 16m @ 3.7g/t Au from 43m including 10m @ 5.4g/t in HERC141 (ends in mineralisation) The previously reported (ASX release 5 August 2020) visible gold specimens in HERC232 occur within an interval

in a north south orientation. The drilling orientation has been changed to east west to intersect the intrusion perpendicular to the overall strike. Step out aircore drilling is occurring on 160m spaced sections to the south. The intrusion is highly weathered to partially weathered in the shallow aircore drilling and appears to be variably altered and brecciated on most sections.

The bedrock is covered by approximately 30-40m of transported material, similar to the Aquila, Brolga and Crow deposits.

This announcement has been authorised for release by the De Grey Board.

New Year, New Cash Grab in Western Australia JANUARY 8, 2021 BY SHIPPING AUSTRALIA: Pilbara Ports Authority (PPA) has introduced a new cash grab, er, port charge at the Port of Port Hedland. Effective from 1 March 2021, the PPA has decreed that vessels exporting iron ore that use the inner harbour of Port Hedland must pay a “Port Hedland Voluntary Buy-Back Scheme” charge.

There is a sliding scale of charges based on a combination of a

where it correctly belongs – on the joint polluters of Port of Port

vessel’s gross registered tonnage and its movements. Charge-

Hedland and the State Government of WA – to a random innocent

liable ships will be slugged once on the way into the port and

third party, namely, the ocean shipping industry.

once again on the way out. Movements inside the harbour are not charged. The cash grab starts at AUD$1,250 for a 40,000 GRT ship and rises to AUD$6,725 for ships over 80,000 GRT. The overwhelming majority of iron ore carriers will fall into the highest bracket as the port predominately loads capesize bulkers.

So that will likely cost each iron-ore carrying ship AUD$13,450 to enter and leave the port. According to the PPA Annual Report 2020, there were 6,346 vessel movements at Port Hedland in the 2019/2020 financial year. Multiplying vessel movements by the likely charge gives a total indicative revenue-raising figure of about AUD$85.4 million. Nice work if you can get it.

So what’s it for? “Profits from iron ore line the pockets of Australia’s biggest miners and are vital to treasury coffers. The fallout is a thick layer of dust that covers everything,” so wrote the ABC in “The port that swallowed a town“, an article about the dust problems in the town of Port Hedland. Unfortunately for ports, handling of commodities like iron ore is a dusty business even if dust-suppression systems of various kinds are used. Breathing in dust of various kinds is not good for health. The risks have to be mitigated and one way to do that is to encourage people not to live near sources of dust pollution. The State Government is trying to buy the houses of residents near the Port of Port Hedland through a voluntary buyback scheme. “The voluntary scheme will be funded by industry, with work under way to finalise the funding mechanism,” the State Government said. And that’s why the Port Hedland Voluntary Buy-Back Scheme has been unfairly imposed on the shipping industry.

State Government can afford to pay. The State Government of WA already massively benefits from the iron ore trade in multiple ways.

Firstly, there’s the multi-billion benefits generated from generally increased economic activity. Secondly, the State Government directly takes a massive cut through the imposition of mineral royalties. In 2019-2020 the iron ore royalty collections in WA stood at AUD$5.43 billion. Finally, there’s the profits generated by the PPA itself. In 2019/2020 the PPA generated profits of AUD$188.1 million and returned a dividend of AUD$111.9 million for the State Government. The State Government is racking up profit, after profit, after profit. It can afford to compensate the people whose lives it has polluted.

How long is the charge meant to last? Will it just become another fee? Documents supplied by the PPA indicate the start date of the charge but they appear to be silent as to the end date. We can try to figure out when any charge should end (bearing in mind that the polluter – the State Government and/or the PPA – should pay). The ABC reckons that the cost of the buyback is about AUD$200 million. With potential revenues from the new charge of about AUD$85.4 million a year, that figure should be paid off in about two years and a few months. Shipping Australia is concerned that, without an end date, this new charge will, for years into the future, simply become a charge that ships are forced to pay even though original reason for levying it has long been forgotten. Shipping companies cannot pass on the charge. Iron ore carrying ships are engaged by the operators of steel mills in other countries and those steel makers have a

Whatever happened to the “polluter must pay” principle?

commercial relationship with the miners of iron ore in Australia.

It’s a widely accepted principle around the world that the “polluter

Accordingly, ship operators cannot pass the cost of the charge

must pay“. You do the dirty, you pay to clean up the mess. Port

to iron ore miners. Ships, meanwhile, have no choice as to

Hedland has a dry and windy climate. Iron ore is stockpiled

whether they go to Port Hedland or not – they have to go to the

by the port. Wind blows dust off the stockpiles and over the

port to pick up the cargo.

town. So, the polluter is the port. The port is owned by the State Government. So the polluter is also the State Government. In a breathtaking breach of the “polluter must pay” principle, the Pilbara Port Authority has shifted the economic burden from

“It seems that the ship is just an easy target for this breathtakingly outrageous charge,” said Shipping Australia CEO Melwyn Noronha. “What can we say? It’s greedy, unfair and unjust… and it’s just another day in WA”.

OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2020 DIGGING & DRILLING MAGAZINE

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Australia will pursue all avenues on reports of China coal restrictions Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said any shift by China away from imports of high-quality Australian coal would be a “lose-lose” for the environment and trading relationship.

Chinese media outlets including The Global Times and Caixin

action in the resources sector involved “disruption through

recently reported China’s top economic planner had granted

use of state influence with different companies,” Minister

approval to power plants to import coal without clearance

Birmingham said.

restrictions, except for Australia.

Minerals Council Australia chief executive Tania Constable said

Australia has urged China to clarify the reports, which it said

the success of Australia and China’s trade in minerals relied on

would breach international trade rules if true.

a “rules-based trade system” and urged the two governments

Coal is the third biggest export from Australia, which has been embroiled in a worsening diplomatic dispute with its largest

to restore stability to the long-term trading relationship.

The Chinese embassy outlined grievances about restrictions

trading partner China. Beijing has imposed a series of trade

on Chinese investment in Australia, and criticism of China by

reprisals after Canberra called for an international inquiry into

Australian parliamentarians and the media last November.

the source of the coronavirus.

Scott Morrison said Australia was a liberal democracy and

Australia’s prime minister said a shift by China away from

his government would not back down on these issues. “If a

Australian coal imports would be “a bad outcome for the

perception emerges that there is a conflation between political

environment.”

issues and a trading relationship ... That can create a lot of

“It really is a lose-lose here because Australian coal, compared

uncertainty for many other trading partners,” he said.

to that coal that is sourced from other countries, the other

Australia’s thermal coal exports are expected to hold up

countries have 50% higher emissions than Australian coal,”

relatively well, despite the Chinese restrictions, because

Prime Miniser Morrison told the media.

buyers were being found in South Korea, Vietnam and Japan,

Although A$4 billion of A$13 billion ($3 billion of $9.8 billion) in thermal coal exports went to China, it was not Australia’s

said ANZ commodity strategists Daniel Hynes and Soni Kumari in a research note.

largest customer, said Scott Morrison, adding any restrictions

Australia is the top supplier of iron ore to China, and China’s

on Australian coal would be in breach of World Trade

steel producers have called on the market regulator there to

Organization (WTO) rules.

Shares of Australian pureplay coal exporters fell sharply in

investigate a recent jump in iron ore prices and crackdown on any possible wrongdoing.

mid-December 2020. Shares of New Hope Corp and China-

Minister Birmingham said, “prices of commodities like iron ore

controlled Yancoal Australia were down 12% in recent trading,

respond to the basic economics of supply and demand, and

while shares of Whitehaven Coal were down 9%, against a

the supply from other parts of the world has been disrupted

slightly weaker overall market. Diversified mining giant BHP

this year.”

Group, which has coal mining interests, was down 2.5%.

Australian Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said there had been “a pattern of disruption” of Australian trade with China, and it was well documented vessels had been delayed in offloading Australian coal.

Australia has raised concerns at a WTO meeting about China taking measures against Australian barley, wine, meat, dairy, live seafood, logs, timber, coal and cotton. Beijing’s opaque

China should allow businesses to operate according to market principles, he added.

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Record gold-backed ETF inflows of 877t in 2020 took holdings to all-time highs

2020 Highlights: By any measure, gold-backed ETFs and similar products (gold ETFs) had a remarkable year in 2020. Globally, gold ETFs had record annual net inflows of US$47.9bn, or 877 tonnes(t), collectively increasing their gold holdings by over a third, reaching all-time highs in tonnage (3,752t).

Notably, all regions registered significant growth in assets under management (AUM)1 – more than the foreign reserve holdings of any central banks except for the US and only 15% below the portion of reserves that the US stores at Fort Knox.

Regional flows Strong inflows across all regions • North American funds had inflows of 563t (US$31.9bn, 45% AUM) • Holdings in European funds grew by 260t (US$13.3bn, 21%) • Funds listed in Asia saw holdings rose by 38t (US$1.9bn, 49%) • Other regions had inflows of 16t (US$899mn, 41%).

Data as of 31 December, 2020.

Sources: Bloomberg, Company Filings, ICE Benchmark Administration, World Gold Council

Long-term trends Gold ETFs added nearly 231t more assets in 2020 (a total of 877t) than the 2009 record of 646t.

• Despite record-setting inflows in 2020, inflows slowed in recent months and turned negative for the first time in a year • Investment demand for gold via ETFs remains strong • North American funds represent nearly two-thirds of global net inflows on the year.

Data as of 31 December, 2020.

Sources: Bloomberg, Company Filings, ICE Benchmark Administration, Shanghai Gold Exchange, World Gold Council

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Enterprise 1 Gas Discovery Beach Energy Limited (ASX: BPT, Beach) has announced a gas discovery at Enterprise 1 in licence VIC/P42(V) (Beach 60% and operator, O.G. Energy 40% interest) in the nearshore Victorian Otway Basin.

Enterprise 1 was spud from an onshore location, 3.5 km from

Beach Energy Managing Director and CEO Matt Kay said he

Port Campbell and 8 km from the Otway Gas Plant. The well

was pleased to see the Otway campaign build on its early

was drilled directionally using an extended reach drilling (ERD)

success at Black Watch 1.

approach to deliver a well with a 3.2 kilometre step-out, to target a location within the offshore permit VIC/P42(V).

The well was successfully drilled to a total depth of 4,974 metres measured depth (MD) and encountered the primary reservoir target of the Upper Waarre Formation 89 metres high to prognosis at |aEnterprise depth of 4,594m Beach Energy Limited 1 Gas Discovery(MD)

(2,052 metres vertical

depth sub-sea). The well intersected 146 metre of gas column in the Upper Waarre Formation, including 115 metres of net gas pay with no gas-water contact identified. Sampling indicates a gas composition with 10% CO2 by volume.

“To have our first exploration well in the Victorian Otway program deliver a successful result is an excellent outcome for the business,” Mr Kay said.

“This success enhances our plans to develop more supplies for the East Coast gas market. The Enterprise result also de-risks other nearby prospects, warranting their evaluation as potential future drilling candidates. ” Beach Energy Limited | Enterprise 1 Gas Discovery Beach Energy Limited Page 2 of 2 “Our focus now moves to the

upcoming offshore Victorian Otway Basin drilling campaign, The forward planmoves is to case suspendoffshore the wellVictorian as a future “Our focus now to theand upcoming Otway Basin drilling campaign, which is due to which is due to commence in the March 2021 quarter. The producer. Ainwell will2021 confirm well productivity provide commence the test March quarter.

The first welland drilled will be the Artisan 1 exploration well, followed by first well drilled will be the Artisan 1 exploration well, followed development wells in the Geographe and Thylacine fields.” data for the proposed pipeline to the Otway Gas Plant.

Detailed by development wells in the Geographe and Thylacine fields.” engineering work and regulatory approvals process for the pipeline A volumetric estimate for the Enterprise discovery is expected to be completed before the release of the is already underway. Estimates of potential resource size are A volumetric estimate for the Enterprise discovery is expected company’s FY21 half year results in February 2021. not yet defined, with the formation evaluation program still in to be completed before the release of the company’s FY21 half progress. Beach’s preliminary assessment is that key reservoir

parameters are interpreted to be in-line with pre-drill expectations.

Enterprise 1 location map

year results in February 2021.

Image: Enterprise 1 location map

Authorisation

Total & BP lead charge in green strategic shift among global oil majors Should oil companies be investing in solar, wind, battery technology and networks of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations? Maybe, in the broader view of themselves as energy companies. And especially if the consumer shifts to EVs faster than expected, crushing demand for transportation fuels.

It comes down to whether they are focused on the product or the customer. If the customer is demanding different kinds of energy, it should make sense to provide it, if the economics are

Solar in the spotlight The International Energy Agency (IEA) sees solar as the future of

there. This would have broader implications for petrochemicals

electricity as governments and investors focus on clean energy.

supply and demand. If more oil companies prioritise green

“I see solar becoming the new king of the world’s electricity

energy projects, viewing them as the future growth drivers,

markets. Based on today’s policy settings, it is on track to set

there may be less emphasis on building petrochemicals and

new records for deployment every year after 2022,” said Fatih

polymers capacity.

And with less transportation fuel demand, refining capacity could

Birol, executive director of the IEA, in the group’s World Energy Outlook 2020 report released on 13 October.

be cut, thereby reducing naphtha feedstock supply as well as

“If governments and investors step up their clean energy efforts

aromatics and propylene co-product. Already some traditional

in line with our Sustainable Development Scenario, the growth

refineries are being converted to biorefineries in Europe as

of both solar and wind would be even more spectacular –

well as in the US. In these cases, it is not just about swapping

and hugely encouraging for overcoming the world’s climate

feedstock. Rather, overall fuels output is significantly reduced.

challenge,” he added. Total sees global solar and wind power

France-based Total and the UK’s BP are among those leading

capacity growing 10%/year through 2030, with solar capturing

the charge in a massive transition towards renewable energy,

around 70% of the additions, as it outlined at its Investor Day

building brand-new businesses in power generation, energy

on 30 September.

storage and charging stations.

Both have committed to become “carbon net zero” by 2050.

For traditional oil giants, this is a radical pivot.

The company has 7 gigawatts (GW) of solar and wind power generation capacity and aims to quintuple this to 35GW by 2025 with major solar projects in Europe, the Middle East and India, and offshore wind farm projects in the UK and South Korea.

The renewable energy push is not just a European phenomenon,

$1.1bn for stakes in existing assets and will jointly develop four

but increasingly global. By 2025, Total expects its global

projects in offshore New York and Massachusetts to generate

renewable power footprint to be 15GW in Europe, 6GW in

a combined 4.4GW - enough to power over 2m homes. BP’s

India, 3GW each in the US, China and South America, 2GW

onshore wind energy portfolio in the US already generates

each in the Middle East and Rest of Asia, and 1GW in Africa.

1.7GW of power.

The company also is playing in the solar distributed generation

Oil demand for petrochemicals

(DG) space worldwide through joint ventures and equity stakes in solar panel production-and-installation companies. BP noted

bP and Total expect oil demand to decline over the long run.

that global average costs for solar and offshore wind builds have

Total sees this not just for transportation fuel, but for chemicals

declined by 90% and 60%, respectively, over the past decade.

and plastics as well. Under two of its scenarios, “Momentum”

It expects costs to fall a further 30-40% over the next decade,

and “Rupture”, “the message is that despite an increase in

it said at its BP Week event in mid-September.

demand for plastics, especially in non-OECD countries, the

Renewables - solar, wind and bio-power - have the potential to become 45% of global power capacity by 2030, it noted.

“We are leaning in and plan to build material renewables businesses, with an ambition to have developed 50GW [of capacity] by 2030,” said Dev Sanyal, BP executive vice president

oil demand for petrochemicals is likely to come down,” said Helle Kristoffersen, president of Strategy & Innovation at Total.

Total assumes a steady increase in plastics recycling on one hand, along with a progressive ban on single-use plastics first in the EU and China, and then moving worldwide. In the Rupture scenario, the single-use plastics ban is implemented

for Gas and Low Carbon Energy.

worldwide, where in Momentum it is only in Europe and China.

This is from a base of just 2.5GW in 2019. BP aims to boost

This drives plastics recycling rates to rise from 7% today to 50%

its “low-carbon investment” by 10x to $5bn annually to reach its 50GW goal by 2030.

BP solar projects in the pipeline include Bighorn Solar in Colorado which will supply 300 megawatts (MW) to the steel company EVRAZ, and the 260MW Impact solar project in Texas, where BP is off-taking 100% of the electricity. It is also

by 2050 under “Rupture” and 40% under “Momentum”. “All of this holds back the need for virgin plastics, and therefore, the need for oil,” said Kristoffersen.

Total sees oil demand for petrochemicals peaking between the mid-2020s and 2030 under both scenarios. The company maintains a sizeable footprint in global petrochemicals.

developing solar projects in Spain, Brazil, Australia and India.

By Joseph Chang, Global Editor, ICIS Chemical Business.

On 10 September, BP entered the offshore wind power market

Additional reporting by Will Beacham and Nigel Davis

through a partnership in the US with Equinor. It is paying Equinor

JANUARY – MARCH 2021 DIGGING & DRILLING MAGAZINE

25

Canadian space robotics company to settle in South Australia Lux Aerobot is set to permanently settle in Adelaide as it gains new projects in the defence and mining sectors.

Lux Aerobot captured a range of images from 23km above Earth during a trial of one of its atmospheric satellites 50km east of Adelaide in 2019.

Lux co-founder and president Katrina Albert said while the company will maintain an office in Canada, Australia will be the testbed of overall company strategy.

“It’s the first place where we’re actually deploying the technology [and] where we’re showcasing the different use-cases that the technology can be helpful towards,” Albert said.

Lux Aerobot specialises in the design, manufacturing and operation of atmospheric satellites for Earth observation (EO), and has been testing its atmospheric balloons in South Australia since 2019.

Lux is currently working on bushfire and coastline monitoring projects for the Australian Department of Defence.

The bushfire monitoring project is a collaboration between Lux and RMIT University and aims to give real-time information on

Two balloon launches have been completed to demonstrate the

the location of current bushfires and predictions on where they

bushfire monitoring technology, and a final launch will occur

will spread so firefighting resources can be allocated more

next year over a planned burn.

effectively.

“It’s really difficult to scope down the number of applications that the technology could be helpful for… just imagine a sort of Google Earth, live and very high-resolution,” Albert said.

The coastline monitoring project is focused on tracking illegal activities on Australian coastlines and will conclude with a final demonstration in late-2021.

“We’ll be demonstrating the object-identification portion, the

“It can support a lot of different industries, but we understood

real-time analysis, the on-board computing necessary to do

kind of quickly that bushfire was a very urgent application that

that analysis and to have the information as fast as possible

needed support from new capabilities and new industry players.”

to the stakeholder,” Albert said.

The project is a collaboration with the University of South

Lux’s technology will learn what to look for and draw attention

Australia’s Institute for Telecommunications Research and the

to it with less manual human monitoring.

Australian Institute for Machine Learning at the University of Adelaide.

Albert said Lux came to South Australia in 2019 after she and co-founder Vincent Lachance realised their technology was

Lux has also expanded its collaboration with the Australian

better suited to regions closer to the equator due to the way it

mining industry.

operated at the time.

Albert said although COVID-19 made kicking off new projects

South Australia was the most interesting export market for the

difficult, Lux followed up a 2019 agreement with Oz Minerals

company due to the large presence of defence, mining and

with a new collaboration with Rio Tinto this year.

agriculture industries.

Rio Tinto has provided Lux funding for technology development

Albert said the opening of the Australian Space Agency in

for the next three years.

Adelaide was a catalyst for Lux.

“The vision of the company is to be able to have multiple units

“We understood that Adelaide was going to be the hub for space

over a region and be able to give real-time insights for different

in Australia, so we were really, really keen to be there,” she said.

industries,” Albert said.

The Venture Capitalist Space Program at the University of

“In mining, you’ll be able to do some monitoring of your operation,

South Australia’s Innovation & Collaboration Centre, which is

and then adjust your production while for agriculture you’ll be

currently accepting applications, acted as an entry point into

able to have some sort of real-time yield production estimates.”

Albert said the company’s two core specialties are space engineering and artificial intelligence and machine learning.

“The balloons have a control system that allows them to stay over a point of interest, but they’re also able to move from Point

the Australian space industry for Lux, which resulted in a “very productive soft-landing”.

After receiving funding from the South Australian Landing Pad, Lux was able to move to Stone & Chalk in Adelaide’s Lot Fourteen innovation neighbourhood.

A to Point B if required, so either we can tell the balloon to stay

Albert and Lachance plan to hire ten additional engineering

over an area, or we can ask it to scan an area,” Albert said.

staff to work on new research and development programs after

“We then take the images that [are acquired] in-flight and analyse them in order to give the information required for decisionmaking.”

they return to Lux’s Adelaide office in January.

“South Australia has all the right ingredients to be able to help the sector flourish and attract international space companies that are looking to expand their current work.”

JANUARY – MARCH 2021 DIGGING & DRILLING MAGAZINE

27

Gold Coast powers up with EV charging network The Gold Coast will install fast electric vehicle chargers to anchor Queensland’s electric superhighway.

The city is powering up electric vehicles and its growing green credentials with a network of 10 of the RTM75 fast-charging stations

by Brisbane technology company Tritium that will be installed over a 50km city-wide radius from Pimpama on the northern edge of the Gold Coast to Coolangatta and offset by solar power generation.

The world-first fast-charging technology is 50 per cent quicker than standard 50kW charging stations and capable of charging two vehicles at once. The new wave 75kW DC fast chargers deliver 75km of range to an electric vehicle within 10 minutes of charging.

The first charger was installed at Broadbeach in January 2021.

RTM75 fast-charging stations by Brisbane technology company Tritium.

The fast-charger network, supported by the State Government’s

$350,000 towards the charging stations, to provide a boost to

COVID Works for Queensland jobs booster that helps fund new

the local economy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

infrastructure projects, will anchor the Queensland Electric Superhighway of 31 fast-charging sites enabling travel from Coolangatta to Cairns and from Brisbane west to Toowoomba in a low or zero-emissions electric vehicle.

The stations will also be a key link for some of Australia’s best road trips that are in the process of going electric including the Pacific Coast Way from the Gold Coast to Cairns and the renowned Pacific Coast Drive from Lake Macquarie in NSW to the Gold Coast Hinterland.

Queensland’s Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning Steven Miles said the Queensland Government had provided

“Having charging stations along the Gold Coast not only incentivises future EV users, but it also encourages driving tourism along a beautiful stretch of the Coast,” Miles said.

Gold Coast gets greener Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate said the investment in EV infrastructure reflected the city’s reputation as an innovative destination as well as its commitment to sustainability.

“As the transition to electric vehicles begins to pick up pace, we have secured the most advanced DC fast chargers on the market,’’ Tate said.

“The power used to charge vehicles at these stations will be offset by power generated by the City’s Virtual Power Plant, which harnesses solar energy from more than 47 city buildings.”

managed via a set of digital authentication certificates that contain pre-approved payment configurations.

The liquid-cooled RTM75 75kW fast charger is also the first

The network would provide drivers with a rapid, positive recharge

to contain Whisper Mode quiet charging, while its fully sealed

experience and would deliver a boost for local businesses as

enclosure cuts the need for maintenance and means it is

electric vehicle drivers stayed an average of 30 per cent longer

suitable for conditions such as those by the beach at the Gold

than other travellers to return to recharge and engage with the

Coast by protecting the electronics from dust, water, salt, or

local area, he said.

other contaminants.

EV chargers turn super slim and super-fast

EV sales soar

Tritium CEO Jane Hunter said the global launch of the RTM75

The latest charger roll out comes as demand for electric vehicles

fast chargers on the Gold Coast put the city at the forefront of

continues to escalate in Australia, with published sales figures

e-mobility innovation and international rapid-charger demand.

The RTM75s were the first of the new-generation Modular Scalable Charging platform that meant Tritium could rapidly deploy new product to future-proof governments and network

showing the number of electric vehicles nationally topped the 20,000 mark at the end of 2020. More than 3,220 electric vehicles were sold in just the first half of 2020, despite a 20 per cent drop in overall car sales.

Of the electric vehicles in Australia, most are in NSW, followed

operators across the globe, she said.

“These chargers, assembled in Tritium’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Brisbane, can be installed quickly, are upgradeable and have the narrowest profile on the market, making them suitable to be installed anywhere, from retail carparks to dense urban environments,” Hunter said.

“Electric chargers are decoupled from the highly regulated petrol station, allowing them to be conveniently located anywhere in our towns, cities, and countryside, enabling our customers to choose their energy sources and further their sustainability goals and support electric vehicle drivers to travel anywhere.”

by Victoria and Queensland. There are 3,400 electric vehicles on the road in Queensland. Sales information from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries Vfacts, the Electric Vehicle Council and Tesla shipping data, show demand for electric vehicles in Australia is expected to continue through 2021.

The growth of electric vehicle sales is being matched by increased roll out of charging stations. The Electric Vehicle Council found the number of ultra-fast public charging stations across Australia leapt 42 per cent from July 2019 to August 2020, and the number of standard charging stations has increased by 16 per cent.

EV tech at tipping point The Gold Coast fast-charging network is the global launch of Tritium’s latest e-mobility powering technology that is expected

SMALL FOOTPRINT RTM75 represents the perfect balance of size and power, making it easy to install, easy to own and easy to use.

RTM - 25kW to 75kW

to become the new standard for governments and network

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operators wanting a charging platform that can quickly grow

Rated for operations from -35°C to +50°C (-31°F to +122°F), and can sustain at full power at an operating temperature of 40°C (+104°F) all day, every day.

SMART, SCALABLE, RELIABLE

to meet demand.

SEALED ENCLOSURE Tritium’s world-famous IP65 sealed enclosure enables a wide choice of installation options, regardless of any harsh environmental conditions.

Founder David Finn said the electrification of transportation had hit a tipping point, with network operators poised to rapidly extend their charging site capacity. “The RTM75 is the first product on Tritium’s new Modular Scalable Charging

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hardware platform which provides the next level of flexibility,

The RTM75 can simultaneously charge two electric vehicles,

capital efficiency and scalability while maintaining the attractive,

supports all charging standards on the market, and satisfies

compact and low maintenance design attributes Tritium products

the needs of all batteries up to 920V.

have become known for,” Finn said.

The RTM75 is equipped with Plug and Charge technology, so

“Our customers want to know how they can easily extend their

drivers don’t have to pay by credit card or RFID tags at the

charging site capacity over the coming years. They want no

charger. Instead, customers can pay through the charging cable

regrets and capital efficient scaling of their charging sites.”

when it communicates to the car directly. To do this a driver simply plugs in their electric vehicle, charges their car, and drives away knowing that payment was automatically and securely

JANUARY – MARCH 2021 DIGGING & DRILLING MAGAZINE

29

ASM produces zirconium metal in Korea Australian Strategic Materials (ASX: ASM) (ASM), through its partner Ziron Technology Corporation (Ziron Tech), has successfully produced 8.6kg of a high purity zirconium metal at its commercial pilot plant in South Korea.

The planned flowsheet for ASM’s Dubbo Project in central

meet the high purity zirconium metal and hafnium production

west NSW, incorporates the production of both industrial grade

targets, with potential benefits in the capital and operating costs.”

zirconia and dehafniated zirconia (ZrO2) and hafnium oxide (HfO2) using a process patented by Australia’s Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation’s (ANSTO) with ASM having an exclusive global licence. Successful production of this high purity zirconium metal from commercial grade zirconia is an important milestone for ASM. Figure 1: Zr Metal Powderl Produced at the Ziron Tech Pilot Plant - Zirconium powder ≥ 98% (Hf ~1 wt.%)

“I am returning to Korea to continue investment discussions, oversee the design and construction of a 250 kg per day continuous metal plant in Korea, and to continue advancing discussions for a potential partner in the metal business.” Mr Woodall said.

About Australian Strategic Materials – www.asm-au.com ASM is focused on producing specialty metals and oxides for advanced technologies and is the 100% owner of the Dubbo Project. Located in central-western NSW, ASM’s cornerstone Dubbo Project has a long-term resource of zirconium, rare earths, niobium and hafnium–

ZironTech has received confirmation that the laboratory sample

a globally significant source of these critical materials for

of dehafniated zirconium metal previously produced from Dubbo

a diverse range of emerging and sustainable technologies.

ore and submitted to the Korean Atomic Energy Institute (KAERI) meets the standards set by them that are crucial for the Korean market, with further work planned to produce 2 tonnes of high purity dehafniated zirconium (Zr) before the end of the year.

ASM, together with its partners, is advancing oxide separation and metallisation technologies to create a range of value-added materials from the Dubbo Project.

ASM’s pilot plant in South Korea has been completed

ASM has now successfully produced key permanent

with successful production of titanium, neodymium,

magnet metals of neodymium, praseodymium, neodymium-

praseodymium and dysprosium metal. ASM’s innovative

praseodymium alloy, dysprosium, titanium metal, titanium

metallisation process is energy efficient (titanium

alloy, titanium metal powder, and zirconium using its innovative

production uses 70% less energy) and has significant

metallisation process. The focus is now on the production of

environmental advantages than the industry standard

250kg of Neodymium-Praseodymium (NdPr) metal, to be turned

Kroll process.

into sintered permanent magnets samples in partnership with the Korean Institute of Rare Metals (KIRAM) for the Korean market. Work on the production of ferro-dysprosium and ferro-niobium is scheduled for Q4 2020, which will mark the completion of the metallisation of the final products sourced from the Dubbo Project.

ASM is progressing an optimisation study with key products for metallisation having been defined to be supplied from the Dubbo Project, and with the potential inclusion of flotation that have potential to positively impact the capital and operating costs of the project. The metals feasibility study is planned to be completed by the end

ASM Managing Director, David Woodall said: “The production of

of 2020 with the optimisation study to be completed by

zirconium metal is a significant result for ASM and the potential

the end of Q1 2021.

development of the Dubbo Project. The successful production of zirconium and the other metals planned to be produced at Dubbo has enabled ASM to optimise the project flowsheet. In the 2018 FEED Study, the plan was for the project to produce predominately zirconium oxychloride (ZOC), today’s result will see the percentage of ZOC reduced significantly to focus on and

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OUR PEOPLE Whether it be a civil or mining project, everyPEOPLE person on our team knows OUR that to keep Whether it beplant a civiloperating or miningmeans project, productivity.

Weour work hard and use every person on team knows our heads! a collective, team that to keep As plant operatingour means of highly skilled productivity.

We mechanics work hard diagnose, and use repair and As maintain a wide variety our heads! a collective, our team ofhighly plant and equipment, of skilled mechanicsdozers, diagnose, excavators, graders, scrapers, profilers, repair and maintain a wide variety dump bobcats, heavy haulage of planttrucks, and equipment, dozers, road transport, etc. scrapers, profilers, excavators, graders, dump trucks, bobcats, heavy haulage Our transport, team etc. has the experience, road qualifications and equipment to work on all aspects these machines including Our team ofhas the experience, engine rebuilds, and qualifications andhydraulics, equipmenttrack to work frame, electrics and air conditioning and on all aspects of these machines including on all brands, including, but not limited engine rebuilds, hydraulics, track and to; CAT, Hitachi, Komatsu, Terex, O&K, frame, electrics and air conditioning and Volvo, Bell, Vermeer, Cummins. on all brands, including, but not limited to; CAT, Hitachi, Komatsu, Terex, O&K, As a Bell, team of mechanics, Volvo, Vermeer, Cummins. fitters, servicemen and fabricators we keep machines going,ofas well as being involved As a team mechanics, fitters, in site mobilization where wewe establish servicemen and fabricators keep containerized complete with machines going,workshops as well as being involved domes and commission machinery ready in site mobilization where we establish for operation.workshops Upon project completion containerized complete with we demobilize workshops and ready plant domes and commission machinery and are oftenUpon the project last tocompletion leave site. for operation. we demobilize workshops and plant and are often the last to leave site.

Throughout a project we are able to REFRIGERENT TRADING manage all parts ordering and delivery, AUTHORISATION including urgent hot shots.

Ourable tilt tray Throughout a project we are to REFRIGERENT MechBro has the capability and TRADING can pickall upparts and ordering deliver parts and 20’ AUTHORISATION manage and delivery, authorisation to repair your air containersurgent up to 8.5T. including hot shots. Our tilt tray MechBro conditioning units. has the capability and can pick up and deliver parts and 20’ authorisation to repair your air WHERE WE’VE WORKED MACHINERYunits.

AND VEHICLE HIRE containers up to 8.5T. conditioning During the last 18 months we’ve Mechbro can provide a variety of worked at many WORKED major mine sites machinery andAND vehicles to suit HIRE your WHERE WE’VE MACHINERY VEHICLE owned the

by BHPB, FMG,we’ve Sandfire needs. MechBro currently haveof 6 mine During last 18RIO, months Mechbro can provide a variety Resources and more recently Onslow specified service vehiclestosupported worked at many major mine sites machinery and vehicles suit your Quarry.byOur people the by a tiltMechBro tray truck capablehave of loading owned BHPB, RIO,understand FMG, Sandfire needs. currently 6 mine rigorous requirements of working on and unloading sea containers and Resources and more recently Onslow specified service20’ vehicles supported these sites and act accordingly. moving itemstruck of plant up to Tonne.

Quarry.

Our people understand the by a tilt tray capable of8loading rigorous requirements of working on and unloading 20’ sea containers and SAFETY Having items established Pty Ltd these sitesFIRST and act accordingly. moving of plantMechBro up to 8 Tonne.

Our aim is to conduct our business on May 9th 2011, with 2 mechanics we using systems have experienced rapid growth and SAFETY FIRSTand practices which will Having established MechBro Pty now Ltd ensure workforce and the have a great team of mechanics Our aimthat is toour conduct our business on May 9th 2011, with 2 mechanicsand we community are protected injury service men. In 2012 also acquired using systems and practicesfrom which will have experienced rapidwe growth and now and harm. and productivity a lighta vehicle workshop in Joondalup. ensure thatSafety our workforce and the go have great team of mechanics and hand in hand with our people Within men. the next 12 months will be community are protected from working injury service In 2012 we alsowe acquired as problem solvers to productivity get the job done. heavy duty workshop and harm. Safety and go aestablishing light vehiclea workshop in Joondalup. where we repairwe and store hand in hand with our people working Within thecan nextservice, 12 months will be WORKSHOP & ONSITE SERVICE larger equipment. as problem solvers to get the job done. establishing a heavy duty workshop We have the equipment and the where we can service, repair and store facilities to service your machinery WORKSHOP & ONSITE SERVICE larger equipment. andhave vehicles.

We will also invest We the equipment and the in our business andyour tailor to your facilities to service machinery requirements. and vehicles. We will also invest in our business and tailor to your requirements.

For more info, contact Mark Nielsen Mobile: 0438005655

www.mechbro.com.au

For more info, contact Mark Nielsen Mobile: 0438005655

www.mechbro.com.au

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