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New leadership changes hitting the resources sector

January 25, 2024

Fortescue and SRK have both announced new changes to their leadership teams.


Fortescue


Usha Rao-Monari has been appointed as a Fortescue board director.


Rao-Monari has over 25 years of experience in both finance and investment, with a particular focus on the infrastructure sector.


“Usha brings a wide range of experience across business, international relations, industry and government which builds on the world leading calibre of the Fortescue board,” Fortescue executive chairman Andrew Forrest said.


“As we become the world’s number one integrated green technology, energy and metals company, her valuable knowledge will help lead this transition.”


Rao-Monari is the former under secretary general and associate administrator for United Nations Development Programme. She has also held various other executive and non-executive positions positions.


“It’s an honour to join a company that is driving climate policy and industry change globally,” Rao-Monari said.


“As a first mover, Fortescue is focused on demonstrating to the world that it is possible to decarbonise profitably and I’m deeply energised by the challenge ahead.”


SRK


SRK has appointed Kate Vershinina as its new principal consultant to its environmental, social and governance (ESG) team.


Vershinina is experienced in leading and executing projects across the mining sector, including in environmental management, mine closure, and social impact assessments.


“We’re excited to welcome Kate to our team,” SRK Australia head of ESG and mine closure Danielle Kyan said.


“While the integration of social and environmental management into our clients’ projects has long been a core part of SRK’s service offering, Kate’s appointment is a testament to our continual focus on SRK’s ESG capabilities both locally and globally.”


Vershinina has over 20 years of international experience in ESG management tools.


“Kate has been the environmental head of department at SRK in previous years and has worked in many operational roles, giving her holistic experience across operations and consultancy,” SRK Australasia managing director Carl Murray said.


“I believe her appointment builds on SRK’s strong global reputation as a leader in sustainable practices.”


Vershinina said she is excited to be working with the SRK team.


“The current global trend towards sustainable mining is exciting, and Australia, with its rich reserves of critical minerals, presents a wealth of opportunities,” she said.


“I am committed to guiding our clients on their journey towards decarbonisation, working on their social licence to operate, assisting them in their compliance with increasing regulatory and reporting requirements and other future challenges sure to come.”




Source: https://www.australianmining.com.au/new-leadership-changes-hitting-the-resources-sector/

July 9, 2024
The Queensland Government has broken ground on the first construction works of the $5 billion CopperString project. Work commenced yesterday on the CopperString projects’ first and largest workforce accommodation site. The site will house those charged with building the project’s 840km high-voltage transmission line that will connect Mount Isa to the ‘SuperGrid’ for the first time. The workforce accommodation will house up to 550 construction workers at its peak. These workers will construct a nearby substation and progress early stages of the transmission line development heading west from Hughenden out to Mount Isa. Supercharging the state’s north-west aims to unlock Queensland’s $500 billion north-west minerals province. It’s expected CopperString will be complete in 2029, weather and construction conditions permitting. Queensland Premier Stephen Miles said CopperString is the biggest ever expansion to the state’s publicly owned energy system. “Queenslanders deserve cheaper, cleaner, more reliable energy – to power their homes, our schools, hospitals, shopping centres and more,” Miles said . “CopperString will be the catalyst for transforming Queensland’s north and north-west – opening up mining opportunities, creating more jobs and unlocking critical minerals which will be essential in developing renewable technologies. “This is the start of a long and exciting future for the region and our state.” Commencing later this month, project owner, Queensland Powerlink, will be offering free sessions for businesses along the CopperString corridor to build their capabilities. The program includes five workshops and one-on-one assistance to help businesses build confidence to bid on major projects and supply chain work in the region. “All of North Queensland understands the immense opportunities that CopperString presents for local jobs both directly and indirectly which is why this is such a momentous day,” Resources and Critical Minerals Minister Scott Stewart said.  “Critical minerals are the next big boom for the resources industry and the feedback I’ve had from companies is that this project is key to unlocking those opportunities.” Source: https://www.australianmining.com.au/queensland-breaks-ground-on-copperstring/
July 8, 2024
Underground mines are busy places, and it’s vital companies are on top of their processes to enable an efficient and safe underground operation. Whether it’s having the best equipment to drive higher production, maximise return on investment, minimise waste or keep workers out of harm’s way, mining companies benefit from understanding and investing in the right underground technologies. Source: https://www.australianmining.com.au/showcasing-the-best-in-underground-mining/
July 8, 2024
BHP has started environmental processing to have the transport at its Escondida copper mine in Chile transitioned to an electric trolley system. The Big Australian will invest around $US250 million ($371.6 million) in the project at Escondida, which it owns in a joint venture with Rio Tinto. The funds will go towards installing key infrastructure to electrically assist the movement of extraction trucks in areas where the highest fuel consumption currently takes place. BHP has submitted an environmental impact statement to the Environmental Impact Assessment System in Chile. “The electric trolley system is one of the initiatives with which we seek to move towards a safer and more sustainable way of operating hand in hand with technology,” BHP Escondida president Alejandro Tapia said . “This project will allow us to reduce the fuel consumption of our extraction trucks and thus advance our goal of net-zero operational greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.” The project includes the construction of a new electrical substation and transmission lines both inside and around the Escondida Norte pit. These facilities will electrically assist the movement of trucks inside the mine in the areas where they go up loaded with ore and, consequently, consume more fuel. With this new technology, instead of using diesel, they will be propelled by electrical power, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving productivity associated with truck performance given the higher travel speed. Once construction kicks off up to 160 jobs are expected to be created. The trolley project is in addition to other technological transformation initiatives that the company maintains in different stages of study and execution, including the progressive incorporation of autonomy in its mining equipment.  To date, Escondida has six autonomous trucks in full operation and by 2025 it expects to have the largest fleet of autonomous equipment in South America. Source: https://www.australianmining.com.au/bhp-goes-green-at-worlds-largest-copper-mine/
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