Archived News for Industry Professionals - March, 2012
The New Zealand Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Jan Wright, has announced a broad investigation into hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.
Dr Wright announced that the initial scoping work would be stepped up into an official investigation, saying that preliminary work indicated a need for close examination of the issue.
“The work that has been done by my office thus far shows a substantive case for an official investigation under the Environment Act,” Dr Wright said.
Australia more addicted to pollutants
A report published by the Climate Institute shows Australia is more dependent on high polluting technology than it was two decades ago, with the country being the only G20 member nation to go backwards on its low-carbon competitiveness since 1995 according to the Global Climate Leadership Review 2012.
Funding for data fusion for geothermal exploration
The Australian Government has awarded a $1.9 million grant to National ICT Australia (NICTA) Ltd's $5 million project to provide enhanced data for targeted geothermal exploration as part of the Australian Centre for Renewable Energy (ACRE) Emerging Renewables Program.
Record energy and resources exports recorded
The value of Australia’s resources and energy exports in 2011 increased by 15 per cent from the previous year to a record $190 billion, according to the Resources and Energy Statistics December quarter 2011 report released today by the Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics (BREE).
New head of JKMRC appointed
Dr Wayne Stange, the Managing Director of AMIRA International, has been appointed Director of the Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC) within the University of Queensland's Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI).
Leak blows lid off anti export boom plans
Leaked documents have revealed plans by a cabal of environmental groups to disrupt key coal export projects.
Leighton wins Rio Tinto contracts
Leighton Contractors has signed five year Framework Agreements with mining giant Rio Tinto for the delivery of a stream of earthworks projects and a stream of structural, mechanical, piping (SMP) projects as part of Rio Tinto’s 353 Mtpa (million tonnes per annum) expansion program in the Pilbara.
WA gives the nod for $400 million Pilbara project
The Western Australian Government has given final approval for a rail and power supply project in the Pilbara estimated to be worth more than $400 million, and which is expected to generate 600 jobs in the region.
Downer EDI wins BHP contract
Infrastructure giant Downer EDI has announced it has been awarded a rolling stock contract to supply Downer Electro-Motive Diesel services to BHP Billiton’s Iron Ore operations in the Pilbara for the next five years.
CSIRO Organic Geochemistry of Mineral Systems Cluster launched
The CSIRO Organic Geochemistry of Mineral Systems Cluster has been officially launched at Curtin University’s Resources and Chemistry Precinct.
Fraser Institute releases mining survey
Canada’s Fraser Institute has released its findings for the 2011/12 survey of mining companies, finding that both the Northern Territory and Western Australia have made significant improvements in their attractiveness to potential mining investors.