WESTERN AUSTRALIA’S INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT MAGAZINE

December 2015 – February 2016 $3 (inc GST) Print post approved PP 665002/00062 approved Print post

WHEATSTONE WINS

Praise for innovative project DEPARTMENT OF STATE DEVELOPMENT International Trade and Investment Level 6, 1 Adelaide Terrace East Perth, Western Australia 6004 • AUSTRALIA Tel: +61 8 9222 0555 • Fax: +61 8 9222 0505 Email: [email protected] • www.dsd.wa.gov.au INTERNATIONAL OFFICES Europe — London Government of Western Australian – European Office 5th floor, The Australia Centre Corner of Strand and Melbourne Place London WC2B 4LG • UNITED KINGDOM Tel: +44 20 7240 2881 • Fax: +44 20 7240 6637 Email: [email protected] • www.wago.co.uk twitter.com/@wagoEU India — Mumbai Western Australian Trade Office Western Australia’s resources industry has celebrated its successes throughout 2015, 93 Jolly Maker Chambers No 2 demonstrating resilience in an evolving sector and a positive outlook for the coming year. 9th floor, Nariman Point • Mumbai 400 021 • INDIA Tel: +91 22 6630 3973 • Fax: +91 22 6630 3977 Chevron Australia won the coveted Golden Gecko Award for Environmental Excellence in Email: [email protected] • www.watoindia.in October for a project at its Wheatstone Development (story page 2). Indonesia — Jakarta Western Australia Trade Office The departments of State Development and Mines and Petroleum were also winners in October Level 48, Wisma 46, Jalan Jenderal Sudirman Kavling 1 when each was awarded Premier’s Awards for Public Sector Excellence for their successful Jakarta Pusat 10220 • INDONESIA partnerships with private industry (stories page 4 and 22). Tel: +62 21 574 8834 • Fax: +62 21 574 8888 Email: [email protected] A successful trade mission to Indonesia in November reinforced Western Australia’s strong Japan — Tokyo partnerships with our major trading partners in the resources sector and other key growth areas. Western Australian Government Office 14th floor, Imperial Tower Indonesia is a significant trading partner for Western Australia and there is scope for growth 1-1-1 Uchisaiwai-cho Chiyoda-ku across a number of sectors, particularly agriculture and tourism, as well as the resources and Tokyo 100-0011 • JAPAN services sectors (story page 5). Tel: +81 3 5157 8281 • Fax: +81 3 5157 8286 Email: [email protected] • www.wajapan.net Closer to home, Western Australia is full steam ahead planning for LNG 18 – the world’s largest Japan — Kobe liquefied natural gas (LNG) event – which Perth will host in April, 2016 (story page 9). Western Australian Government Office 6th floor, Golden Sun Building 4-3-6 Nakayamate-dori Australia is on track to become the largest LNG exporter in the world by 2020 as it develops Chuo-Ku • Kobe 650-0004 • JAPAN the fastest-growing LNG projects worldwide and Western Australia is leading the nation with the Tel: +81 78 242 7705 • Fax: +81 78 242 7707 development of major LNG projects. Email: [email protected] • www.wajapan.net Middle East — Dubai Western Australian Trade Office 106, Emarat Atrium Colin Barnett PO Box 58007 • Dubai • UNITED ARAB EMIRATES PREMIER OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA & MINISTER FOR STATE DEVELOPMENT Tel: +971 4 343 3226 • Fax: +971 4 343 3238 Email: [email protected] • www.wato.ae Bill Marmion Kenya – Nairobi MINISTER FOR MINES AND PETROLEUM Western Australian Trade Office Kenya Representative Office Longonot Place Apt 55 P.O.Box 40076 Nairobi 00100, KENYA People’s Republic of China — Shanghai Western Australian Trade and Investment Office Level 22 • CITIC Square 1168 Nanjing Road West Shanghai 200041 • PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA Tel: +86 21 5292 5899 • Fax: +86 21 5292 5889 ISSN 1037-4590 Email: [email protected] • www.westernaustralia.cn

Prospect People’s Republic of China — Hangzhou Western Australian Trade and Investment Promotion Western Australian Prospect magazine is published quarterly by the Hangzhou Representative Office Western Australian Government’s Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) Room 1705 • World Trade Centre Plaza and Department of State Development (DSD). Zhejiang World Trade Centre DSD Editorial management: Rebecca Atkinson, DSD Communications and Marketing Division. 122 Shuguang Road Tel: +61 08 9222 0417 • Fax: +61 08 9222 0505 Hangzhou 310007 • PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA Tel: +86 571 8795 0296 • Fax: +86 571 8795 0295 DMP Editorial management: Leith Phillips, DMP Communications and Marketing Division. Email: [email protected] • www.westernaustralia.cn Tel: +61 08 9222 3572 • Fax: +61 08 9222 3862 Singapore Subscriptions: Gerard O’Neill. Tel: +61 08 9222 3821 • Email: [email protected] Western Australian Trade and Investment Office Disclaimer 6 Temasek Boulevard #20-02 Prospect has been compiled in good faith by the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) and Department of State Development (DSD). Opinions expressed in Prospect are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views, or have the endorsement of DMP and DSD. DMP and Suntec Tower Four DSD has used all reasonable endeavours to ensure the material contained in this publication is correct, but it is intended to be general in nature. No Singapore 038986 • SINGAPORE representation is made with regard to the completeness or accuracy of the information contained herein. DMP and DSD disclaims any or all liability Tel: +65 6836 5626 • Fax: +65 6836 5698 for loss or damage whatsoever suffered or incurred resulting from the use of or reliance on information contained herein. Readers of this publication should make and rely on their own enquiries, research and judgements in making decisions affecting their own or any other persons interest. Email: [email protected] South Korea — Seoul Cover photo: The Chevron-operated Wheatstone Project received the 2015 Golden Gecko Award Western Australian Trade and Investment Office for Environmental Excellence for its micro-tunnel shore crossing at Ashburton North Unit 702, 7th floor, Kwanghwamoon Building (story page 2). Photo: Chevron Australia Pty Ltd 149 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-730, KOREA Tel: +82 2 722 1217 • Fax: +82 2 722 1218 Scan this QR code to view links to all the department’s publications Email: [email protected] • www.westernaustralia.or.kr In this issue

04 07 15

16 20 23

04 Celebrating 25 years 16 Unlocking doors in the Eucla The Western Australian Government re-affirmed its Sister Drilling program casts light on one of Western Australia’s State relationship with East Java to mark the 25th anniversary darkest and most mysterious corners – the Eucla Basin’s milestone. Precambrian basement.

07 WA company enjoys 20 New Year hopes for nickel Western Australia’s nickel sector proved its resilience in 2015 UK mining success and plans are in place for success in the year ahead. Western Australian specialty metals company Wolf Minerals opens the first new metal mine in Great Britain in 45 years. 23 Mining rehabilitation takes 15 In the fast lane a step forward New technology enables fast automated analysis of rock Initial planning is under way for rehabilitation at two of the first materials directly from drill sites – with time and cost savings. four mine sites recommended for gazettal as legacy mines.

Department of Mines and Petroleum Department of Mines and Petroleum Department of State Development Department of State Development www.dmp.wa.gov.au www.dsd.wa.gov.au 2015 GOLDEN GECKO AWARDED TO CHEVRON FOR MICRO TUNNEL

Chevron Australia has won the 2015 assessment and engagement undertaken Golden Gecko Award for Environmental during the project’s development. Excellence for a solution to a shoreline “Monitoring undertaken on the Ashburton crossing at the Wheatstone natural River Delta demonstrated excellent gas development. environmental outcomes with no ground Chevron Australia’s Wheatstone micro disturbance and an increase in the number tunnel links a 225 kilometre offshore gas of mature mangrove trees adjacent to the pipeline to the onshore processing facilities, tunnel corridor. protecting the coastal area adjacent to the “Other excellent environmental initiatives Ashburton River Delta. included using biodegradable hydraulic oils, not using chemicals for the last 50 The prestigious annual award was metres of tunnelling, re-using all tunnel presented to company representatives by spoil, recycling almost all recyclable waste, Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Marmion and formally recognising individuals who at a ceremony in Perth in October. The sculptor who created the orginal improved environmental awareness of the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) Golden Gecko, George Kosturkov, was a project through an award program initiative.” guest at the awards night. Executive Director Environment At 1.2 kilometres in length, the Wheatstone Dr Phil Gorey said the project stood out micro-tunnel is the longest large-diameter to the selection committee and was a tunnel in the Southern Hemisphere. very deserving winner of the 2015 “Chevron investigated five options for a Measuring 112 centimetres in diameter, Golden Gecko Award. shore crossing and chose the one with the the trunkline is Australia’s largest diameter lowest environmental impact, even though it “The Wheatstone natural gas development gas pipeline. was the most expensive choice. is next to the Ashburton River Delta, which Chevron Australia micro tunnel project supports important mangrove and estuarine “Their commitment to environmental chief Tony Spencer said Chevron took habitats,” Dr Gorey said. excellence was evident from the level of its role in protecting the environment and 2 demonstrating the highest standards of The eight finalists for the 2015 Golden Gecko environmental stewardship very seriously. Awards were: “We are therefore very proud to • Chevron Australia receive a 2015 Golden Gecko Award – Wheatstone Micro-tunnel Project for Environmental Excellence for our • Fortescue Metals Group / Ziltek Pty Ltd / Wheatstone Project micro tunnel,” Mr PT Environmental Services Spencer said. – Better Environmental Outcomes “Winning this award has allowed us to from Hydrocarbon Spills using showcase some of the industry-leading RemScan™ work we have undertaken on our Australian • Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines projects to minimise our environmental – Gidji Emissions Reduction Project impacts and conserve the unique values of the local communities in which we operate.” • Pilbara Mesquite Management Committee Inc Mr Spencer said Chevron was not aware of – Battling the Thorny Menace through micro tunnelling of this size and application Corporate Alliances having been used in the oil and gas industry before. • Pilbara Ports Authority – Mangrove Rehabilitation Program “Through the commitment of Chevon and our subcontractors, we’ve been able to • Premier Coal / Golder Associates demonstrate that it is possible,” he said. DMP Executive Director Dr Phil Gorey. – Lake Kepwari Trial Flow-through “As a result of our success, industry now • Rio Tinto Iron Ore Utilities Division has another solution for large-bore Battling the Thorny Menaces through – West Angelas Fuel Hub pipeline crossings in future development Corporate Alliances was the Pilbara Mesquite • St Barbara Limited projects and the community has an Management Committee’s project to – Gwalia Operations Absorption example of resources developments manage weed control across the Pilbara. Chiller Upgrade. successfully executed in sensitive St Barbara’s Gwalia Operations Absorption physical environments.” For information on entering the Chiller Upgrade more than doubled the 2016 Golden Gecko Awards visit Certificates of Merit were also awarded to cooling capacity of the Gwalia underground www.dmp.wa.gov.au/goldengecko Pilbara Mesquite Management Committee mine by converting waste heat energy from Inc. and St Barbara Limited. the power plant to cool air.

Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Marmion presents the Golden Gecko to Tony Spencer and Tye Pope of Chevron Australia.

3 25 YEARS OF KINSHIP: WA AND EAST JAVA

To mark the anniversary, the State Government committed funds towards services to support people with disability in East Java, including A$80,000 towards the establishment of a scholarship for a high- level graduate from East Java to undertake a two-year Master of Clinical Audiology program at The University of WA in 2016. The State Government is also providing A$26,000, and the Autism Association of WA (AAWA) A$21,000, towards autism services in regional East Java which were established in 2013 by the Disability Services Commission and AAWA. With a population of about 38 million people, East Java has the second largest East Java Governor Dr H. Soekarwo and Premier Colin Barnett signed a re-affirmation of the regional economy in Indonesia and Sister State agreement. contributed nearly 15 per cent of the country's gross domestic product in 2013. The Western Australian Government Mr Barnett said he was delighted to Western Australia has maintained a trade recently celebrated the 25th anniversary welcome Governor Soekarwo to and investment presence in Indonesia since of its Sister State relationship with Western Australia for his first official visit 1992. The office was based originally in Indonesia's East Java province by as Governor, and to join him in marking Surabaya, East Java before shifting to the recommitting to the relationship the anniversary. Indonesian capital, Jakarta. and pledging funding for health and “Through the Sister State relationship Two-way trade between Western Australia disability programs. many valuable programs and exchanges and Indonesia is now worth A$3.1 billion, Premier and State Development Minister have occurred between governments, totalling about 30 percent of trade between Colin Barnett joined East Java Governor businesses, organisations and individuals Indonesia and Australia. Dr H. Soekarwo in November at a function in areas such as agriculture, health, social For more information on Western Australia’s at the State Reception Centre to sign a re- welfare, education, tourism and sport,” overseas network and areas of focus, visit affirmation of the Sister State agreement. Mr Barnett said. www.dsd.wa.gov.au/trade-with-wa

A WINNING PARTNERSHIP

The Department of State Development “We’ve had some great outcomes First established in 2002, DSD administers (DSD) celebrated a winning collaboration from our work in this screen sector – the Fund, which aims to strengthen the with Western Australia’s screen funding numerous business delegations have been relationship between Australia and China, and development agency, ScreenWest, undertaken in both countries, business encourage long-term partnerships in the in October. partnerships have been formalised and energy sector and increase knowledge and skills through training and research. The team was awarded the 2015 Premier’s films made,” he said. Award for Public Sector Excellence in the DSD Director of International Trade and The Premier’s Awards recognise and ‘Western Australia in Asia’ category. Investment Stuart Crockett and Manager celebrate achievements by those involved in The department worked in close for China Ngor Tan joined Mr Booth at the delivery of public services. partnership with ScreenWest to help the award presentation by Premier and A full list of winners and their projects is connect production companies in State Development Minister Colin Barnett available on the Public Sector Commission Western Australia with production (pictured aside). website https://publicsector.wa.gov.au companies in China. The department was also a finalist in the ScreenWest Chief Executive Ian Booth said same awards category for the successful the agency was honoured to jointly win the Australia China Natural Gas Technology prestigious award. Partnership Fund. 4 INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT

TRADE FOCUS: WA AND INDONESIA

Australian and Indonesian companies across sectors with mutually beneficial potential – including agriculture, tourism and the resources and services sectors. An agri-food roundtable was held for representatives from Indonesian and Western Australian companies, such as Indofood and CBH. Another meeting focused on tourism L-R: Premier Colin Barnett; Indonesia's Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Susi and education and training, organised Pudjiastuti; and Chairman of the Australia Indonesia Business Council WA, Greg Gaunt. for airlines, travel agents and training Photo: Australian Embassy, Jakarta providers to attend, and similar meetings were scheduled with the Western Australia was the first Australian "Indonesia is already a significant trading resource and service sectors. state to open a trade and investment partner for the State, but there is scope office in Indonesia – in Surabaya in 1992. for growth across a number of areas as In January 2015, the Western our relationship continues to develop," Australian Government expanded Indonesia has been among Western Mr Barnett said. its trade and investment office in Australia’s top ten trading partners for Jakarta to include tourism and several years. "Western Australia has much to offer Indonesia's burgeoning middle class agriculture officers. In 2014-15, two-way trade between when it comes to world-class food, the State and Indonesia was valued at A new Regional Director for Western quality education, and breathtaking A$3.1billion, with top export commodities Australia’s Indonesia trade office, tourist destinations.” from Western Australia to Indonesia Chris Barnes, was appointed in June. including wheat, iron ore and live animals. Western Australia's exports to Mr Barnes said the visit by the Premier Indonesia were valued at A$1.6 billion In early November, Premier and State was important to demonstrate to in 2014-15, and were dominated by Development Minister Colin Barnett Indonesia the commitment of the agricultural products such as wheat and senior government representatives Western Australian Government to and live animals. departed for Indonesia for a visit focused on promoting business ties especially expanding the State’s trade partnership in While in Jakarta, the Premier hosted a in agriculture and food, tourism and key growth sectors. series of roundtable meetings with major education and training.

ScreenWest Chief Executive Ian Booth, Department of State Development Manager for China Ngor Tan, Premier Colin Barnett, ScreenWest Chair Janelle Marr, Director of International Trade and Investment Stuart Crockett. Photo: 3P Photography

5 OIL & GAS INDUSTRY LOOKS FORWARD

The Western Australian display at the SPE Offshore Europe 2015 conference and exhibition, held in Aberdeen, Scotland.

The Western Australian Government’s business and human resources challenges Russia and the CIS States to identify prime European Office represented the State the sector is currently facing as well as opportunities for attracting investment and at an oil and gas industry event in future challenges – including the need trade for Western Australia. September that confirmed a positive to attract and encourage new talent into The office is involved in a wide range of outlook for the industry’s future. the industry. activities and forges essential links between The WA European trade and investment Close to 56,000 delegates from 104 global partners and Western Australian team were joined by a representative from countries attended the event – the second business. For more information visit the Australian Marine Complex, Common highest attendance rate in the event’s www.wago.co.uk User Facility in hosting an impressive display history – and more than 1,535 global In April 2016, Western Australia will host representing the state at the SPE Offshore organisations from 44 countries exhibited. LNG 18 – the world’s largest liquefied Europe 2015 conference and exhibition, The Western Australia European Office natural gas (LNG) conference and held in Aberdeen, Scotland. monitors current and emerging issues exhibition. For more information on LNG 18, Western Australia’s new Agent General to throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, see story page 9. Europe, John Atkins, attended the event – his first European event in his new role – and was kept busy meeting the industry’s key players at the display and in one-on- one pre-arranged meetings. Mr Atkins reported that with the downturn for the industry in the North Sea, the Western Australian stand at the conference exhibition was “extremely busy” for the full four days of the conference. “The WA stand specifically promoted LNG 18 with brochures and key graphics, for which there was a large volume of interest that the European Office has been following up since,” he said. The theme of the 2015 event was ‘inspiring WAGO European Office Senior Trade & Investment Manager, Stuart Russell and Agent General, the next generation’, which encouraged John Atkins with the Lord Provost of Aberdeen, Scotland, Councillor George Adam. industry delegates to address technical, 6 INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT

Wolf Minerals Hemerdon Tungsten and Tin Project in Devon, UK. Photo: Wolf Minerals

WA COMPANY OPENS NEW MINE IN UK

Western Australian Government “Wolf has invested more than £140 million The Western Australian Government’s European Office Agent General, into the project and has created more than European Office, located in the UK, is John Atkins joined more than 200 200 permanent jobs, with many more involved in a wide range of activities and guests, including the Australian High involved during construction,” Mr Clark said. facilitates relationships between European Commissioner to the UK, The Hon companies and Western Australian “The mine is expected to make a Alexander Downer AC, at Wolf Minerals business. For further information substantial contribution to the Plymouth, Ltd official opening of its Hemerdon visit www.wago.co.uk Devon and UK economies during the Tungsten and Tin Project, held on site at Drakelands in September. next decade.” Wolf Minerals, a Western Australian Mr Clark said the opening ceremony was specialty metals company, officially held only 18 months after construction of opened its Drakelands tungsten and tin Drakelands began on site in March 2014, project in Devon, southwest England, with construction completed on schedule in heralding the first new metal mine in Great June 2015. Britain in 45 years. “Everyone involved is incredibly proud Wolf Minerals Managing Director Russell of this achievement and I hope that the Clark said the successful financing, successful delivery of this project proves Australian High Commissioner to the UK, The development and construction of the to be a catalyst for a wider renaissance of Hon Alexander Downer AC with Wolf Minerals project marked the realisation of the metal mining in the UK,” he said. Chairman, John Hopkins OAM at the opening. company’s goal of building and operating the first new metal mine in Great Britain for 45 years and becoming a significant producer of tungsten.

7 L-R: Sumitomo Metal Mining Oceania Managing Director, Hitoshi Ito; Gold Road Resources Executive Chairman, Ian Murray and Sumitomo Metal Mining General Manager, Gold Road Resources’ Justin Osborne and Jordan Rogers logging Gruyere drillcore. Eiichi Fukuda at the milestone ceremony at Parliament Photo: Gold Road Resources House. Photo: Tom Rovis-Hermann

GOLDEN ROAD AHEAD FOR WA MINING COMPANY

Recent milestones for Perth-based Gruyere porphyry almost 700 metres “The discrete nature of the shear zone, company Gold Road Resources have below previous drilling and to intersect and visually obvious gold mineralisation demonstrated growth in Western more than 90 metres of mineralisation is provides us with a very good target model Australia’s gold sector. a terrific result.” to follow up on. The company is developing a promising “Along with the high-grade discovery In November 2015, Gold Road new gold project in the Yamarna Belt, a recently made at Smokebush in a similar newly discovered gold region covering Resources announced the first diamond dolerite, we now have two exciting projects approximately 5,000 square kilometres drilling hole at its Toppin Hill Dolerite to focus JV attention on going into 2016,” in the Yilgarn Craton, 150 kilometres Prospect had successfully confirmed he said. east of Laverton in Western Australia. previously identified mineralisation. The drilling successes follow a milestone The Yilgarn Craton currently produces This drilling – within the company’s ceremony the company held earlier in over half of Australia’s gold. South Yamarna Joint Venture 2015 to formally recognise Japanese company Sumitomo Metal Mining Oceania, A 2010 report by the Geological Survey tenements – was also supported by a subsidiary of Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. of Western Australia found the geology the Co-funded Drilling Program as part Ltd, earning a 30 per cent interest in the of the Yamarna Belt to be of a similar of the State Government’s Exploration South Yamarna Joint Venture. geological age and character to the Incentive Scheme. Kalgoorlie area. The milestone represented the first major The announcement follows a high- investment by a Japanese conglomerate in The Yamarna Belt currently has grade gold discovery recently made Western Australia’s gold industry. reported mineral resources of 6.1 million ounces of gold, hosted within a number by the company at their Smokebush The ceremony, held at Parliament House, of deposits including Gold Road's Dolerite drilling location, also within the was attended by more than 30 guests 5.6 million ounce Gruyere deposit. South Yamarna JV. including visiting international dignitaries from Sumitomo Metal Mining. Gold Road Resources recognised Mr Osborne said the drilling success the State Government for its support confirmed the detailed geology of Gold Road Executive Chairman Ian Murray through the Exploration Incentive the Toppin Hill discovery with visually said the milestone demonstrated Scheme which co-funded a 1,703 obvious gold mineralisation. growing ties between Australian and metre-deep exploration diamond drill Japanese businesses. hole through its 100 per cent owned “This new drilling has confirmed the “The recent discovery of high-grade gold Gruyere deposit. detailed geology of the Toppin Hill mineralisation within the South Yamarna Gold Road Resources Executive discovery as being hosted within a very Joint Venture at Riviera-Smokebush Director Justin Osborne said: “The hole prospective differentiated dolerite sill,” highlights what can be achieved through targeted an ambitious projection of the he said. effective partnerships,” Mr Murray said.

8 LARGEST GLOBAL FACTS – WA & LNG • The Australian headquarters for leading international energy GAS EVENT: companies, such as Shell, Chevron and Woodside, as well as the operational head offices for mining LNG 18 – WA, APRIL 2016 giants BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Alcoa are situated in Perth. • Western Australia’s two current operating LNG export projects – the Western Australia is home to the a large number of CEOs and industry North West Shelf and Pluto – provide nation’s largest known gas fields as leaders, from both Australia and around a total capacity of 20.6 million tonnes well as its largest natural gas projects the world, speaking at the one event. per annum. and is soon to host the world’s largest Innovative projects such as Floating • By the end of 2017, Western liquefied natural gas event – LNG 18. LNG, subsea technology and conversion Australia will have five operating LNG The 18th International Conference & of coal bed methane to LNG will be part export projects with a total capacity Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas of the program. of 48.7 million tonnes per annum. (LNG 18) will be held in Perth from Additionally, content on challenges, 11-15 April, 2016. trends and innovation facing the • Western Australia’s LNG projects are Chief executives from three of the industry globally will be presented as located relatively close to the world’s industry’s largest players – Shell, part of the commercial, technical biggest LNG importers in Asia. Woodside and Chevron – will jointly and special interest streams of the • The shipping distance from Western address delegates at the opening plenary concurrent sessions. Australia to Japan is 3400 nautical session, speaking on “The Transformation The LNG 18 social program includes miles, or eight days travel (similar to of Gas”. three functions, delegate lunches are South Korea, China and Taiwan). The LNG industry has grown rapidly included in the registration fee and plenty • In Western Australia, research shows worldwide and Australia’s gas sector of other networking options, such as the that there is potentially twice as has gone from strength to strength. Thought Leadership Lunches, Golf Day much gas available onshore as there The industry’s rapid transformation will and Technical Tours, are on offer. is offshore. be under the spotlight at LNG 18 and Start planning your LNG 18 experience • Major LNG investment projects Western Australia will be centre stage. today and visit the LNG 18 official in Western Australia include The conference program is now available website at www.lng18.org for a Chevron’s Gorgon and Wheatstone and registrations are open. comprehensive event overview. projects, and Woodside’s Julimar Development Project and Greater Presentations by prominent speakers, Western Flank Phase-1 project. high level ministers and policy makers as well as solid networking opportunities are only some of the highlights – the Conference Program offers insights from

For more information, as well as a full list of speakers and program outline, visit www.lng18.org

© Tourism WA

9 RARE OPPORTUNITY

Northern Minerals' John Galt Prospect in the Kimberley region viewed from the west.

When Sidy Morin-Ka started work as a “It may no longer be the next big thing, but tend to be dominant in either light or geologist with the Department of Mines it is still a good thing for Western Australia, heavy element groups. Light REE are and Petroleum (DMP) in March 2012, as we are very well placed to supply rare more common and generally have a lower rare earth elements (REE) were the earths as global demand increases. economic value. ‘next big thing’. “I’ll give you an example. Let’s say a The largest known REE deposits in China was, and still is, the world’s biggest potential buyer, like the electric car Western Australia occur in four main producer, exporter and consumer of REE, manufacturer Tesla, is looking for rare areas, situated in the eastern Yilgarn, the but in 2007 it introduced export quotas, earths essential to its production. Gascoyne and the east Kimberley. reputedly to clean up its highly-polluting “Sure, they can deal with China, but Tesla The world’s highest-grade REE deposit is rare earths mining industry and crack down is an American-based company, and China Lynas Corporation’s Mt Weld mine which on illegal rare earths production has a number of competing companies, produces mainly lights about 35 km south and smuggling. so it’s not going to make it competitive for of Laverton. This perfect commodity storm drove the Tesla to buy the REE, so where will they Hastings Technology Metals Limited has price of REE sky high, and there were soon buy them? two promising projects – one for light REE more than 400 companies exploring for “They’ll buy from processing plants in other at Yangibana, about 270 km east-north- rare earths worldwide. parts of the world and there’s a very good east of Carnarvon, and another for heavy In 2011, Lynas Corporation Limited chance the raw material will have come REE at Brockman, about 18 km south- officially opened its Mt Weld mine, about from Western Australia because we have east of Halls Creek. 35 km south of Laverton. Mt Weld is the abundant resources. Northern Minerals is developing a heavy world’s richest known deposit of rare “Also, WA is part of a stable Western REE deposit at its Browns Range project earths, and was the first mine to produce nation that can provide rare earths about 160 km south east of Halls Creek, REE outside of China in many years. without any political considerations,” and is exploring for more heavy REE at its Mr Morin-Ka, who specialises in REE Mr Morin-Ka said. John Galt project, about 120 km northeast geology, has seen a quick end to those “Where we really have the edge over of Halls Creek. glory days over the past few years. the rest of the world is our variety of rare Anova Metals (formerly Kimberley Rare “Things changed very quickly,” he said. earths, especially the ‘heavies’, which are Earths) has a light REE prospect at more valuable.” Cummins Range, about 130 km south- “Companies found ways to reduce Mr Morin-Ka explained that REE can be west of Halls Creek, that Mr Morin-Ka their consumption of rare earths, China divided into two broad categories based described as very similar geologically to Mt abolished its export quotas in response on their atomic masses – light and heavy. Weld, but presently sub-economic. to complaints to the World Trade Organisation, and mines outside China Geochemists generally believe there are “The companies we have now are likely to started to buffer supply, all of which helped 15 rare earth elements, which can be be the ones that stay on and we probably to drop the price back to the levels we saw divided into light and heavy groups based won’t get many more,” he said. “You don’t before the spike,” Mr Morin-Ka said. on their atomic masses. REE deposits need that much material to feed the market. 10 Sampling at the John Galt Prospect. Key rare earths and their uses: Yttrium: Superconductors, powerful pulsed lasers, cancer treatment drugs. “The REE industry in Western Australia Lanthanum: Special optical glasses. really needs a period of stability when it Cerium: Catalytic converters in automotive exhaust systems, precision comes to price, demand and production. glass polishing. “If we start seeing too many companies Praseodymium: Magnets, creating high-strength metals for aircraft engines. moving to production in the rare earths market, the price may drop.” Neodymium: Strong magnets in most modern vehicles and aircraft, headphones, microphones, infrared lasers, computer hard drives, wind turbines, Mr Morin-Ka believes there are reasons for hybrid cars. the REE industry to expect a period of Samarium: Strong magnets, also used in conjunction with other compounds price stability. for intravenous radiation treatment to kill cancer cells. “China is not going to stop consolidating Europium: Colour TVs and monitors. Fittingly, it is used to make the special and regulating its REE industry or stop its phosphor marks on Euro notes to prevent counterfeiting. efforts to control the smuggling,” he said. Gadolinium: Targets tumours in neuron therapy, enhances magnetic resonance “If the price does go higher and helps imaging, cancer diagnosis. competitors such as WA, the competition is not big enough to concern China.” Dysprosium: Added to rare earth magnets to help them operate more efficiently at higher temperatures. Erbium: Nuclear applications such as neutron-absorbing control rods. Thulium: Widely used as the radiation device in portable X-rays. Ytterbium: Cancer treatments, enhancing stainless steel. Lutetium: Dating ancient items such as meteorites, petroleum refining.

Rare earths facts: Rare earth elements (REE) aren’t REE. Host minerals show variable light-to- with reduced weight, emissions and actually rare. They occur in rocks all heavy REE ratios that are unique for each energy consumption. They can also boost over the world, but generally in very low deposit. It is this ratio that determines the efficiency, performance, miniaturisation, concentrations. Deposits of a grade attractiveness of a REE deposit to investors. speed, durability, and thermal stability. economical to mine are rarely formed. Collectively, REE contribute to vital Demand for rare earths ramped up in the Only a handful of REE minerals can be technologies we rely on for safety, health 1960s after the launch of the first colour and comfort. television sets, because europium was recovered economically, particularly essential for producing colour images. monazite, bastnasite and loparite for the The unique properties of these elements light REE, and xenotime for the heavy help make many technologies perform 11 OIL AND GAS AND FARMING INDUSTRIES DEVELOP LAND ACCESS AGREEMENT

Department of Mines and Petroleum “The agreement will outline the rights DMP assesses applications before Executive Director Petroleum, Jeff Haworth. and responsibilities of property owners drilling programs are approved to ensure and petroleum companies during they comply with State legislation A historic land access agreement negotiations over land access, and will relating to protecting public health, the developed to streamline negotiations include information on compensation, environment and water resources. mediation and land rehabilitation between oil and gas companies and Future projects will be assessed following exploration activities.” Western Australian farmers was signed by DMP on a site-by-site, project- in November 2015. The model agreement will be by-project basis with safety and The agreement, endorsed by the Australian accompanied by a ‘Farmers Guide to environment auditors conducting Petroleum Production and Exploration Land Access’, which provides easy- inspections to check compliance with Association (APPEA), WA Farmers to-read information on how rural land safety and environmental standards. owners can negotiate fair and Federation, the Pastoralists and Graziers As part of the approvals process, equitable agreements for exploration Association of WA and Vegetables WA, companies are legally required to on private land. follows two years of negotiations between formulate an environment plan that the industry groups. Mr Haworth said the agreement is assesses the potential impacts on “With increased exploration activity complemented by new regulations for groundwater, as well as flora and fauna. the petroleum and geothermal for onshore oil and gas in Western All companies are required to submit industries that came into effect in 2015, Australia the land access agreement will a list of all chemicals planned for use giving Western Australia the most assist negotiations between petroleum in hydraulic fracturing activity and that stringent environmental conditions in companies and farmers,” Department of information is published on the the country for the emerging shale and Mines and Petroleum (DMP) Executive DMP website. Director Petroleum Jeff Haworth said. tight gas industry.

PARLIAMENTARY REPORT ON HYDRAULIC FRACTURING IDENTIFIES LOW RISK FOR WA

A Western Australian Government The Standing Committee on • the use of chemicals during the Parliamentary inquiry into hydraulic Environment and Public Affairs report, process and their potential risks; fracturing for shale and tight gas has Implications for Western Australia of • how much water is used and shown confidence in the Department of Hydraulic Fracturing for Unconventional alternatives to taking water from Mines and Petroleum’s (DMP) ability to Gas, examined in detail the aquifers; and regulate the emerging industry. agencies involved in the regulation of hydraulic fracturing. • the legacy of hydraulic fracturing on The findings from a two-year inquiry land and on communities. presented in November 2015 have The inquiry investigated the main shown that the State’s regulators are well areas of concern raised by the The committee found that improved prepared to manage the industry and community, including: regulatory processes and compliance identified a low risk of negative impacts on • land access and the rights of activities by DMP provided the environment, water resources and resource companies to enter onto sufficient safeguards to manage public health. private land; the developing industry.

12 NEW RESOURCES SECTOR AWARD RECOGNISES COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

A new resources sector award "By engaging with communities and recognising outstanding achievement community groups to understand and leadership in building community their issues and concerns, resources partnerships will be presented by the companies can help leave an ongoing Department of Mines and Petroleum positive legacy in the communities where (DMP) in 2016. they operate." Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Marmion DMP Executive Director Mineral Titles launched the new Community Partnership Dr Ivor Roberts said the Community Community Partnership Award nominees Award on 29 October, 2015. will be assessed against the selection Partnership Award would recognise criteria and not other applicants, meaning "The new award will be presented for the resources companies that went beyond more than one award can potentially be first time in 2016 and will acknowledge merely gaining a social licence to operate. companies and communities that presented each year. “This award will help build the reputation demonstrate outstanding leadership From 2016, DMP will host an annual of Western Australian resources industry in developing meaningful community Awards for Excellence night each October partnerships," Mr Marmion said. organisations that are raising the bar that will incorporate the presentation of and setting new benchmarks in community "The State Government is committed the new Community Partnership Award consultation and partnerships,” to supporting a responsible and and the Golden Gecko Awards for sustainable resources sector that Dr Roberts said. Environmental Excellence. benefits all West Australians. Any company or individual operating Nominations for the 2016 Community "Resources companies are expected to be within Western Australia’s minerals, energy Partnership Award open on good corporate citizens who engage in a resources or extractive industries is 1 February 2016. For information, meaningful and ongoing capacity with all encouraged to nominate a project for the visit www.dmp.wa.gov.au/ stakeholders including communities. Community Partnership Award. communitypartnershipaward

Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Marmion. A report on hydraulic fracturing was tabled in the Western Australian Parliament in November.

It also found that water source protection Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Marmion "The bottom line is that we are committed policies in place were adequate to protect welcomed the report saying it focuse on to protecting public health, water supplies public drinking water source areas. an industry that could be very important for and the environment, along with farming, The committee identified there is significant Western Australia's energy future, and for horticulture and tourism assets – in line community concern about the risks local jobs in particular. with community and landowners' values associated with hydraulic fracturing, and expectations," Mr Marmion said. The Minister said the State Government but highlighted there was also a level of misinformation being presented that may would carefully analyse the 51 findings The report was tabled in Parliament on cause confusion and mistrust and 12 recommendations and respond in 17 November 2015 and is available at within communities. due course. www.parliament.wa.gov.au/env

13 DMP COMMITMENT TO ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITY AND

Department of Mines and Petroleum Director INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS General Richard Sellers.

The Western Australian Government’s “DMP has adopted a policy of ‘engage “There is an increasing level of community ongoing commitment to stakeholder early and often’ in all areas of our business interest in resource projects, particularly in engagement is now being highlighted and we are committed to making sure that relation to environmental and land access through quarterly reports publicly our operations are open and transparent to issues, so involving all our stakeholders available on the Department of Mines the public.” is crucial when planning and developing and Petroleum (DMP) website. DMP has prioritised stakeholder policies and programs, and this is now being fully integrated across our The stakeholder engagement activity engagement in its revised three-year reports provide a summary of DMP’s strategic plan. business,” Mr Sellers said. engagement activities with community and “The department reviews the strategic During the past year departmental staff industry stakeholders in relation to WA’s plan annually and adjusts its focus to held public information sessions in the developing shale and tight gas industry. align with changes in the resources sector Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne, Mid “DMP has an ongoing commitment and community expectations around West, Perth metropolitan area and the to stakeholder engagement regarding responsible resources development,” South West. Mr Sellers said. this emerging new energy sector, and This included meetings with local engagement activities will be reported on “Just as resource companies must government representatives, Aboriginal the department’s website on a regular earn their social licence to successfully groups, port authorities, State basis,” DMP Director General Richard operate in Western Australia, DMP needs Government agencies, Chambers of Sellers said. to maintain community and stakeholder Commerce and Industry, farmers groups, He said that continuing community confidence in our regulation of industry. development commissions and non engagement addressed concerns “Building relationships and consulting government organisations. about potential risks associated with early will be key to maintaining trust and Stakeholder engagement activity reports resource extraction. confidence in DMP.” can found at www.dmp.wa.gov.au “As with any industry, the community Through new regulations now in place, wants assurance that there are there is a requirement for industry to appropriate regulations and processes in undertake timely, open and ongoing place to protect WA’s communities and engagement with all stakeholders environment,” Mr Sellers said. throughout the life of a project. Pay and subscribe to Prospect ONLINE

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14 The Lab-at-Rig development team with researchers from CSIRO, Imdex and Olympus. Photo: Greg Adams

LAB-AT-RIG TECHNOLOGY CUTS MINERAL ANALYSIS FROM MONTHS TO ONE HOUR

An innovation that enables fast • a sample preparation unit that “They asked the question: ‘what if we automated analysis of rock materials collects solids from drill cuttings could analyse the cuttings separated directly from drill sites is expected to and dries them; from that fluid in real time?’ ” lead to significant cost and time savings worth millions of dollars. • X-ray fluorescence and X-ray CSIRO’s Discovering Australia’s diffraction sensors to provide Mineral Resources Program Director The Lab-at-Rig technology developed by chemistry and mineralogy of the Dr Rob Hough said Lab-at-Rig was CSIRO enables chemistry and mineralogy sample; and the product of two years of research of rocks found within a drill hole to be and development and a tribute to the analysed within minutes of drilling. • the ability to upload data to a cloud- successful collaboration of the CSIRO’s based platform where it can be “Lab-at-Rig is an important breakthrough research and industry partners. for the industry because of the potentially analysed and provided back to massive cost savings in drilling, exploration the explorer. “The way that Imdex, Olympus and CSIRO have worked together on and overall mining operations,” CSIRO The technology will provide an enormous Lab-at-Rig project leader Dr Yulia this through the Deep Exploration speed advantage over the current system Uvarova said. Technologies Cooperative Research that can take up to three months – and Centre (DETCRC) has been critical to The new technology features automated often millions of dollars – to set up the drill delivering this world-class technology in analysis of mineralogy and geochemistry of sites, drill, extract, sample and log the drill such a short timeframe,” Dr Hough said. drill-hole cuttings direct from the drill site, cores, send to a lab for analysis, enter while still offering the relevant sampling data into a database and, finally, provide CSIRO, Imdex, Olympus, University methods and quality control processes. information back to the company. of Adelaide and Curtin University are “If mining or exploration companies have now working on the A$11 million Lab-at-Rig offers a one-hour cycle for the real time information about the mineralogy collaborative DETCRC Lab-at-Rig whole process. and chemistry in the drill hole they can Futures Project, which will build the next efficiently plan what to do next – whether “Our ‘light bulb’ moment was in 2011 generation system to cover new sensor that is to drill deeper, drill further holes, try when a group of researchers were technologies, improved data analysis elsewhere, or stop,” Dr Uvarova said. watching a diamond drilling operation and and processing for decision making, The Lab-at-Rig system is fitted to a observed the fluid carrying the drill cuttings and development of the system for new diamond drill rig and includes: to the surface,” Dr Uvarova said. applications and drilling platforms. 15 Setting up camp successfully in the Nullarbor's challenging conditions (see box below).

THE EUCLA BASIN: WHAT LIES BENEATH?

A drilling program funded by the magnetics surveys that we’ve already “The results announcement day was very Department of Mines and Petroleum’s done out there,” GSWA Geoscience successful,” Dr Spaggiari said. “We had Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS) Mapping Project Manager Dr Catherine a lot of good feedback and people were is casting light on one of Western Spaggiari said. amazed at the amount of work we’d done Australia’s darkest and most and the quality of it. “That’s what I used to pick the locations for mysterious corners – the Eucla the holes, otherwise you’d just be looking at “There was so much to digest that it was Basin’s Precambrian basement. a flat limestone plain with nothing else there hard to cram it into one day. The sheer The Geological Survey of Western to guide you. volume of what we’ve found and what Australia’s (GSWA) Albany–Fraser project we’ve learned from this stratigraphic drilling team has been working on interpreting “The aim was to pick geophysical domains is amazing and that’s partly because we’ve the results of new stratigraphic drilling rather than specific targets, as companies ventured into a virtually unknown area.” combined with geophysical data. would, to find mineralisation. The drilling program investigated the As well as unlocking doors to “We picked bigger areas to get a better greenfields Madura and Coompana understanding the geological formation of understanding of the basement’s geology.” basement provinces that lie between the south-western Proterozoic Australia, the The results are still being studied eagerly Albany–Fraser Orogen and the Gawler spotlight on the Eucla basement is revealing and their release caused quite a stir Craton, beneath up to 500 metres of important targets for mineral exploration. among academics and explorers at a cover rocks. A total of eight deep holes were successfully special one-day workshop in Perth in “GSWA has also been collaborating with drilled during 2013 and 2014, providing September 2015. Curtin University’s Department of Applied 1560 metres of high-quality basement Geology to shed light on the evolution of Core from the stratigraphic drilling core, and chips of cover rocks from this younger basin cover, which is itself program was made available for public selected holes. complex,” Dr Spagiarri said. viewing at the Perth Core Library in “The decisions on where to drill came from Carlisle and GSWA officers were on In the basement, the drilling intersected a data collected through the EIS gravity and hand to provide information. broad range of rock types of different ages, 16 and revealed the potential for volcanic- “We’re taking what we’ve learned from the “This is pioneering stuff,” Dr Spaggiari associated massive sulfide deposits, giant drill cores and putting that into geophysical said. “Next, we’ll be linking up with the copper-gold deposits like those in the interpretations,” Dr Spaggiari said. Gawler Craton. Pacific Rim, nickel and Platinum Group As part of this effort, Dr Spaggiari is putting “As part of the map production we’re Elements deposits and iron oxide-copper- together an interpretive map to show what’s doing now, we’re also working with the gold deposits. below the basin cover. Geological Survey of South Australia and Although in minor quantities, sulfides have Geoscience Australia. This is far from the end of the Eucla story been found in all eight of the holes, despite because GSWA’s sights are on new “We’ve run a deep crustal seismic line – the fact that GSWA was not aiming for geological discoveries in the area. the Eucla-Gawler line – and we’ve mineralised targets and the holes were teamed up with them to process and spaced over a very broad geographic area. interpret that data.” After the drilling, GSWA undertook detailed logging and sampling work at the core library, including structural and petrographic analysis, geochemical and isotope studies, as well as geochronology to determine the ages of the rocks. “We’ve done the bulk of the work,” Dr Spaggiari said. “Now we’re writing it up.” The work has been summarised in a series of extended abstracts in GSWA Record 2015/10 that are available on the DMP website, and is also being compiled into a detailed report to be released this financial year.

Slabbed core at the campsite.

It’s tough going in the Nullarbor Drilling in the Nullarbor is a challenging – all of which combine to give even the tent pegs are difficult to get into the hard prospect, not only because of the most experienced drillers plenty of anxiety. ground. We worked closely with the drilling crew and built up a close relationship with remoteness and exposure to the “It can be hard going at times,” Dr them and the Nullarbor locals, and we elements, but also because of difficult Spaggiari said. “The Nullarbor can take a now know how to plan for, and execute, ground conditions. bit of getting used to. successful drilling programs in this region. Cavernous limestone at the surface is “We learned how to set up a good camp “We’re happy to share this information with underlain by clay-rich shale and loose sand – everything blows away in the wind and anyone keen to give it a go.” 17 ROYALTIES 101

The Department of Mines and Q: How are royalties assessed? The approach to assessing royalties has Petroleum has prepared these answers A: Western Australia’s three-tiered system evolved over many decades and continues to commonly asked questions about applies one of three royalty rates to the to successfully deliver an appropriate return Western Australia’s royalties system. value of the mineral depending on the form to the community while providing industry in which they are sold (ore, concentrate or with a system that is straightforward, Q: Are royalties a form of tax? final form). Specific rate royalties apply as an transparent and predictable. A: A royalty is a purchase price, not a tax. A amount per tonne of production to various Q: How much has been raised through royalty compensates the community for the low-value industrial and construction royalties for Western Australia in the removal of mineral and petroleum resources materials such as sand, gravel and past decade? which belong to all Western Australians. limestone. Petroleum royalties are generally A: The mineral and petroleum royalty calculated as a percentage of their “well- collection stream totalled more than Q: Who owns Western Australia’s head value”. mineral and petroleum resources? A$40 billion during that period. To put the A: The State Government owns most Q: How long has the current system significance of royalties into perspective, mineral and petroleum resources on been operating? mineral and petroleum royalties made up A: The current system for mineral and almost 20 per cent of total State revenue behalf of the people of Western Australia. petroleum royalties has been in place in 2014-15. Private companies mine, process and sell since the early 1980s and has successfully those resources, and pay royalties to the Q: What areas of State Government supported the development of a diverse expenditure could royalties be Government. Ensuring the community and competitive mining industry that used for? receives a fair return for the loss of the has contributed significantly to State A: Royalty revenue in the 2014-15 financial State’s mineral and petroleum resources is Government revenue – more than year of over A$5.3 billion is more than the a key element of WA’s royalty system. A$5.3 billion in mineral and petroleum State Government’s entire annual education royalty payments in 2014-15. and training budget, or 65 per cent of the State’s health services budget.

PROTECTION FOR PERTH'S MAJOR INDUSTRIAL AREA

The Western Australian Government has Development Legislation Amendment "It will also protect the Western Trade Coast released for public comment a draft bill (Western Trade Coast Protection Area) from encroaching residential development, to formalise a Protection Area around one Bill 2015, saying it would resolve and help to provide some separation of Western Australia's most important ongoing uncertainties for land owners between industrial activities and new industrial areas. and industry. sensitive land uses."

The Western Trade Coast comprises the "This bill is intended to provide certainty The proposal has two parts: draft legislation Kwinana Industrial Area, Rockingham for land use planning around the to amend the Hope Valley Wattleup Act Industry Zone, Latitude 32 Industry Area and Western Trade Coast industrial area, 2000 and the Planning and Development the Australian Marine Complex. which is a vital driver for the State's Act 2005 to formalise the Protection Area; economy employing thousands of Western Australian Premier and State and proposed regulations to set out people," Mr Barnett said. Development Minister Colin Barnett released classes of prohibited land use with the in October a draft of the Planning and Protection Area. 18 ROYALTIES 101

Q: Why has the system remained amended to remove any confusion about Because the calculation adopted by the unchanged for so long? the appropriate value to be used in royalty Commonwealth Grants Commission A: A recent review of Western Australia’s calculations – regardless of where or how a involves three years of past data, Western mineral royalty system found that it has commodity is sold. Australia is currently receiving a significantly served us well, having a high level of diminished share of the GST, reflecting the Q: How do royalties impact Western acceptance in both industry and the wider high level of royalty revenues received in Australia’s share of the GST revenue? community, while delivering a fair return recent years. In 2015-16, the State will only A: Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenues to the State. A crucial requirement of the receive GST revenues equivalent to a are distributed between the States, royalty system is for it to be stable and 30 per cent share. based on their individual capacities to predictable so that it continues to help generate revenue and their expenditure Q: What was the outcome of the recent attract investment in the sector. Western requirements. As Western Australia has royalty review? Australia’s royalty framework is recognised the capacity to collect significant levels of as having these attributes. Mining projects A: The recent Mineral Royalty Rate Analysis royalty from the development of its vast often operate over many decades, and (MRRA) was comprehensive, robust and mineral and petroleum resources, the unpredictable royalties add to risk and consultative. It found that the current royalty Commonwealth takes this into account uncertainty. Western Australia’s stable system is successfully delivering a fair when distributing GST revenues. The royalty arrangements contribute to its return to the community. The findings and royalties assessed and collected are paid reputation as a favoured destination for recommendations recognise and reinforce into the State’s Consolidated Fund. The mining investment. the strengths of Western Australia’s royalty Commonwealth takes that into account system. Some anomalies were Q: What about changes to the system? and reduces Western Australia’s portion also identified. A copy of the MRRA A: First and foremost, the State of the GST distribution. In recent years, report can be found at Government is committed to ensuring its the largest influence over the level of GST www.dmp.wa.gov.au/11857.aspx royalty principles are not compromised. In distribution to Western Australia has been response to changing practices in industry, the commodity boom and the impact this the State's royalty regulations were recently has had on the levels of royalty collected.

Planning Minister John Day said a buffer has Interested parties were invited to submit been contained in planning policy in varied their comments by December 4, 2015, with forms since 1992, and was extensively submissions from land-owners, businesses reviewed by the Western Australian Planning and other stakeholders to help determine Commission prior to endorsement in 2010. the boundaries of the Protection Area and "Following consultation, the Western Trade final list of prohibited land uses under the Coast Protection Area will be formalised in proposed regulations. legislation," Mr Day said. It is anticipated the final legislation will "The proposed regulations would prevent new sensitive land uses like residential housing, be introduced into State Parliament in short-stay accommodation, hospitals, early 2016. schools and child care centres within the The draft legislation and proposed Protection Area. regulations are available on the Department “However, this proposal would still allow of State Development website at non-sensitive land uses like business and www.dsd.wa.gov.au/western-trade-coast commercial activities, and would only affect new developments rather than existing approved land uses." 19 Working with core at the Cassini Musgrave drilling rig.

NICKEL’S WAITING TO SHINE

If you had to choose a mineral that The shining star was the Nova project in At Kambalda, Mincor Resources NL has typifies the volatility of the resources the Fraser Range about 150 km east of boosted the life of its Miitel nickel mine with sector, nickel would be near the top of Norseman – now owned and operated by the discovery of the northern Burnett lode. the list. Independence Group after its successful A$1.8 billion takeover bid for Sirius The company also plans new mining at The biggest use of nickel is as a key alloy Resources in May 2015. its Durkin North operation, utilising the in the production of stainless and heat- infrastructure of the former Otter Juan mine. Nova is expected to begin operating late resisting steels, and this main strength is 2016 with plans to produce 26,000 tonnes There’s more promise with Cassini – also its weakness. of nickel, 11,500 tonnes of copper and 850 Mincor’s new discovery in the established tonnes of cobalt a year. Kambalda nickel district – and the release If economic growth slows, so does the of a maiden resource estimate for the demand for steel, and for the nickel About 350 km west of Nova, Western company’s Voyce discovery near its needed to make it. Areas’ Cosmic Boy nickel concentrator set a record in the 2015 September quarter, Mariners mine. The price of nickel is going through processing 148,102 tonnes of ore from Earlier in 2015, Mincor Managing Director the same slump as iron ore and the company’s Spotted Quoll mine at an David Moore said the first drilling results at other commodities. average grade of 4.7 per cent nickel. Cassini identified intersections of rare quality. Built in 2009 by Western Australian However, many analysts strongly believe “In Kambalda, they almost always result company GR Engineering, the concentrator nickel prices will turn the corner in 2016 ultimately in the development of a mine,” he will be getting a new lease of life after the citing the lower Australian dollar, a company won a A$22 million contract said in a company statement. continuing export ban by Indonesia, and in July 2015 to take on a recovery “Obviously there is still a long way to go China’s urbanisation. enhancement project at the mill. before we can be sure of that at Cassini, but Western Australia’s nickel sector is proving The upgrade is seen as a big vote of we are increasingly confident that we have to be resilient and its explorers and miners confidence by Western Areas in its core made a significant new greenfields discovery have enjoyed success. asset, the Forrestania Nickel Project. – the first in Kambalda for many years.” 20 Poseidon Nickel is putting nickel back for the company’s Savannah project in the Buxton Resources has high hopes for its in business nearly a half century after East Kimberley and has released an interim early stage Double Magic nickel copper prospector Ken Shirley discovered the resource for its Savannah North prospect of project about 150 km north-east of famous Mt Windarra deposit that sparked 3.15 million tonnes at 1.75 per cent nickel. Derby. The prospect lies within a similar the nickel boom of the late 60s. tectonic setting in King Leopold Orogen to The company also discovered a new high- Panoramic Resources’ Savannah mine in Poseidon Chairman Chris Indermaur grade zone below the Schmitz ore body the Halls Creek Orogen. believes there will be a continuing demand at its Lanfranchi mine about 40 km north for nickel “driven by a desire by China and of Kambalda. The company has concluded an intensive technical program of results assessment, India for a first world standard of living”. Managing Director Peter Harold told media field mapping, on-ground geological outlets in October 2015 that the expanded Writing in the company’s annual report in assessment and several types of potential footprint of the Savannah North October 2015, Mr Indermaur said: geological surveys including down-hole mineralisation, along with the resources “They will need stainless steel in their electromagnetic surveys. domestic products and nickel is an upgrade, suggests a significant extension irreplaceable component. of mine life at Savannah. Reverse circulation and diamond drilling is under way as part of phase two Cassini Resources continues to undertake “We, at Poseidon, along with most of the project. commodity analysts, have been surprised pre-feasibility studies on the Nebo-Babel at the slump in the nickel price and the nickel deposits — the first major nickel duration of that slump. We are confident, sulphide find in the West Musgrave region. along with the same analysts, that the nickel Cassini acquired this project from price will rebound.” BHP Billiton in 2014 and is moving Poseidon bought two other Goldfields mines towards production. – Black Swan and Lake Johnson – from Cassini believes its Succoth copper project Norilsk Nickel in 2014 and is developing about 13 km north-east of Nebo-Babel plans to bring these two mines back into can be developed in conjunction with the operation, along with Mt Windarra. Nebo-Babel deposits, enhancing economic Lake Johnson and Mt Windarra were returns through shared processing and mine infrastructure. scheduled to start operating next year, producing nickel at the Black Swan In addition to Nebo-Babel and Succoth, concentrator. Poseidon has put the Lake Cassini’s West Musgrave project offers Johnson restart on hold, but has told media early-stage prospective exploration outlets that it would only take four months targets with known mineralisation, including to get the mine working once a decision is the Yappsu and Esagila nickel-copper made to go ahead. targets which have been the subject of Chips from Rox Resources' preliminary drilling. Camelwood prospect. Rox Resources Limited has built on its 2012 discoveries (most notably nickel sulphides at Camelwood) at Mt Fisher East with two high-priority prospects – Sabre and Cutlass. The company has more than doubled the Nickel facts inventory at its Mt Fisher East project • Nickel is a versatile mineral • Nickel is the fifth most important 500 km north of Kalgoorlie, with the with low thermal and electrical commodity for Western Australia, announcement of a maiden resource conductivity, high resistance to which has almost all of Australia’s estimate of 2.1 million tonnes at 1.8 per corrosion and oxidation, excellent economic nickel resources. cent nickel at its Musket discovery. strength and toughness at elevated • Total nickel resources in Western temperatures, and it is capable of In a statement to the Australian Stock Australia are estimated at 38,884 being magnetised. Exchange in August, Rox Resources thousand tonnes of contained Managing Director Ian Mulholland said: • It is used in more than 300,000 metal with an average grade of “Fisher East is undeniably a new products for consumer, industrial, 0.7 per cent nickel. nickel sulphide province in Western military, transport, aerospace, • Malaysia was Western Australia’s Australia, similar to Kambalda, Leinster, marine and architectural largest export market for nickel and Forrestania.” applications. in 2013–14, taking 36 per cent of Late in 2015, Duketon Mining Limited • Nickel also plays a major role in our product. China took 30 per confirmed the discovery of the high-grade our everyday lives – from food cent, followed by Singapore with Nariz prospect at the company’s 2,000 preparation equipment to mobile 12 per cent, and Japan with square-kilometre Duketon nickel project phones and power tools. 9 per cent. Other export markets included the United States, about 100 km north of Laverton. • In the 2014-15 financial year, a Norway, Brazil, Taiwan, Sweden Duketon has completed a full data review total of 183,083 tonnes of nickel and the Netherlands. of the Nariz discovery, including drilling, was produced in Western Australia, geophysical and geological components, valued at A$3.2 billion. and the maiden drilling program has • A$78.5 million was spent on revealed high-grade intersections for nickel. nickel exploration in the State Panoramic Resources Limited announced during the 2014-15 financial year. a major upgrade of resources late in 2015 21 L-R: Dr Marnie Leybourne, Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia CEO Reg Howard-Smith, Dr Phil Gorey, Premier Colin Barnett, Jane Hammond, Dr Tim Griffin and Sarah Bellamy. MRF ACKNOWLEDGED FOR DEVELOPING THE ECONOMY

Western Australian Premier Colin “The MRF replaced the previous Dr Griffin acknowledged the high level of Barnett has recognised the Department system of holding environmental bonds engagement and support from the mining of Mines and Petroleum’s (DMP) Mining securities over tenements with a world- sector to progress the MRF model and resolve issues. Rehabilitation Fund (MRF) for its first, online system that enhances the contribution to economic development State's ongoing capacity to manage Premier Colin Barnett said the standard of and rehabilitate legacy mines. in Western Australia. finalists in the awards was extremely high “Bonds did not cover the full cost of and congratulated all entrants for DMP received the Premier’s Award for rehabilitation, discouraged investment their innovation and creativity in the Excellence in Public Sector Management for by tying up significant funds that could delivery of services to the Western developing the economy. be used for developing a mining project, Australian community. DMP Deputy Director General Dr Tim and could not be used to address the "Awards programs such as these, promote Griffin accepted the award on behalf of problem of legacy mines. the public sector as an employer of choice, the department and said it was extremely “This introduction of the MRF removed promote the collaborative work of the pleasing that DMP’s efforts to deliver better the State’s A$4 billion potential public sector and the benefits to the WA community, and increase awareness of environmental outcomes, and stimulate jobs contingent liability, injected more than outstanding bodies of work recognised for and the economy, had been recognised. A$1 billion into the industry as bonds excellence in public sector management," were retired, and encouraged early and “The MRF has found wide acceptance Mr Barnett said. across Western Australia's mining industry ongoing rehabilitation. Further details of the finalists and winning and encourages companies to undertake “There have now been two compulsory projects announced on 28 November 2015, progressive rehabilitation, providing the MRF reporting periods and the value of are available at www.publicsector.wa.gov. best and most cost-effective environmental the fund will approach A$60 million once au/news-events/premiers-awards outcomes,” Dr Griffin said. the 2015 levies have been collected.”

22 PLANNING BEGINS ON MRF PILOT SITES

The Pro Force site near Coolgardie.

Initial planning is under way for A public auction of abandoned plant at "As the bonds system wasn't introduced rehabilitation at two of the first four the Pro Force site was held in Kalgoorlie in in Western Australia until the 1980s, more mine sites recommended for gazettal November 2015. than a century of mining activity prior to its as legacy mines under the Mining introduction also resulted in many legacy Plant for sale included hoppers, tanks, Rehabilitation Fund Act 2012. mine sites across the State with no bonds metal plates, scrap metal, grating attached to them." The four pilot sites are Black Diamond in walkways, earth moving equipment tyres, Collie, the Pro Force site near Coolgardie, and a tin shed. Of the four pilot sites to be gazetted, Bulong and Elverton had bonds held against them Elverdton near Ravensthorpe, and a DMP Executive Director Environment Dr that have been called in and will be used for legacy tailings storage facility at Bulong, Phil Gorey said that before the MRF’s rehabilitation work. east of Kalgoorlie. introduction, the State had no funding Announcing the gazettal recommendation in source to address the issue of legacy mines DMP has developed a Legacy Mines Policy late 2014, Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill like the pilot projects. to support decisions about prioritising, managing and rehabilitating Western Marmion said that gazetting the sites was “Thanks to the MRF, the State now has Australia’s legacy mine sites. the first step in being able to rehabilitate a dedicated funding source available to them using interest earned on the Mining address some of the safety, environmental As the value of the Mining Rehabilitation Rehabilitation Fund (MRF). and aesthetic issues that legacy mines Fund grows, it is important to have a robust Planning was undertaken in September present,” Dr Gorey said. framework in place to support decisions regarding the State's legacy sites," to identify stakeholders and evaluate “The bond system that was in place before Dr Gorey said. their interest for the Black Diamond site. the introduction of the MRF had a number Similar planning for the Coolgardie site will of benefits for industry, government and “The policy will ensure a consistent occur before the end of 2015 so that the the community, but it also posed approach is available to collect legacy mine Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) considerable challenges. site information, prioritise sites for gazetting, can engage with all relevant parties when and manage and rehabilitate legacy “One of these challenges was that because developing a plan for the future of the site. mine sites. they were tied to individual tenements, Stakeholders, including neighbouring unconditional performance bonds could not The Abandoned Mines Policy, which landholders, the Shire of Collie and the be used to address the problem of legacy was endorsed in November, was one of Department of Lands, will be consulted mines or any off-tenement rehabilitation that the final milestones in the department’s before any rehabilitation work starts. was required. environmental reform framework. 23 ROADSHOW LOOKS AT RISKS FROM HEIGHT

Videos highlight risks of falling from height

Following the success of the first three ‘Know Your Hazards’ videos released in 2014, the Department of Mines and Petroleum has produced two new videos on falling from height – a major cause of injuries and fatalities in the mining industry. Most mines in Western Australia Workers from Atlas Iron at the Port Hedland session of the 2015 Mines Safety Roadshow. have locations where people are required to work at height, or where there is a risk of falling from equipment or an underground mine level, or The risks associated with working at This was followed by a workshop on into openings. height were the focus of a Mines Safety preventing falls from height. The first video explains why falls from Roadshow which travelled throughout “The workshop looked at how these risks height – whether a stumble of a few Western Australia during October and can be controlled to ensure workers are centimetres or a fall of metres – can November 2015. safe,” Mr Chaplyn said. have serious outcomes. The Department of Mines and Petroleum “As highlighted in one of our videos, a fall The perception of what heights are (DMP) annual event is one of the department’s from height may last only seconds – but the most important proactive strategies targeting “safe” is challenged and the effect on effects can last a lifetime.” mines safety. the human body is explained. This was the first roadshow to follow an State Mining Engineer and DMP Director The second video explores the independent review of the event format Mines Safety Andrew Chaplyn said it was potential social ramifications of a coordinated by the department. vital to make safety the top priority wherever fall from height on a person’s career, people worked in the mining industry. “We wanted to make sure that the format of relationships, hobbies and mental the roadshows provided the best possible health, as well as their family “Whether you are a worker or a contractor, an engagement with industry to share safety and friends. executive, part of an industry group or a mines concerns and learnings,” Mr Chaplyn said. inspector – we all play an important role in Three people affected by the making mining operations safe,” he said. “The recent 10th anniversary was a fitting consequences of a fall from height at time for Resources Safety to review work generously shared their stories The roadshow featured an update on what the roadshow format and assess its to raise awareness of the impact of is happening in mines safety and health in effectiveness at engaging with industry. workplace accidents. Western Australia from regulatory as well as industry perspectives. “The review identified some areas for The videos were screened at the 2015 improvement and resulted in modifications Mines Safety Roadshow, in conjunction “We also had a presentation on the recent to the format of this year’s roadshow. with a presentation to support the serious injury analysis conducted by the understanding of the physical department,” Mr Chaplyn said. “It also saw an increase in the number of concepts featured. sessions to ensure group sizes were “However, the main focus was the risks more manageable. associated with working at height and the selection of appropriate controls. “This made it easier to interact and exchange ideas during the roadshow’s “This topic is not just about working at height, opportunity to target safety information to a workshops.” but also falls from height (both high and low), specific audience,” Mr Chaplyn said. rock falls and fall of ground.” The review also highlighted the importance Now in its 11th year, the roadshow attracted of continuing to support additional As part of the roadshow, the department more than 700 people to 14 sessions engagement with industry. screened two new safety videos on falling held in Geraldton, Bunbury, Port Hedland, from height as part of its ‘Know Your Hazards’ “This year we held our first Registered Karratha, Newman, Kalgoorlie, Mandurah video series (see box right). Managers Forum, which gave us an and Perth.

24 L-R: WABSI inaugural Chair, Mike Poole; Premier Colin Barnett; and WABSI Premier and Science Minister Colin Barnett. Photo: UWA Interim Steering Group Chair, Alan Robson. Photo: UWA

NEW BIODIVERSITY INSTITUTE FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Western Australia will soon be home "Science is crucial to ensuring our rich and DMP Executive Director Environment to a new institute that will bring unique biodiversity assets are here for future Dr Phil Gorey said the guidelines will together the multiple organisations generations to enjoy. At the same time, enhance the level of biodiversity achieved in which have a stake in the State’s the main drivers of our economy – mineral the rehabilitation of mine sites. unique flora and fauna. exploration and processing, broadacre “By improving understanding of the agriculture and tourism – intersect with The Western Australian Biodiversity Science completion criteria development process the State's biodiversity, as does urban Institute (WABSI) is a collaboration between and appropriate monitoring regimes, and by development." government agencies, research institutions documenting case studies to provide insight and industry groups. Mining companies often hold valuable into acceptable rehabilitation standards, information about flora and fauna in some of companies will be able to attain better Biodiversity is a key priority for the State the more remote areas of the State. biodiversity outcomes,” Dr Gorey said. Government’s science strategy released earlier in 2015. Through WABSI, this information will “DMP has undertaken a significant review of become centralised and be accessible to mine site rehabilitation in the Pilbara region The main drivers of the State’s economy – government policy makers, industry, land which will form a baseline for potential urban development, agriculture, managers and other stakeholders, removing future research into any improvements in mining, oil and gas – all interact with duplication of survey work, reducing costs rehabilitation that arise post publication of the State’s biodiversity. and allowing better decisions. the proposed guidelines.” Exotic plants and animals and environmental The institute will manage more than DMP is a founding member of WABSI and change all put Western Australia’s unique A$60 million of current, fully-funded Deputy Director General Michelle Andrews biodiversity at risk. The institute will improve research, and will aim to attract significant has been appointed to the Board. coordination and connect the researchers to new research funding to WA, including from The eight other founding members are the users. the Australian Government. the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, WABSI was launched by Premier and The initial funding comprises A$40 million CSIRO, Curtin University, the Department Science Minister Colin Barnett at a function from national and international sources, of Parks and Wildlife, Murdoch at The University of Western Australia on A$15 million from industry and A$5.5 million University, the Office of the Environmental 15 October 2015. from the State Government. Protection Authority, and the Western Australian Museum. Launching the institute, the Premier said WABSI will initially focus on landscapes in that WABSI would cement Western the Pilbara, Kimberley, South West and the Australia’s status as an international leader in Western Desert Lands. biodiversity research. The Department of Mines and Petroleum “WA is home to one of the world’s richest (DMP) has already sought the support of diversities of plant and animal life, including WABSI to develop two new environmental eight of Australia’s 15 terrestrial biodiversity guidelines around rehabilitating hotspots,” Mr Barnett said. mined landscapes. 25 STICKING TO THE FACTS

When a serious accident occurs in the Due to these issues, investigations were When we complete our investigation we resources industry, Colin Boothroyd’s sometimes taking right up until the produce a factual report. The report is based team of investigators is tasked with three- year statutary limitation for starting on what we find out through the investigation finding out exactly what happened and a prosecution. process,” he said. why it happened. “The variations in how people were “It doesn’t have any opinions from the investigators, it is purely factual. Dr Boothroyd heads up the Department approaching investigations also meant of Mines and Petroleum’s Investigations there wasn’t a standard report that went for “It may have opinions expressed by review by the State Mining Engineer or Services Branch and tells Prospect how people we interview regarding the incident, Chief Dangerous Goods Officer,” the investigation process has changed in but not ours. Dr Boothroyd said. recent years. “That way, when we put the report together, “With the development of the Investigation we’re able to say that based on the Before Dr Boothroyd joined the Department Services Branch we have established facts presented to us this is how the of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) in 2011, investigation policies, procedures incident happened. there was no central investigation branch at and hierarchies.” the department. Investigations were split “This independence is vital. The report can The hierarchy ranges from low-level be used in court not just by us, but it can between the Resources Safety, Environment incidents, where sites may conduct their also be used by an employer or employee in and Mineral Titles divisions. own investigations, to incidents resulting in a civil case,” Dr Boothroyd said. Further complicating matters, resources serious injuries or fatalities. “What our current processes and procedures safety investigations were undertaken by “Where there is an incident involving serious allow us to do is to conduct investigations mines safety inspectors, petroleum safety harm, or the potential for serious harm, then against a set standard in a consistent way. inspectors or dangerous goods officers. public interest dictates that we would “Having a dedicated Investigation Services “They wouldn’t necessarily follow the same launch an independent investigation,” Branch also ensures our focus can remain procedure and they wouldn’t always have Dr Boothroyd said. solely on investigations.” the ability to focus on the investigation When detailing the investigation process, It also ensures the department has the because of their other inspectorate duties,” Dr Boothroyd is clear about the role of the resources to fulfil community expectations Dr Boothroyd said. department’s investigators. regarding compliance. 26 The additional capacity has seen an increase in the number of investigations completed by the Department of Mines and Petroleum, as shown above.

“When things go wrong there is an Occurrence data looks at incidents where “Nobody else has access to that expectation the incident will be there is no injury, and some occurrences information. Employers can look at their thoroughly investigated and the causes have similar causation factors to incidents own sites, but they can’t look at all the sites identified,” Dr Boothroyd said. that resulted in serious injuries or fatalities. across the State – DMP can.” “This may or may not result in a “Tragically, we have between three and However, it is not just the department that is prosecution depending on what the four deaths a year in our mining industry. analysing the data. However, that doesn’t give us a lot of data investigation finds.” “We want to take the data we used for our we can use,” Dr Boothroyd said. Any decision to prosecute comes serious injury report, cleanse it so there from independent analysis of the “We do have a lot more injuries and are no identifying details and provide it to investigation report. occurrences, so if we can analyse that data university researchers,” Dr Boothroyd said. we can identify key hazards and risks, and “We will then see if they can produce “The key objective in any investigation is to provide that information to industry.” establish what happened in order to improve different results, different insights safety outcomes and deliver knowledge The aim is to establish some golden rules and different knowledge from what back into the industry,” Dr Boothroyd said. that may prevent people from getting hurt we produced.” and people getting killed. “From time to time it will be necessary And that is the ultimate goal of the to prosecute, but ultimately we are “If you look at fatal incidents, some of them Investigation Services Branch – to investigating to find the root cause of happen because employees do the wrong increase knowledge and help make the industry safer. an incident.” thing, and some of them happen because the employers do the wrong thing,” The branch has also been examining Dr Boothroyd said. historical reports and industry statistics to establish key causes for fatalities as part of “What they do have in common though, is its proactive work to improve safety. that nobody thinks that what they are doing will cause a chain of events that could lead “There has been a view that a serious injury to a serious injury or a fatality. They are not is a potential fatality, but for microseconds or aware of the possible consequences of millimetres,” Dr Boothroyd said. their actions.” “The work we have done has shown there The data, provided by every site in the State, is a strong correlation between what we call is captured through DMP’s online Safety high-impact serious injuries and fatalities. Regulation System (SRS). “The next step is to examine the “All we’re doing is taking data the industry is occurrence data.” giving us,” Dr Boothroyd said. 27 KCGM tackles a fire-fighting scenario at the Chamber of Minerals and Energy’s annual Surface Mines Emergency Response Competition.

COMPANIES HONE EMERGENCY RESPONSE SKILLS

The ability of mining companies to emergency response capacity in Western “Our people work hard in challenging respond in emergencies was put to the Australia’s remote and regional communities,” conditions and we want to make sure they test during 2015 when mine emergency Mr Marmion said. go home safe and healthy every day,” response competitions were hosted in Mr Howard-Smith said. The Chamber of Minerals and Energy the Goldfields and Perth. Western Australia organises two of the three “The event prepares teams to respond to Representatives from the Department of annual events. any emergency situation, while sharpening Mines and Petroleum’s Resources Safety the skills they hopefully never have to put Chief Executive Reg Howard-Smith said Division were on hand to provide support to use.” that the events focused on training industry for all three competitions. personnel to respond to hazards present in The State Mining Engineer and Director the resources sector. Mines Safety Andrew Chaplyn said the competitions were designed to test industry’s emergency response capabilities. “The department is proud to support these annual competitions and encourages industry to participate,” he said. “This year, the department sponsored events, provided adjudicators for several scenarios and compiled a photographic record of the competitions.” Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Marmion said that Western Australia had recognised the importance of such events for more than 100 years. “They give invaluable experience, especially Fortescue VEST tests the emergency response team’s readiness at Perth’s Langley Park, the venue for the annual Mining Emergency Response Competition held in November. for the teams who also provide vital 28 Stefano Caruso (fourth from left) at MRIWA’s scholarship awards ceremony in April 2015. With him are, (L-R) Dr Tony Bagshaw, Dr Mark Bush, Dr Marco Fiorentini, and Cam Adams, who is also a MRIWA PhD scholar at The University of WA’s Centre for Exploration Targeting.

SCHOLARSHIPS LEAD TO GOLDEN OPPORTUNITIES FOR WA

Scholarship research through the “The State Government and industry have In 2015, DMP awarded scholarships with Minerals Research Institute of Western invested more than A$50 million in MRIWA- an annual value of A$6000 to eight full-time Australia (MRIWA) is targeting sulphur endorsed research,” MRIWA Project students enrolled in an undergraduate in an attempt to make gold exploration Manager Dr Penny Atkins said. Bachelor of Engineering or Bachelor of more efficient and productive. Science course at WASM. “By next year, the institute will have invested The sulphur isotope mapping program, about A$1.3 million in scholarships.” The scholarships are renewed annually conducted by PhD student Stefano and are maintained through the four-year Caruso, is part of the massive Distal Dr Atkins said that scholarships were vital undergraduate course, as long as the Footprints of Giant Ore Systems project in encouraging researchers to come up student maintains satisfactory grades. examining the Capricorn region between with the ideas and technology needed to make new mineral discoveries in Since its introduction in 1985, the WASM the Yilgarn and the Pilbara Cratons. scholarship program has provided more Western Australia. Ore samples from northern Western than A$1 million in funding to support future Australia are being analysed for sulphur “Exploration targets are now deeper and mining leaders. concentrations, considered to be harder to get to,” Dr Atkins said. “fingerprints” for gold. As part of MRIWA’s scholarships program The project under way at the University for PhD candidates and final-year Honours of Western Australia is being funded students, 10 outstanding students were through a A$90,000 scholarship awarded awarded scholarships in April 2015 worth a to Mr Caruso. total of A$565,000. It is one of 10 MRIWA research Through the Department of Mines and scholarships awarded in 2015 with Petroleum (DMP), the State Government subjects including a cost-saving method also funds Western Australian School of nickel ore processing, and deep of Mines (WASM) science and mining technology. technology scholarships. Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Marmion presents Stefano Caruso with his scholarship.

29 Commenced Operations Committed Projects

AGRICULTURE OIL & GAS DEVELOPMENTS OIL & GAS DEVELOPMENTS East Kimberley – Ord – Ord/East Kimberley Kalgoorlie – Tropicana Gas Pipeline Project Carnarvon Basin – Greater Western Flank Expansion Project ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI/APA GROUP JOINT VENTURE Phase 1 WA STATE GOVERNMENT APA Operations Pty Ltd, a subsidiary company within WOODSIDE ENERGY The State Government has invested $322m to the APA Group (APA), has commenced construction The Greater Western Flank Phase 1 Project will construct irrigation channels, roads and off-farm of a $140m 294km high pressure natural gas pipeline develop the Goodwyn GH and Tidepole fields, infrastructure on the Ord lands in the East Kimberley to convey gas from the Murrin Murrin gas lateral via a subsea tie-back to the existing Goodwyn Region. A Development Agreement has been pipeline (licence PL 36) to the Sunrise Dam Gold A Platform. The project remains on schedule for signed with Kimberley Agricultural Investment (KAI) Mine and to the Tropicana Gold Mine. Both gold start-up expected in early 2016. mines are operated by AngloGold Ashanti Australia for the lease and development of 13,400ha of Expenditure: $2.5b. irrigation land in the Goomig and Knox Plain areas. (AGA). The pipeline is called the Eastern Goldfields KAI, a subsidiary of China’s Shanghai Zhongfu Gas Pipeline (EGP) and all licences and government Group, proposes to establish a sugar industry approvals are in place. Construction on the pipeline Carnarvon Basin – Persephone Project commenced in May 2015 and is expected to be in the Kununurra region and has begun its first WOODSIDE ENERGY round of cropping on the Goomig land. The completed by January 2016 with first gas delivery Woodside Energy Ltd, as operator of the North State is also currently working towards the planned for early 2016. A pipeline licence (PL West Shelf Joint Venture is developing the release of approximately 5,000ha of Ord West 108) was granted on 29 January 2015 under the Persephone gas field. The development involves Bank and Mantinea lands via a Request for Petroleum Pipelines Act 1969. two subsea wells and an 8km subsea tieback to the Proposal process. Expenditure: $140m. existing North Rankin Complex. Fabrication activities Expenditure: $322m. Employment: Construction: 250 and offshore brownfield work has commenced, with start-up expected in early 2018. AMMONIUM NITRATE Expenditure: $1.2b. HEAVY MINERAL SANDS Pilbara – Burrup Industrial Estate Site D – Yara Carnarvon Offshore Basin – Barrow Island – Keysbrook – Heavy Mineral Sands Mine Pilbara Nitrates Gorgon Project MZI RESOURCES LTD YARA INTERNATIONAL ASA GORGON JOINT VENTURE The Keysbrook Mineral Sands Project, located Yara Pilbara Nitrates Pty Ltd (YPNPL) is an The Gorgon Foundation Project on Barrow near the township of Keysbrook approximately incorporated joint venture between Yara International Island, now in its sixth year of construction, is a 70km south of Perth, commenced heavy mineral ASA (Yara), Orica Limited (Orica) and Apache three train LNG development with a nameplate concentrate (HMC) production on 29 October Corporation (Apache). YPNPL has executed an capacity of 15.6Mtpa and includes a domestic 2015, three weeks ahead of schedule. The project Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) involved the construction of a new mine and wet contract for the construction of a world class circa gas plant capable of delivering at least 300TJ/d concentration plant, and upgrades to the existing 350,000tpa Technical Ammonium Nitrate (TAN) plant of gas to the mainland. Cost estimates for the mineral separation (MSP) plant owned by Doral to be located on the Burrup Peninsula. Ammonia project construction have been reassessed at Mineral Sands in Picton, near Bunbury. Secondary feedstock will be supplied from Yara Pilbara $55b (US$54b) following a cost and schedule processing of approximately 110,000tpa of Fertilisers Pty Ltd (YPFPL), which operates its facility review conducted by Chevron in December 2013. Keysbrook HMC commenced at the Picton MSP directly adjacent to the proposed location for the The project involves the processing of gas from plant in November 2015, with first sales targeted new TAN plant. Yara will be the operator of the TAN both the Gorgon and Jansz/Io gas fields and 2 for late December 2015. The project is expected plant and Orica will manage the product sales and includes potentially the largest commercial CO to produce 67,500tpa of leucoxene products and distribution of the TAN product. Yara and Orica each geosequestration project in the world. Train one 28,700tpa of zircon concentrate, which will be have a 45 per cent interest in the joint venture and start up and first shipments of LNG are expected exported from the Bunbury Port. The Keysbrook Apache the remaining 10 per cent. It is intended that toward the end of 2015 with trains two and three deposit has a mineral resource of 90.3Mt at an all manufactured product will be sold into the Pilbara being commissioned in 2016. average grade of 2.2 per cent total heavy mineral region. Work on the project has commenced and it Expenditure: $55b. (THM) and an ore reserve of 670,000t THM, which is expected that the new plant will be commissioned Employment: Construction: 8000; Operation: 300 underpins the first 5.5 years of operations. Based in late 2015, with nameplate capacity production on the total mineral resource estimate, the potential rates expected by the end of 2016. mine life could be more than 15 years. Expenditure: $800m. Pilbara – Wheatstone LNG Development Expenditure: $70m. Employment: Construction: 500; Operation: 65 CHEVRON AUSTRALIA PTY LTD Employment: Construction: 100; Operation: 50 Chevron Australia Pty Ltd as Operator of the Wheatstone Project is currently working towards IRON ORE the construction of two LNG trains, a domestic gas plant and port facilities at the Ashburton North IRON ORE PROCESSING PILBARA – ROY HILL IRON ORE MINE & Strategic Industrial Area near Onslow. The Project INFRASTRUCTURE Pilbara – Cape Preston – Sino Iron will initially produce 8.9Mtpa of LNG and have a ROY HILL HOLDINGS PTY LTD 200TJ per day domestic gas plant connected to CITIC PACIFIC Roy Hill Holdings is a private company which the Dampier-to-Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline. The The Sino Iron project is located at Cape Preston, is majority-owned by Hancock Prospecting Pty construction schedule is approximately 60 per cent 100km south west of Karratha. When completed, Ltd, and also has key international investment completed. The first export of LNG is scheduled for it will be the largest magnetite mining and partners with strategic steel-making interests. It late 2016. processing development in Australia, with a is developing the Roy Hill iron ore project located Expenditure: $29b. mine life of more than 25 years. The first 115km north of Newman. This project is expected Employment: Construction: 6500; Operation: 400 shipment of magnetite concentrate to China to come into production in 2015 and will produce occurred in late 2013. Since then, optimsation 55Mtpa of iron ore for 20 years following ramp- of the first two production lines has occurred. up. The project includes mine development, mine Line 3 is currently in load commissioning, with processing infrastructure, a new heavy-haul railway, POWER STATIONS Line 4 to follow shortly. Commissioning of the and significant new port facilities at Port Hedland’s final two lines will commence in 2016. On inner harbour. All primary environmental and other Boodarie Industrial Estate – South Hedland completion, the project will comprise in-pit approvals have been secured. Construction of Power Station crushers, a 29km slurry pipeline, a pellet plant the 344km heavy haul railway is completed and TRANSALTA and annual capacity to produce up to 24 million construction of the mine, port infrastructure is In July 2014, TransAlta Energy (Australia) Pty tonnes of magnetite concentrate. The downstream considerably advanced with the project passing Ltd announced it will build, own and operate a processing facility has required significant 92 per cent completion in July 2015. Contractor 150 megawatt power station in South Hedland’s investment in dedicated supporting infrastructure and Owner/Operator mining is underway with more including a new port facility, a 51 gigalitre than 12Mt of ore stockpiled. Roy Hill secured the Boodarie Industrial Estate. The plant will consist of a desalination plant and a 450 megawatt combined world’s largest ever debt financing package for a combined cycle gas plant, which is a reliable, highly- cycle gas fired power station. mining project of US$7.2b in March 2014. efficient, low-cost and clean process of generating electricity, featuring both natural gas and steam Expenditure: $11.1b. Expenditure: $10b. turbines. The $570 million investment will help Employment: Construction: 4000; Operation: 1000 Employment: Construction: 5300; Operation: 2000 meet the future energy needs of the region through

30 This section is intended as an overview and does not constitute an exhaustive list of projects within the Western Australian resources industry. CommittedProjects Under Projects Consideration ProjectsProjects UnderUnder ConsiderationConsideration

a 25-year agreement with both Horizon Power INFRASTRUCTURE new heavy haul railway for export via the proposed and Fortescue Metals Group. The plant is being multi-user 350Mtpa port at Anketell. Subject designed to allow for expansion and there Bunbury – Multi-User Bulk Terminal Facility – to the successful completion of feasibility and Committedis a possibility that Projects other customers may be Port of Bunbury environmental studies, and receipt of government regulatory approvals, the company anticipates added in the future. Construction commenced in LANCO RESOURCES AUSTRALIA PTY LTD February 2015 and is expected to create up to construction to commence following a decision 250 jobs. Full commissioning is expected to be Lanco Resources Australia Pty Ltd proposes to to proceed by the joint venturers and completion complete mid-2017. construct a 15Mtpa multi-user bulk terminal facility of funding arrangements. State and Federal located at the Berth 14A site within the inner Expenditure: $570m. environmental approvals for the mine, rail and port harbour of the Port of Bunbury. The facility will elements of the project are in place. Employment: Construction: 250; Operation: 20 include ship loading for up to 85,000 tonnes, fully Expenditure: $7b. covered and dust suppressed conveyor galleries, a storage shed, with internal stacker reclaimer, up Employment: Construction: 3500; Operation: 1000 AGRICULTURE to 750m LOA, 140m wide and 40m high. The train unloading and rail loop load in facility will be able East Kimberley – Project Sea Dragon to accommodate coal, iron ore, bauxite and other NICKEL SEAFARMS GROUP LIMITED bulk ore materials. The Terminal will have capacity to expand. Environmental approvals have been Seafarms Group is a Queensland-based producer Mt Windarra – Windarra Nickel obtained with construction expected to commence of farmed prawns. Seafarms proposes to invest by early 2017 ready for operation in 2020. POSEIDON NICKEL NL up to US$1.45b over the next eight years in Poseidon Nickel Ltd has submitted a project Project Sea Dragon, a large scale, integrated, Expenditure: $400m. development proposal for assessment for the land based aquaculture project to produce Employment: Construction: 750; Operation: 100 redevelopment of the Mt Windarra underground black tiger prawns for export markets in Asia. nickel mine and associated project infrastructure at The aquaculture component of the project Mt Windarra. will be located in the Northern Territory and is Dampier Peninsula – Browse LNG Precinct planned as a staged development commencing Expenditure: $12m. WA STATE GOVERNMENT with 1,000 hectares of ponds and supporting Employment: Construction: 50; Operation: 100 infrastructure. In Western Australia a processing The State Government is developing the Browse plant is proposed for Kununurra, export facilities in Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Precinct approximately Wyndham and a founder stock centre in Exmouth, 60km north of Broome. By focussing development creating approximately 600 direct jobs when fully at a suitable location, the Precinct will minimise OIL & GAS DEVELOPMENTS operational. A Final Investment Decision on Stage 1 the environmental footprint of gas processing and of the project is expected in mid-2016 and financial any social impacts in the region while maximising Canning Basin – Buru Canning Basin Tight Gas close by the end of 2016. opportunities for the local community to benefit from BURU ENERGY development of the Browse Basin gas fields. The The Buru Energy/Mitsubishi joint venture (JV) has Precinct will have the capacity to accommodate recently completed its Laurel Formation Tight at least two LNG processing operations, with a Gas Pilot Exploration (TGS) Program to test the AMMONIA/UREA combined capacity of up to 50Mtpa. The State commercial potential of the Laurel Formation, Government has acquired the land for the Precinct Shotts Industrial Park – Collie Coal To Urea a large onshore natural gas resource located in and will secure all relevant approvals to ensure the the Canning Basin. This program involved the PERDAMAN CHEMICALS AND FERTILISERS PTY LTD Precinct is ‘project ready’. Perdaman Chemical and Fertilisers Pty Ltd is hydraulic stimulation of two wells on and near proposing to develop a $3.5b coal to urea Noonkanbah Station in the Canning Basin. This follows the successful test hydraulic stimulation of plant at the new Shotts Industrial Park, near Pilbara – Anketell – Anketell Port and SIA the Yulleroo 2 well in 2010. During the most recent Collie. The plant will use proven coal gasification (Strategic Industrial Area) and fertiliser production technologies. Around program, up to 100 people were involved in the WA STATE GOVERNMENT 2.7Mtpa of coal will be used to produce works including more than 30 Traditional Owners approximately 2Mtpa of urea, primarily for export. The Anketell project involves the establishment from nearby Yungngora (Noonkanbah) community. The urea will be transported to Bunbury Port by of a multi-user, multi-commodity deep water Tests of the wells are ongoing to determine gas rail. The company has received all its environmental port and associated strategic industrial area flows from the target reservoir. Preliminary results and all other approvals from both the Western (SIA) at Anketell, located 30km east of Karratha from the tests are encouraging. A groundwater Australian and Commonwealth Governments. on the Pilbara coast. The port and associated monitoring program has been ongoing throughout The project is on hold as the company is still infrastructure will be a proponent-funded but the program and confirmed there have been no seeking to finalise a suitable domestic coal State controlled Port which will be managed and impacts of the program on groundwater. Should supply arrangement prior to achieving its financial operated under the Port Authorities Act 1999. the resource prove to be commercially viable, gas investment decision. The strategic industrial land will fall under the from the Canning Basin will provide energy security to WA domestic and industrial markets. Under a Expenditure: $3.9b. jurisdiction of the Western Australian Land Authority (LandCorp). During its initial phase, it is expected State Agreement the JV, upon proving up sufficient Employment: Construction: 2000; Operation: 200 that Anketell will be an iron ore export facility and reserves, is obligated to supply into the WA that, at its peak capacity, not less than 350Mtpa domestic market at least 1,500 petajoules of gas. will be exported to customers, mainly in Asia. A Expenditure: $40m. number of iron ore producers with mining assets HEAVY MINERAL SANDS Employment: Operation: 30 in the Pilbara have expressed interest in using the Shark Bay – Coburn Zircon Project planned facilities at Anketell. It is likely that the Port STRANDLINE RESOURCES LIMITED will be developed in stages to accord with the development of the various mining operations which URANIUM Strandline proposes to develop the Coburn are located throughout the Pilbara. The Anketell zircon project, located south of Shark Bay and Port Master Plan was released in June 2014 and a Northern Goldfields – Yeelirrie – approximately 250km north of Geraldton. It contains downloadable copy can be obtained from the Yeelirrie Uranium total ore reserves of 308Mt at an average grade of DSD website. 1.2 per cent heavy minerals, all of which lie within CAMECO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD the portion of the project area that has received Cameco Australia proposes to develop the Yeelirrie government environmental approvals for mining. At project in the North-eastern Goldfields, near Wiluna. a mining rate of 23.4Mtpa, the project is expected IRON ORE The project entails open cut mining of shallow to produce 49,500tpa of zircon, 109,000tpa of deposits of uranium ore, treatment in a plant to chloride ilmenite and 23,500tpa of a mixed rutile- Pilbara – West Pilbara Iron Ore Project be established at the site, and development of leucoxene over its 19 year mine life. The company API MANAGEMENT PTY LTD associated infrastructure. The project will process has secured all of the approvals required to The Australian Premium Iron Joint Venture is up to 2.4Mtpa of uranium ore over about 17 years. commence mining and processing operations at The resultant uranium oxide will be transported Coburn, and is continuing to pursue discussions proposing to develop the West Pilbara Iron Ore Project. Stage 1 of the project is based on the to South Australia by road for export to overseas with parties interested in becoming a strategic markets. The environmental assessment process partner in the project. production of 40Mtpa of direct shipping iron ore from deposits, including Red Hill and Mt has commenced. Cameco will advance the project Expenditure: $173m. Stuart deposits, located 35-80km south west of at a pace aligned with market conditions. Employment: Construction: 170; Operation: 110 Pannawonica. The ore will be transported by a Employment: Construction: 500; Operation: 225

This section is intended as an overview and does not constitute an exhaustive list of projects within the Western Australian resources industry. 31 Visit us online Significant resource projects in Western Australia Prospect can be downloaded free of charge from the Internet by visiting the Western Australia continues to lead the way as Australia’s premier resources investment website of the Department of Mines and destination. There are more than A$121 billion worth of projects either committed or Petroleum at: www.dmp.wa.gov.au under consideration for the State during the next few years. These would create more than 30,000 construction jobs and more than 5300 permanent jobs.

Pay and subscribe to Prospect This section is intended as an overview and does not constitute an exhaustive list of projects within the Western Australian resources industry. Based on company announcements. ONLINE Payments and subscriptions to Significant Projects as at 26/10/2015 Prospect are NOW available online. Project Value Employment (estimated A$m) Construction Permanent www.dmp.wa.gov.au/prospect Iron and Steel

Prospect API Management Pty Ltd – West Pilbara Iron Ore Project 7000 3500 1000

Subscription/Change of address CITIC Pacific – Cape Preston Mine & Processing Projects 11100 4000 1000 ABN: 69 410 35 356 Roy Hill Holdings Pty Ltd – Roy Hill Iron Ore Mine 10000 5300 2000 & Infrastructure

Name: Sub Total 28100 12800 4000

Oil, Gas and Condensate z Browse LNG Precinct n/a n/a n/a

Buru Energy – Buru Canning Basin Tight Gas 40 n/a 30 Position: Chevron – Wheatstone LNG 29000 6500 400

Gorgon Joint Venture Gas Processing Project 55000 8000 300 Organisation: Woodside Energy – Greater Western Flank Phase 1 2500 n/a n/a

Woodside Energy – Persephone 1200 n/a n/a Address:

Sub Total 87740 14500 730 z Other

Cameco Australia – Yeelirrie Uranium n/a 500 225

Type of business: Lanco Resources Australia Pty Ltd – Multi-User Bulk 400 750 100 Terminal Facility – Port of Bunbury

Ord East Kimberley Expansion Project 322 n/a n/a Phone number: Perdaman Chemicals & Fertilisers – Coal-to-Urea Plant 3900 2000 200

TransAlta – South Hedland Power Station 570 250 20 Email Yara International ASA – Yara Pilbara Nitrates 800 500 65 Please tick the appropriate box Please add me to your mailing list to receive my one Sub Total 5992 4000 610 year subscription of Prospect magazine. one year @ $12 (incl. GST) TOTAL 121832 31300 5340 My cheque, made out to the Department of Mines and Petroleum, is enclosed OR please debit the amount to All currency figures are in Australian dollars unless otherwise specified. my credit card using the following details: Type of card: Visa Bankcard Mastercard Abbreviations Key

b billion m million Expiry date This form will become a tax invoice for GST purposes when payment is made. EPC Engineering, Procurement and Construction Mt million tonnes

Change of address GL gigalitres Mtpa million tonnes per annum (please make changes required on one of your old labels). ha hectares MW megawatts Please photocopy or cut coupon and mail to: JV joint venture t tonnes Prospect subscriptions Information Centre km kilometres THM total heavy mineral Department of Mines and Petroleum LNG liquefied natural gas TJ terajoules Mineral House, 100 Plain Street East Perth, Western Australia 6004 LOA length overall tpa tonnes per annum 32 Major Resource Projects

Reindeer Gnu Caribou December 2015 Corvus Wandoo Port Hedland Salt Ridley Tusk Port Hedland |n Oryx Stag Yara Chamois NWSV LNG Pilbara Pluto LNG Nitrates |n Cape Lambert Mineral symbols Commodities Yara Pilbara Fertilisers |n |n Balla Balla Monty Dampier |n Anketell Tabba Tabba Ta Precious metal Ag...... Silver JosephineBaker Cape Lambert Salt Creek Zn Cu Pb Dampier Salt Au (or as shown) Al...... Alumina Cape Preston Balla Balla Fe V Ti Sherlock Bay Whim Creek Cu Zn Pb Steel alloy metal Au...... Gold |n|n Cape Preston East Spinifex Ridge Mo Cu Ni (or as shown) Devil Creek Gas Chert...... Chert Maitland River Radio Hill Pilgangoora Li Speciality metal Cu...... Copper Abydos Ti–Zr (or as shown) Sino/Citic Whundo Zn Cu Sulphur Springs Zn Cu Pb Fe...... Iron Wodgina Ta Base metal Balmoral South Munni Munni Pt Pd Wodgina Hem...... Hematite Iron Bridge Mag Hem Iron K...... Potassium Alumina Kln...... Koolinite, Kaolin All sites are bauxite Li...... Lithium Mt Webber McPhee Creek Coal and lignite LNG...... Liquefied natural gas Mesa A – Warramboo Cookes Creek W Industrial mineral LPG...... Liquefied petroleum gas Middle Robe Mesas Mag...... Magnetite Processing plant Mesa J MgCO3.... Magnesite Petroleum symbols Mica...... Mica Nullagine/Millennium Bungaroo Creek Caliwingina Nullagine CID Gas field Mn...... Manganese Bungaroo South Firetail Investigator Mo...... Molybdenum Pilbara/Flinders Mesa – Ant Hill Mn Oil field Murrays Hill Ni...... Nickel Serenity Kings Oil and gas field West Pilbara Homestead Pb...... Lead Cloud Break Significant gas discovery Pd...... Palladium Silvergrass Christmas Creek Phos...... Phosphate Nammuldi Roy Hill Processing plant Mt Stuart Marillana/Brockman Pt...... Platinum Koodaideri Marillana Oil / gas pipeline, operating REE...... Rare earth elements Paulsens Brockman 4 Western Turner Extension Nyidinghu Syncline Marandoo Oil / gas pipeline, proposed Sisd...... Silica sand Beasley River Yandi/BHPB Iron Valley Tom Price Yandicoogina/HI Ta...... Tantalum Rocklea CID Infrastructure Railway Hope Downs 1 Tlc...... Talc Mining Area C Jinidi Power plant Ti...... Titanium Hardey Southern Flank Rhodes Ridge Irrigation / water / desalination V...... Vandium West Angelas Ophthalmia W...... Tungsten Western Range Wonmunna Port Turee Syncline Hope Downs 4 Zn...... Zinc Eastern Range 24–25 31 Wheelarra JV Paraburdoo Giles Mini Zr...... Zirconium Pilbara Channar Mt Whaleback Davidson Creek 0 50 100 35 17–18 Jimblebar JV Data for offshore Commonwealth controlled waters is up-to-date as of December 2013. Kilometres Robertson Range Enquiries for latest information for Commonwealth controlled waters is available from Prairie Downs Zn Pb Ag the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator (NOPTA) at

Yogi Project labels: South West / Midwest Coastal Bilberatha Hill Projects operating or currently under development with an actual or anticipated value of production greater than A$10 Million are shown in blue

Oakajee |n Deflector Au Cu Ag Proposed or potential projects with a capital expenditure greater than A$20 Million are shown in red Eradu Pig Iron Golden Grove Mineral separation Cu Zn Pb |n Projects under care and maintenance are shown in purple Geraldton Geraldton brick Shine Narngulu synthetic rutile Greenough River solar Alinta wind Hinge Mumbida wind Irwin River Mungada Moolart Well Mount Horner Karara Mag Hem Mt Mulgine W Odysseus–Cosmos Rosie Corybas Centauri 1 Dongara Goldfields Eremia Xyris Leinster Hovea Apium 0 50 100 Darlot Garden Well, Rosemont Jingemia Dongara Magnetite Range Lawlers Vivien Evandra Tarantula Three Springs Tlc Cliff Head Redback Extension Hill Mag Kilometres Agnew–Emu Beharra Springs North Redback South Extension Hill Hem Mummaloo Lawlers MgCO3 Beharra Springs Thunderbox Ben Hur – Epsilon Eneabba Victory Bore Mag V Marshall Pool

Bentley Zn Pb Cu Windarra

Warro Mt Forrest King of the Hills Mt Morgans Burtville Cashmere Downs MgCO3 Mt Weld Phos Badgingarra wind Dandaragan K Phos NiWest Granny Smith – Mt Weld REE Emu Downs wind Moora Chert Sons of Gwalia Wallaby Atlas Mt Bevan Sunrise Dam Cooljarloo/Tronox Mt Mason Ulysses Cataby Mt Ida Red October Fortitude Second Fortune Yerecoin

Deep South Boonanarring Red Gully Gingin West Wandoo Jump Up Dam Lake Giles Deception Highway Chandala mineral separation and synthetic rutile Windarling Range Goongarrie Neerabup/Newgen Scotia Kwinana–Rockingham Felicitas Meckering Kln Karari Wesbeam timber Canegrass Alumina refinery Caversham tile Marda Aphrodite Ammonium nitrate Mt Jackson J4 Siberia Pinnacles Malaga brick Middle Swan brick Lindsays |n Bulk terminal Sandy Ridge Kln Cawse Midland brick Black Swan Cement and lime PERTH Airport brick Carina Kalgoorlie North Chlor alkali Fremantle|n Paddington Desalination Castle Hill Kanowna Belle Fused alumina Armadale brick Frogs Leg |n Fused zirconia G Cardup brick Kundana Superpit LNG White Foil Nimbus–Boorara Ag Au Zn LPG Koolyanobbing Nickel smelter Coolgardie Blair Nickel refinery Keysbrook Bullabulling South Kal Mt Monger Oil refinery Huntly Burbanks Aldiss Power station Pinjarra Al Mt Marion Li Ta Mica Carnilya Hill Randalls Sodium cyanide Nepean Long–Victor Boddington Au Cu Titanium pigment Nickel concentrator Zirconia Marradong Marvel Loch Willowdale St Ives and Toll treatment plant Wagerup Al Saddleback Lanfranchi Kemerton Sisd Nevoria Bald Hill Ta Titanium pigment Miitel Southern Seawater desalination Mt Caudan Chlor alkali Worsley Al Mariners Silicon smelter Bluewaters 1–2 Trident Bunbury |n Collie Dardanup Premier Cristal mineral separation Ewington Wesfi timber Collie–Shotts urea Wespine timber Muja South Capel North synthetic rutile Muja Wonnerup Wonnerup North Mt Thirsty Wonnerup South Tutunup 0 50 100 Yoongarillup Tutunup South Lake Johnston Whicher Range Ta Greenbushes Li Flat Rock wind Mt Henry Kilometres Flying Fox Lounge Lizard Spotted Quoll Eaglehawk Mutineer Fletcher Persephone Exeter Finucane North West Shelf Athena Hermes Lambert Deep Searipple Egret Lambert Major Resource Projects Larsen Deep Noblige Capella Angel Thebe Larsen Perseus Cossack North Rankin Wanaea Forester Laminaria East Montague Ajax Chandon Keast Gaea Echo/Yodel Goodwyn Hurricane December 2015 Yellowglen Rankin/Sculptor Tidepole Io Urania Pemberton Goodwyn/S.Pueblo Wheatstone Project labels: Jansz Pluto Dixon/W.Dixon Sage Geryon Iago Dockrell Io South Reindeer Saffron Projects operating or currently under development with an actual or anticipated Scarborough Toporoa Eurytion Xena Winchester Eris Gnu Chrysaor/Dionysus Brunello Corvus value of production greater than A$10 Million are shown in blue Balnaves Wilcox Bravo Briseis Maenad Caribou Orthrus Julimar See Wandoo Proposed or potential projects with a capital expenditure greater than A$20 Million Glencoe Acme Tusk Nimblefoot Achilles West Tryal Rocks Barrow Island Oryx are shown in red Clio enlargement The Grafter Equus Clio South Pontus John Brookes Stag Clio North Chamois Yara Pilbara Projects under care and maintenance are shown in purple Gorgon Prometheus Petrel Pinhoe Satyr Rosella NWSV LNG Nitrates Mentorc Pluto LNG |n Chester Anketell |n Halyard |n Frigate Tern Spar Dampier Pharos Crown Lasseter Concerto/Ichthys Sappho Maitland Dampier Salt Mimia Cape Preston East Kronos Cornea Bianchi Cape |n|n Cape Lambert Ichthys West Zola Echuca Shoals Preston Devil Creek Torosa Prelude Blacktip Antiope Maitland River Radio Cape Bougainville Tallaganda Gas Hill Burnside Ichthys Pasco Brecknock Sino/Citic Munni Munni Pt Pd Bunyip Flinders Shoal Gwydion Whundo Brecknock South Turtle Balmoral South Zn Cu Ramillies Coniston Novara South Chervil Nasutus Van Gogh Tanglehead Sorby Hills Pb Zn Cu Cadell Cyrano Mardie Eskdale Stickle Nimrod Ord Stage 2 Vincent Moondyne Australind Wyndham |n Toro Stybarrow Pyrenees Corowa Barrow Island Outtrim Coaster John Brookes Cockatoo Island Ord Stage 1 Laverda Blencathra |n Onslow 0 10 Wonnich Ulidia Enfield Macedon |n Onslow Salt Bambra Irvine Island Koolan Island Scafell Leatherback Linda Crosby Ashburton North Wonnich Deep Ord River Hydro Energy Wildbull Black Pearl km Lee Ravensworth Wheatstone LNG Bambra East Rose Speewah V Ti Fe Speewah Fl Macedon Gas North Alkimos Monty Smoke Exmouth Harriet Josephine Oobagooma Ridges Creek |n Baker Matsu Argyle Cape Range Lst Rivoli Agincourt Simpson South Plato Point Torment Little Sandy Pedirka Derby |n Double Island Lloyd Savannah North Victoria Browse LNG Precinct Boundary West Terrace Savannah Gorgon LNG West Cycad Thunderbird 0 50 100 Sundown McIntosh Gr Barrow Island Narvik Blina Copernicus |n Panton Pt Pd Manyingee Barrow I Broome Ungani Canning Basin tight gas Kilometres Rough Range Valhalla Duchess–Paradise Yanrey Paulsens Koongie Park Zn Cu Pb Hastings REE Nb Zr Pasco Lamboo Phoenix South Pictor East Kapok West Pb Zn Ag Browns Range REE Admiral Bay Zn Pb Commodities Ag...... Silver Au...... Gold Kentish Knock Brederode Co...... Cobalt Eendracht Arnhem Cu...... Copper Alaric |n Dmd...... Diamond |n |n |n |n Fe...... Iron Citadel Au Cu |n Fl...... Fluorite Gp...... Gypsum Woodie Woodie Gr...... Graphite Mn Grt...... Garnet Telfer Au Cu |n|n K...... Potassium Nifty Cu O'Callaghans W Cu Zn Pb Kln...... Kaolin |n Yeneena Cu Maroochydore Cu Co Lst...... Limestone Kintyre LNG...... Liquefied natural gas Mackay K Nicholas Downs Mn Mag...... Magnetite See North West Shelf Mn...... Manganese enlargement Nb...... Niobium Lake Disappointment K Ni...... Nickel Pb...... Lead Carley Bore Pd...... Palladium Yangibana REE See Pilbara enlargement PGE...... Platinum group elements (inside cover) Pt...... Platinum Cape Cuvier |n Lake MacLeod Gp Ilgarari Cu Butcherbird Mn REE...... Rare earth elements Lake MacLeod Salt Abra Pb Cu Zn Ti...... Titanium Beyondie V...... Vandium Horseshoe Lights Cu Au Ag Plutonic Dome W...... Tungsten Grosvenor Plutonic Zn...... Zinc Glenburgh Thaduna Cu Ag Yalbra Gr Telecom Hill Monty Cu Zr...... Zirconium Peak Hill DeGrussa Cu Au Jack Hills Succoth Cu Ni PGE Mineral symbols |n Andy Well Paroo Station Pb Wiluna West Musgrave Shark Bay Salt Jundee–Nimary Wingellina Precious mineral Central Murchison Gabanintha V Ti Fe Matilda Dmd Lake Way Weld Range Wiluna West Precious metal Coburn Hillview Honeymoon Well Lake Wells K Au (or as shown) Nowthanna Hinkler Well Yeelirrie Mt Keith Hollandaire–Eelya Cu Au Ag Gidgee Lake Maitland Steel alloy metal Big Bell Barrambie Cliffs Yakabindie Bronzewing Ni (or as shown) Great Fingall V Ti Fe Speciality metal Murchison / Silver Lake Ti–Zr (or as shown) Dalgaranga Balline Grt Mt Magnet Gruyere–Yamarna Base metal Port Gregory Grt Thatcher Soak Iron Windimurra Alumina |n V Mag Fe All sites are bauxite |n Kirkalocka Coal and lignite Cyclone Uranium Tropicana Industrial mineral Processing plant Mulga Rock Petroleum symbols Ponton Gas field Oil field Oil and gas field Significant gas discovery Edna May Significant oil and gas discovery Collgar wind Processing plant Nova–Bollinger Oil / gas pipeline, operating |n PERTH |n Eucla West Oil / gas pipeline, proposed See Goldfields Infrastructure Sparks Kln enlargement Salmon Gums Power plant (inside cover) Irrigation / water / desalination |n Katanning Scaddan Port Phillips River – Trilogy Au Cu Ravensthorpe 0 100 200 300 400 |n Esperance Kilometres See South West / Midwest Coastal Data for offshore Commonwealth controlled enlargement (inside cover) waters is up-to-date as of December 2013. Southdown Enquiries for latest information for Commonwealth controlled waters is available from the National |n Albany wind Albany Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator (NOPTA) at