Energy

Alcoa has shelved the proposed expansion of the Wagerup alumina refinery in Western Australia, estimated to cost approximately $3 billion, amid weakening demand and volatility in financial markets.

Investors rush to pour $3bn into NAB; 'Green car' drive in Rudd's industry rescue; Community bars bureaucrats to protest Beagle Bay gas plan; Liberty chairman quits uranium hopeful over self-interest issues; World buoyed by surprise stimulus package

Rio Tinto is confident about the future demand from China for iron ore despite announcing today it will scale back production at its operations in the Pilbara region by 10 per cent.

Nido Petroleum has delivered its first cargo of almost 300,000 barrels of Galoc crude oil to the Petron refinery at Limay, Philippines.

Cooper Energy has become the major shareholder in Incremental Petroleum, purchasing a share of almost 27 per cent in the company.

Mine employment caves in; WA gas demand to double; Uranium's still hot despite Rio's slowdown plans; Pressure on US to bail out car giants; Obama demands new rescue plan

RESOURCESTOCKS magazine has named its best performers in the Australian resources sector for 2008 in its Best of the Best Awards.

A new power station in Naval Base opened this afternoon, ensuring a capacity boost of 10 per cent to Western Australia's power supplies.

ASX-listed Po Valley Energy Limited has been granted six-year gas exploration licences for its La Prospera and Terra del Sole prospects near Bologna in northern Italy.

The Water Corporation has named Sue Murphy as its new chief executive, replacing Jim Gill who retires at the end of the year after a 12-year reign.

Engineering firm Monadelphous Group has secured a $76 million contract from Ports Corporation of Queensland for expansion works at the Abbot Point coal terminal.

ONE of the recurring criticisms of Western Australia is that the state is little more than a quarry for the rest of the world and that our small, one-dimensional economy drives bright, young talent to cities like Melbourne, London and Sydney.

RUMOURS of the death of consulting engineering appear to have been greatly exaggerated.

AS someone who prefers small perfectly formed objects as opposed to monolithic structures, when it comes to business, the government's decision to carve up two Labor-created super departments is something I'd generally welcome.

One year after Wesfarmers secured Australia's largest takeover, the investment market is unsure of the company's prospects.

BUSINESSES in Western Australia spend proportionately more on research and development than their counterparts in any other state, the Australian Bureau of Statistics has found.

Downer EDI has secured a $35 million engineering contract with BHP Billiton for expansion works at its Pilbara iron ore operations, while Paladio Group has won its third Woodside contract in two months.

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Delay carbon plan, warns RBA director; Hundreds of jobs go as crisis hits miners; Stamp duty slump hits state budgets; Housing, retail downturn boost case for rate cut; China demand slowing, admits Rio

Mines and Petroleum Minister Norman Moore has not given up hope the state can still benefit from Inpex's multi-billion dollar Ichthys liquefied natural gas facility.

Perth-based Mission NewEnergy Ltd has produced first bio-ethanol from non food agricultural waste material, which sets up the company to produce the fuel from a range of low-cost and readily available feedstock.

Clough Ltd has signed a $56 million agreement with Superior Energy Services Inc to charter the newly built Rem Clough and provide associated subsea services.

The legal battle between Oil Basins Ltd and ARC Energy Ltd has been resolved, with the Canning Basin joint venture partners agreeing to a new arrangement.

Advanced Engine Components Ltd has entered into a potential 10-year purchase deal with India's Tata Motors Ltd that is estimated to generate over $30 million in revenue over three years for the Malaga-based company.

Westpac outshines its rivals; RBA plays down fears of recession; Wesfarmers seeks €3b to cover Coles debt; Miners pull projects as prices drop; Bills go up $365 as LNG hit hard

The state government has announced that two major departments will be restructured and split into three, as part of its plan for improving project approvals and delivering more clarity for business.

Clough Ltd's Indonesian subsidiary, PT Petrosea Tbk, has extended its long-term contract with a coal firm by a further 60 months, valuing the new deal at $440 million.

Perth-headquartered RCR Tomlinson Ltd was secured a mechanical works and warehouse services contract for Woodside's Pluto liquefied natural gas project, valued at over $60 million.

Moly Mines Ltd says it will instigate a "concerted" cost reduction program across all its activities to conserve cash, as it successfully draws down the remainder of its $US150 million ($A220 million) interim facility.

THE completion of the 2,800-tonne multi-million dollar Blacktip wellhead platform has marked another milestone at the Australian Marine Complex in Henderson, which is expected to experience continued strong demand for its facilities.

CLOUGH Ltd and the University of Western Australia have entered a partnership in which the engineering company has agreed to support funding of a first year centre for engineering students at UWA.The

WABN: What is the best piece of advice you can give someone to motivate a team? PK: "You need to provide a team with a sense of purpose and a collective vision.