Mining

The federal government has opened up 27 new offshore petroleum acreages across nine basins in Commonwealth waters off five states, including 13 new areas off the coast of Western Australia.

Up to half of all new jobs created in the next few years will be in sectors related to the booming mining industry, the Reserve Bank of Australia says.

Africa-focused uranium miner Paladin Energy says production at its mine in Malawi has been stalled after local workers walked off the job.

Australia has identified gas reserves that could keep up the rate of current production for nearly two centuries, Resources Minister Martin Ferguson says.

Australia's offshore petroleum industry is to have its safety benchmarks strengthened.

Construction and contracting company Decmil Group has announced new contract wins collectively worth $137 million, including a major new deal with Fortescue Metals Group.

Oil and gas companies operating in Australian waters tend to fail to recognise at a corporate level the occupational health and safety risks posed by ageing facilities, a report says.

Cape Lambert Resources says it has reached agreement to sell its Leichhardt copper project in Queensland for $25 million, less than two years after purchasing it for $7.75 million.

Southern Cross Goldfields says it is set to join the ranks of Western Australia's gold producers, after releasing a study that confirms the viability of its Marda project, north of Southern Cross.

Woodside Petroleum's has had its credit rating reaffirmed by Moody's Investors Service and the outlook has been changed from to stable from negative.

Iron ore miner Mineral Resources has secured approval from the town of Port Hedland to construct a 500-700 room camp to house workers from its Pilbara projects.

Mining and civil contractor Brierty's joint venture with Ngarluma Yindjibarndi Foundation has won a $55 million contract to develop land for housing for Rio Tinto at Wickham, in the Pilbara.

Mining giant Rio Tinto has flagged cutting some of its multi-billion dollar Australian expansion projects amid soaring costs, but says its Western Australian iron ore developments are likely to be

Leighton Holdings has been awarded $800 million in gas and water infrastructure contracts in Queensland.

BHP Billiton has pledged its support for its aluminium and nickel businesses, after announcing plans to consolidate its Stainless Steel Materials and Aluminium business units into a single unit tha

Mirabela Nickel has confirmed that it is considering launching a capital raising after its shares were halted from trade, following a 30 per cent plunge in value to a near all-time low.

Gina Rinehart's children can now claim their share of the family's multimillion-dollar trust, after Australia's richest person unexpectedly brought forward the vesting date of the disputed fund.

The state government has moved to acquire the necessary land required to build the Pilbara's next deepwater port, Anketell, 30 kilometres east of Karratha.

Leighton Holdings insists that its portfolio of projects is performing well despite its two big ticket developments costing the construction giant $254 million in pre-tax earnings.

Mineral sands miner Iluka says it will cut its annual production of zircon in 2012 because the global economic outlook remains unclear.

Monadelphous Engineering subsidiary KT Pipelines has appointed civil construction and services firm Central Systems for construction works at Chevron's Gorgon liquefied natural gas project on Barro

The price of oil has dropped to its lowest level of the year after elections in Europe created uncertainty over the region's plan for recovery.

Orica's new boss has come out swinging, saying the company is riding high on the mining boom despite a horror year from a public relations perspective.

Alycone Resources has announced an $8 million capital raising plan to accelerate development at its Texas silver and polymetallic project.

Arafura Resources has announced a strategic agreement with a major Korean multinational, to potentially develop its Australian rare earths deposits in joint venture.

The federal government has granted some of the world's largest oil and gas players, including Woodside Petroleum and BHP Billiton, the right to drill new permits off the coasts of Western Australia

Rio Tinto has named its nominees to the board of minerals explorer Ivanhoe Australia after taking effective control of the company's major shareholder.

Premier Colin Barnett should leave the proponents of the $30 billion-plus Browse gas hub to make their own decisions and stop upsetting investors, the Labor opposition says.

Forge Group subsidiary Cimeco and its indigenous joint venture partner Pilbara Logistics have won a $41 million construction contract with BHP Billiton Iron Ore.

A union representing 600 workers at the troubled Point Henry Alcoa aluminium smelter is optimistic the plant can be saved after meeting with US executives reviewing its future.