News

14 Jan

Services re-open on Mt Isa line following sulfuric acid derailment

[ad_1] Freight and passenger services have resumed on the Mount Isa rail line in north-west Queensland, after a train carrying 817,000 litres of acid for Incitec Pivot derailed last month. An Aurizon locomotive and all 26 of its wagons derailed near Julia Creek at around 10.20am on December 27, 2015. Police reported that one of

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14 Jan

Tug strikes hit bulk ports

[ad_1] Svitzer provide tug services in a number of Australian ports. Photo: Svitzer Tug boat engineers have taken strike action across a range of ports along the Australian coastline after the union representing tug engineers for Svitzer Australia announced wide-spread strike action. Strikes began on Tuesday at Newcastle, Botany Bay, Brisbane, Melbourne and Fremantle (including

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14 Jan

Shipping index helps Brazilian miners compete

[ad_1] Australia’s bulk commodity shippers could be challenged by international competition. Photo: Shutterstock A drop in the Baltic Dry index – a price indicator for the shipping of bulk commodities – could significantly impact the competitiveness of Australian miners with their Brazilian counterparts. BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals Group, who together represent a major

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14 Jan

Whitehaven production doubles thanks to Maules Creek opening

[ad_1] Coal miner Whitehaven has upgraded its guidance for the 2015/16 financial year after a strong December quarter saw a doubling of production thanks to its newly-opened Maules Creek mine in the Gunnedah Basin in NSW. Maules Creek, which was plagued by opposition from environmental groups and farmers, began operations in July 2015. Whitehaven is

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14 Jan

CIMIC launches $153.1m hostile takeover for Sedgman

[ad_1] The Sedgman-built West Senakin CHPP in Indonesia. Photo: Sedgman CIMIC Group has made an unconditional final offer to acquire 100% of smaller engineering firm Sedgman, in a bid which values the company at $243m. CIMIC, which was known as Leighton Holdings until April 2015, already owns 39.99% of Sedgman, an Australian based engineer which

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13 Jan

Laing O’Rourke’s Australian business up for grabs

[ad_1] Laing O’Rourke works across a number of Australian sectors including rail. It worked on BHP’s RGP5 Railway in the Pilbara, pictured here. Photo: Laing O’Rourke Unsolicited bids from multiple parties have led UK-based engineering and construction firm Laing O’Rourke to put its Australian business on the block. Group chairman Ray O’Rourke said in a

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24 Dec

Shanghai powder show hosts record crowds

[ad_1] Crowds at IPB 2015. Photo: Powtech Oliver Probert – Sydney December 23, 2015 More than 7,100 trade visitors attended the International Powder & Bulk Solids Processing Conference & Exhibition (IPB) in Shanghai in late October, according to event organiser Powtech. The attendance figure was up from 6,890 in 2014. This made IPB the largest gathering

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24 Dec

ACCC sheds light on Brookfield’s proposed undertakings

[ad_1] Pacific National crane at Chullora. Photo: Cameron Boggs The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has kicked off market consultation on the revised undertakings offered by the Brookfield consortium in its proposed takeover of ports and rail group Asciano. The ACCC raised preliminary competition concerns over Brookfield’s planned takeover in a Statement of Issues on

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23 Dec

NSW approves Alkane’s Dubbo zirconia project

[ad_1] Zirconium bars. Photo: Creative Commons / Alchemist-hp The NSW Government has approved a mining lease for Alkane Resources subsidiary Australian Zirconia Limited’s Dubbo Zirconia Project (DZP). Following on from planning approval from the state government in May 2015, the Resources division of the NSW Department of Industry has advised that a mining lease for

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23 Dec

Commodity slump hits Aurizon

[ad_1] Aurizon train on its way to WICET. Photo: Aurizon Aurizon’s share price slid 10% this morning after the company lowered its coal volume forecast, and announced roughly $215m in asset impairments ahead of its half-yearly report in February. The Queensland-based rail operator said volumes in its major freight operation, and minor iron ore haulage

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