The MF500 is a fully functional hydrostatic transmission system developed for hands-on training and teaching of hydrostatic transmission systems at vocational and technical training colleges.

Because the hydrostatic transmission training simulator has an electronically controlled wheel-load system, students can operate the equipment in the laboratory and experience real-world conditions such as uphill, downhill, tough surfaces, and more.

The hydrostatic transmission training simulator includes pre-programmed tasks that cover the issues listed in a typical hydrostatic transmission manufacturer’s troubleshooting flowchart. This allows students to practise troubleshooting skills on a machine that has many of the faults that a hydrostatic transmission system might have.

Because it is primarily intended for educational purposes, using the MF500 hydrostatic transmission training simulator eliminates the hazards associated with the skid-steer loader. Students may safely drive it, load it, and operate the equipment.

The simulator includes comprehensive diagnostic capabilities for real-world troubleshooting in real time. All electric components of the simulator are protected by industry-standard lockout/locking devices for safety while at rest and in motion.

It has four emergency stop buttons that are easily accessible at each workstation; hydraulic motors (left and right), pump controls, steering, and directional control. This allows trainers or operators to quickly access any of the emergency stop buttons with no safety concerns.

Mineral Resources (MinRes) and Norwest Energy have provided an update on the drilling operations of the Lockyer-2 conventional gas appraisal well.

Lockyer-2 is a downdip, step-out appraisal well located approximately 3.2km to the north-east of the Lockyer Deep-1 gas discovery in WA.

According to MinRes, while the Kingia Sandstone reservoir is of excellent quality, an analysis of the wireline data and sampling indicated the reservoir is water-saturated and the aquifer is at a much higher pressure than previously interpreted, resulting in the Lockyer-2 well being suspended for future potential use.

The Lockyer-2 well is situated in the north Perth Basin within exploration permit EP368, a joint venture (JV) between Norwest Energy and Energy Resources, a wholly owned subsidiary of MinRes.

The JV states that Norwest Energy holds 20 per cent of the agreement, and Energy Resources is the operator and holds 80 per cent of the agreement.

MinRes said drilling at the well began on March 15 and had the primary target of Kingia Sandstone. The target was reached at 4347m, with low levels of background gas evident. The drilling was completed at a total depth of 4574m.

Norwest Energy said the Lockyer-2 results will impact the resource potential of the Lockyer Deep-1 discovery, since the anomalously high aquifer pressure indicates a much-reduced gas column.

Norwest Energy said the free water line is now interpreted to be at a depth of approximately 4007m, with the potential resource area above the free water line now estimated to be approximately 11 square kilometres.

Norwest Energy said it does not think the Lockyer-2 result affects the geological chance of the North Erregulla Deep-1 succeeding, but it is expected to materially downgrade the resource potential of the greater Lockyer structure.

Gold miner Westgold Resources and copper major 29Metals have released their preliminary production results for the third quarter (Q3) of the 2023 financial year (FY23).

Westgold delivered a solid quarter of operations, producing 60,512 ounces of gold, bringing the company’s production to 188,740 ounces year to date. The results put Westgold on track to achieve the upper end of production guidance of 240,000–260,000 ounces.

These results occurred despite major rainfall event across its Murchison operations in WA, which include two processing hubs, the Cue gold operation and the Meekatharra gold operation, as well as the company’s Fortnum gold operation.

While the rainfall did not stop milling operations all together, it did temporarily restrict activity towards the end of the quarter.

Westgold managing director Wayne Bramwell said the results were promising.

“Westgold’s Q3 results show changes made around operating discipline, mining efficiency and cost management are beginning to deliver the financial results we expect from our mines,” Bramwell said.

“Our team continues to find ways to simplify our business and drive efficiencies. Profitability and building our cash position is the objective this year and at the end of Q3, FY23, we remain on track to deliver our FY23 guidance.”

Results were also strong for 29Metals, who reported drilling at its Capricorn copper mine resulted in an increase in estimated mineral resource and ore reserves, up 58 per cent to 3.9 million tonnes. Given the mine was temporarily shuttered during the Queensland floods, these results pointed to the continued potential of Capricorn.

“These tremendous results continue to demonstrate the growth potential at the Capricorn copper ore bodies, building upon the highly successful drilling at Capricorn in 2022,” 29Metals managing director and chief executive officer Peter Albert said.

“These results further demonstrate the medium- and longer-term potential we see at Capricorn copper and highlight the importance of our ongoing recovery work to safely return Capricorn copper to operations following the impacts of the extreme weather event in March 2023.”

Glencore has added $US8.2 billion in cash to its initial $US23 billion takeover offer for Canadian miner Teck Resources.  

While Teck’s board members have doggedly crossed their arms and rejected Glencore’s offers, time will tell if the sweetened deal will be enough to convince shareholders by an April 26 deadline. 

Teck turned down the initial offer earlier this month, citing a reluctance to expose its shareholders to Glencore’s oil and thermal coal assets in light of the global push for net-zero, as well as jurisdictional risk. 

“All of which would negatively impact the value potential of Teck’s business, is contrary to our ESG (environmental, social and governance) commitments and would transfer significant value to Glencore at the expense of Teck shareholders,” Teck said in a statement.   

Glencore hit back yesterday, adding an $US8.2 billion cash component to its offer in an effort to appease shareholders who are eager to steer clear of coal.  

“Glencore has proposed … to introduce a cash element to the proposal … to effectively buy Teck shareholders out of their coal exposure such that Teck shareholders would receive 24 per cent of MetalsCo and $US8.2 billion in cash,” Glencore said in a statement.  

Through the merger, Glencore is seeking to simultaneously spin off two combined thermal and steelmaking coal businesses into stand-alone companies. 

MetalsCo would become a world-class base metals business with a diversified portfolio. 

CoalCo – the other proposed spinoff – would be a highly lucrative coal and carbon steel materials business. 

But Teck is already in the process of splitting its own businesses down the middle. The Canadian company is poised to spin off its steelmaking coal as Elk Valley Resources, while the main body rebrands to Teck Metals. 

The vote to split Teck is slated for April 26 which, if passed, will slam the door on Glencore’s proposal and complicate future takeovers.  

It looks to be an uphill battle for Glencore.  

Teck’s controlling shareholder Norman Keevil told Canada’s The Globe and Mail that he will not sell to a foreign company at any price, while another Canadian mining magnate, Pierre Lassonde, has indicated his intention to purchase a 20 per cent stake in Elk Valley Resources to protect it from takeover in its vulnerable early days of trading.   

The facility is now one step closer to refining ores to produce critical minerals for use in new-technology batteries.

Part of the Townsville Energy Chemicals Hub (TECH) project at Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct, the refinery was announced as a Significant Investment Project by the Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

This means that approvals for the project will be fast-tracked to ensure completion.

“I don’t just want to see critical minerals mined in Queensland with renewable energy,” Palaszszuk said. “I want to see those minerals processed in North Queensland.

“The Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct has the potential to support 5,000 jobs during construction and an estimated 1,600 direct ongoing jobs.

“Already six companies have signed on to be part of the precinct including to progress renewable hydrogen and advanced battery manufacturing.”

The Moranbah gas project currently collects gas from five coal mines but QPM Metals said it has the ability to connect to more in the future.

“Vertical integration of our energy supply for the TECH project is a significant de-risking event that cannot be underestimated,” QPM managing director and chief executive officer Dr Stephen Grocott said.

“This transaction is yet another commercial arrangement that the management team of QPM has been able to orchestrate to bring us one step closer to construction of the TECH project and to deliver value for shareholders.”

Minister for Resources Scott Stewart said the it was exciting to see QPM take on the project.

“Gas continues to be a key fuel for manufacturing facilities like the Townsville Energy Chemicals Hub,” Stewart said.

“The TECH project will create about 800 construction jobs, and during its operational phase there are expected to be an estimated 1700 jobs.

“Townsville is continuing to power ahead through projects like this along with the Queensland Government’s $5 billion investment in Copperstring 2032.”

The Capricorn copper mine was affected by unprecedented rainfall in early March, leading to the mine’s operations being suspended on March 8. Its recovery planning is underway with an update to be reported in mid-May.

Capricorn’s copper production was 2.6 kilotons (kt) for the two months to end February 2023, a decrease from the previous quarter which saw 5.3 kt produced. The low copper production was due to reduced milling rates to manage tailings capacity at the site and its planned maintenance, which was exacerbated by the extreme weather.

Capricorn’s costs were also lower with site costs of $31 million for the two months to end February 2023, compared to the previous quarter’s $51 million. 29Metals credits the lower costs spent to the lower activity and the suspension of Capricorn.

29Metals’ chief executive officer Peter Albert said the extreme weather at Capricorn dominated the March quarter results but is proud of the Capricorn team’s efforts to manage safety after the fact.

“During and after the extreme weather event the team at Capricorn Copper did a tremendous job managing safety and protecting the environment,” Albert said.

“The outstanding drilling results at Capricorn Copper reported earlier this month demonstrate the long-term value of the mine. We are laser-focused on the recovery plan, to return Capricorn Copper to operations and realise its potential.”

However, the March quarter results were not all negative. 29Metals saw its safety metrics improve, which Albert said was a testament to the company’s focus on safety.

“Group safety metrics continued to improve, with the total recordable injury frequency rate (of 8.1 per million work hours) decreasing for a fifth consecutive quarter and a reduction in lost time injury frequency rate (with Capricorn having five-months recordable injury-free to end March 2023),” Albert said.

The Capricorn copper mine will see the full reinstatement in 2024.