mining cost control

Autonomy gets real at Daunia as Whitehaven lifts productivity, redefines safety and proves culture is the key to mining’s autonomous future

When Whitehaven Coal acquired BMA’s Daunia and Blackwater mines in Queensland’s Bowen Basin, it wasn’t just the company’s biggest purchase to date.

By Jamie Wade on March 7, 2026
Safety, Occupational Health, Incident Reporting, Efficiency, Production Optimisation, Equipment Maintenance, Costs, Cost Control, Inventory Management, Workforce, Recruitment, Training and Development, Employee Retention, Innovation, Technology Adoption, Process Innovation, Risk, Risk Assessment, Risk Mitigation, Mines & Projects, Mine Profiles, Case Studies
Australia, Queensland, Bowen Basin
Energy Minerals, Coal (Thermal and Metallurgical)

Contractors strike gold as profit sharing reshapes the rules of mining and turns service providers into project partners

Australia’s contract mining sector is undergoing a quiet revolution—one that could fundamentally reshape the relationship between contractors and mine owners.

By Jamie Wade on November 11, 2025
Costs, Financial Planning, Cost Control, Contract Management, ESG, Sustainable Practices, Economic Balance, Innovation, Technology Adoption, Process Innovation, Risk, Risk Assessment, Risk Mitigation, Mines & Projects, Project Overviews, Development Stages
Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara, Goldfields-Esperance, Queensland, Bowen Basin, South Australia, Gawler Craton
Iron ore, Nickel, Energy Minerals, Coal (Thermal and Metallurgical), Precious Metals, Gold, Base Metals, Copper

Reliability centred maintenance turns breakdowns into breakthroughs at Ashton Coal proving maintenance is more than cost it is opportunity

When Barry McKay walked into Ashton Coal and saw machines cutting stone instead of coal, he knew something had to change.

By Jamie Wade on September 18, 2025
Safety, Occupational Health, Efficiency, Process Improvement, Equipment Maintenance, Costs, Cost Control, Workforce, Training and Development, Innovation, Process Innovation, Risk, Risk Mitigation
Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley
Energy Minerals, Coal (Thermal and Metallurgical)

AI spots what your sensors miss and your eyes can't see turning maintenance into money and downtime into data across coal operations

In an industry where every unscheduled shutdown translates into lost revenue, wasted resources and mounting frustration, one company is making a compelling case for using artificial intelligence to turn maintenance from a cost centre into a strategic advantage.

By Jamie Wade on August 14, 2025
Safety, Incident Reporting, Efficiency, Process Improvement, Equipment Maintenance, Costs, Cost Control, Procurement Efficiency, Workforce, Innovation, Technology Adoption, Process Innovation, Risk, Risk Mitigation, Mines & Projects, Case Studies
Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Asia
Energy Minerals, Coal (Thermal and Metallurgical)

Fine wine or snake oil? Ausenco's Grant Ballantyne helps miners sniff out real value in comminution tech before the hype goes straight to their heads

In the high-stakes world of minerals processing, separating fine wine from snake oil isn’t just a metaphor — it’s a business imperative.

By Jamie Wade on May 27, 2025
Efficiency, Production Optimisation, Process Improvement, Equipment Maintenance, Costs, Cost Control, ESG, Sustainable Practices, Innovation, Technology Adoption, Process Innovation, Risk, Risk Assessment, Risk Mitigation, Mines & Projects, Development Stages, Case Studies
Australia, North America, United States, Arizona
Base Metals, Copper, Industrial Minerals