Mining and Resources Writer at
The Australian Financial Review
PH: +613 8667 2383 pker@fairfaxmedia.com.au
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Articles by Peter Ker
Glencore eyes ASX 100 entry as CEO revives Rio Tinto merger ambitions
Glencore chief executive Gary Nagle expects the mining and commodities trading group will be among the top listed companies on the Australian sharemarket within the next year, and refuses to rule out another tilt at Rio Tinto. Glencore is among the largest companies on the London Stock Exchange, where it has its primary listing, with a market capitalisation of $126 billion. Loading...
BHP says each Battery Truck will cost 1,000 hours in productivity — it will keep diesel and delay Net Zero
By Jo Nova Just another day in the great unwinding of the Green delusion The largest company in Australia has just announced they are delaying their Net Zero plans. They will still reach the mythical land of Net Zero sometime, but it will just take longer. Their emissions nine years from now will be about 33 per cent higher than what they had been aiming for.
Futures and Commodity Market News
Sep 08, 2026 (The Australian Financial Review - ABIX via COMTEX) -- The copper price has risen to a new record high of $US14,617 in London Metal Exchange trading; the energy transition metal has now gained 17 per cent so far in 2026, and about 75 per cent over the last three years.
Futures and Commodity Market News
Aug 31, 2026 (The Australian Financial Review - ABIX via COMTEX) -- Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that mining companies spent a record $1.14bn on exploring for copper, gold and other minerals during the June quarter; this is 17 per cent higher year-on-year. Spending on petroleum exploration increased by 49 per cent to $545m, while onshore drilling accounted for 64.8 per cent of petroleum exploration.
Futures and Commodity Market News
Aug 31, 2026 (The Australian Financial Review - ABIX via COMTEX) -- Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that mining companies spent a record $1.14bn on exploring for copper, gold and other minerals during the June quarter; this is 17 per cent higher year-on-year. Spending on petroleum exploration increased by 49 per cent to $545m, while onshore drilling accounted for 64.8 per cent of petroleum exploration.
Futures and Commodity Market News
Aug 27, 2026 (The Australian Financial Review - ABIX via COMTEX) -- South32 has posted a 2025-26 profit of $US1.08bn, compared with $US213m previously; the result was boosted by strong growth in the price of the miner's key commodities. CEO Matt Daley has indicated that South32 will focus on its base metal assets when the sale of its aluminium division to Alcoa is completed.
Futures and Commodity Market News
Aug 27, 2026 (The Australian Financial Review - ABIX via COMTEX) -- South32 has posted a 2025-26 profit of $US1.08bn, compared with $US213m previously; the result was boosted by strong growth in the price of the miner's key commodities. CEO Matt Daley has indicated that South32 will focus on its base metal assets when the sale of its aluminium division to Alcoa is completed.
Futures and Commodity Market News
Jun 09, 2026 (The Australian Financial Review - ABIX via COMTEX) -- Terra Capital's natural resources fund has acquired a 14.9 per cent stake in Oceltip Coal 2 Pty Ltd, an unlisted company that is controlled by former coal baron Nathan Tinkler. White Energy proposes to acquire both Oceltip Coal 2 and Essential Global Resources via a $15m share issue. Tinkler will become White Energy's executive chairman if both acquisitions proceed.
Futures and Commodity Market News
Jun 09, 2026 (The Australian Financial Review - ABIX via COMTEX) -- Terra Capital's natural resources fund has acquired a 14.9 per cent stake in Oceltip Coal 2 Pty Ltd, an unlisted company that is controlled by former coal baron Nathan Tinkler. White Energy proposes to acquire both Oceltip Coal 2 and Essential Global Resources via a $15m share issue. Tinkler will become White Energy's executive chairman if both acquisitions proceed.
Futures and Commodity Market News
May 13, 2026 (The Australian Financial Review - ABIX via COMTEX) -- BHP's incoming CEO Brandon Craig has told a mining conference in the US that the resources group has no plans to become a pure-play copper miner, stating that it will continue to be a diversified commodities producer. Craig also indicated that BHP will aim to increase its production by four per cent annually over the next decade when he takes the helm on 1 July.
Futures and Commodity Market News
May 13, 2026 (The Australian Financial Review - ABIX via COMTEX) -- BHP's incoming CEO Brandon Craig has told a mining conference in the US that the resources group has no plans to become a pure-play copper miner, stating that it will continue to be a diversified commodities producer. Craig also indicated that BHP will aim to increase its production by four per cent annually over the next decade when he takes the helm on 1 July.
Futures and Commodity Market News
Mar 29, 2026 (The Australian Financial Review - ABIX via COMTEX) -- Rio Tinto recently advised that it had paid nearly $US1bn ($1.45bn) in additional tariffs to the US government in 2025. The resources group is now pursuing legal action against the Trump administration to recover an unspecified amount that it has paid under the 'liberation day' tariffs regime that was declared unlawful by the US Supreme Court.
Inside the battle for BHP's future
Nov 30, 2025 (The Australian Financial Review - ABIX via COMTEX) -- There is growing speculation that BHP's CEO Mike Henry is preparing to step down after six years in the role. However, BHP's merger talks with Anglo American last week showed that Henry is still deeply engaged in high-stakes strategic endeavours, rather than easing into retirement. Potential internal candidates to succeed Henry when he eventually steps down include Geraldine Slattery, Rag Udd, Vandita Pant and Catherine Raw.
Bass Strait partners Mitsui, Woodside, ExxonMobil in $300m feud
Sep 04, 2025 (The Australian Financial Review - ABIX via COMTEX) -- The Federal Court is to hear a dispute involving Mitsui, Woodside Energy and ExxonMobil. It involves Mitsui being asked for a payment of $156.3 million from ExxonMobil and $141.6 million from Woodside. The latter two companies are of the view that Mitsui should make a greater contribution to the petroleum resource rent tax payable to the federal government for gas extracted from the Kipper gas field in Bass Strait.
Fortescue to settle with US tycoon after energy deal bust-up
Jul 21, 2025 (The Australian Financial Review - ABIX via COMTEX) -- Fortescue is believed to be close to settling a two-year dispute with Kid Shelleen, which is the private company of US billionaire hedge fund manager Paul Tudor Jones. The dispute relates to a failed plan for the companies to jointly invest in energy projects in the US, with Kid Shelleen initially seeking damages of $US6.25 million.
Rio Tinto to settle class action over Mongolian mine for $214m
Jun 19, 2025 (The Australian Financial Review - ABIX via COMTEX) -- Rio Tinto has settled a lawsuit brought against it by Florida hedge fund Pentwater Capital Management and other investors in Canada-based Turquoise Hill Resources.
Rio Tinto to settle class action over Mongolian mine for $214m
Jun 19, 2025 (The Australian Financial Review - ABIX via COMTEX) -- Rio Tinto has settled a lawsuit brought against it by Florida hedge fund Pentwater Capital Management and other investors in Canada-based Turquoise Hill Resources.
Anglo's platinum sale may revive BHP interest
May 28, 2025 (The Australian Financial Review - ABIX via COMTEX) -- Anglo American's Valterra Platinum spin-off has debuted on the Johannesburg stock exchange. The demerger of Anglo American's platinum mines in South Africa is part of the company's strategy to focus on copper, iron and crop nutrients. Anglo American also aims to divest its coal and diamond mines.
BHP dividend slumps to eight-year
Feb 18, 2025 (The Australian Financial Review - ABIX via COMTEX) -- BHP has posted a 2024-25 underlying interim profit of US5.08bn ($7.98bn), which is 23 per cent lower than previously. Lower commodity prices weighed on the half-year result, while shareholders will receive an interim dividend of $US0.50 per share; this is BHP's lowest half-year dividend payout since 2017.
BHP appoints former NAB boss Ross McEwan as next chairman
Feb 12, 2025 (The Australian Financial Review - ABIX via COMTEX) -- BHP has advised that Ross McEwan will succeed Ken MacKenzie as chairman at the end of March. MacKenzie has been in the role for just over eight years; deals made during his tenure included BHP's acquisition of OZ Minerals, an unsuccessful bid for Anglo American and the merger of the petroleum division with Woodside Energy.
Billionaire Sam Chong pays $1.6b for Anglo’s stake in Queensland mines
Real estate and resources billionaire Sam Chong will pay $1.6 billion to buy Anglo American’s stakes in two Queensland coal mines, Jellinbah and Lake Vermont, as he doubled down on his investment in the state. Mr Chong’s private vehicle, Zashvin, has agreed to buy Anglo’s 33 per cent in Jellinbah Group, which owns a 70 per cent stake in the two mines.
BHP hunts big game in Africa
Apr 29, 2024 (The Australian Financial Review - ABIX via COMTEX) -- BHP's primary interest in making a takeover bid for Anglo American is the latter's copper assets, which include the Quellaveco, Los Bronces and Collahuasi projects. The proposed $59.6bn deal would see BHP regain exposure to commodities that it has been seeking to exit for the last decade, such ad diamonds and manganese.
Nickel sector 'disappointed' by critical snub
Dec 17, 2023 (The Australian Financial Review - ABIX via COMTEX) -- Wyloo Metals CEO Luca Giacovazzi says government support is needed if there is to be a long-term nickel industry in Australia. He adds that the nation should be adopting policies that enable the sector to take advantage of the Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act.
Critical minerals rush recasts ASX
Jun 13, 2023 (The Australian Financial Review - ABIX via COMTEX) -- Lynas Rare Earths and Pilbara Minerals are among the major critical minerals producers that are listed on the Australian sharemarket. The total market capitalisation of 33 stocks in the sector has risen from just $8.6bn to $86.2bn over the last decade. In contrast, the 25 companies in the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index are currently worth a conbined $86.1bn.
Major Australian Miner Says China Pushing Back Coal Shipments to January
(AFR) — Chinese customers have deferred two shipments from Australian coal miner New Hope from November to January, boosting claims end-of-year import limits, rather than politics, are more a factor in China’s sudden reluctance to accept Australian coal. Political tensions have been blamed for Chinese customers’ rejecting or deferring Australian coal shipments since early October, amid a year in which China also limited imports of Australian barley, beef and timber.
Australian Mining Giant BHP Hit With China Coal Deferrals
BHP Group Ltd.’s Chinese customers have asked the miner for relief from coal purchase contracts in the wake of Beijing’s move to crack down on foreign coal imports. The requests for deferral come amid uncertainty over whether China is seeking to limit purchases of foreign coal of all origins, or whether Australian miners are being specifically targeted under an extension of geopolitical trade tensions.
Pain for Australia’s Coal Miners as China Buys Local
(AFR) — Chinese power generators are paying 60% more to buy coal from Chinese mines rather than from exporters such as Australia, highlighting how protectionism and geopolitical tensions are adding to the “pain” being felt across the Australian coal sector.
Even as Chinese Demand Recovers, Australian Resources Sector Slashes Spending Plans
Close to A$8 billion ($5 billion) of future investment has been taken off the table by the Australian resources sector, after BHP said it would spend less next year despite signs the Chinese economy was recovering from its bout with the coronavirus. Confirmation that BHP will no longer spend $8 billion in fiscal 2021 came as the miner said its flagship Australian iron ore division was on track to meet full-year export targets at a time when rivals were downgrading targets.
Rio Tinto Says China Is Showing Growing Appetite for Iron Ore
(AFR) — Australia’s biggest trading partner is rebounding quickly from its encounter with the coronavirus and showing a strong appetite for Australian iron ore, says Rio Tinto iron ore boss Chris Salisbury.
Australian Miners Expect Smaller Hit from China’s Winter Shutdown
(AFR) — Australian miners are confident China's looming shutdown season will have less impact on commodity markets than in previous years, as trade tensions and a slowing global economy tempt Australia's biggest trading partner to put a greater emphasis on economic growth.
Chinese State Firm Seeks to Revive $6.6 Billion Mining Project in Western Australia
(AFR) — A Chinese state-owned entity will seek to revive a A$9.7 billion ($6.6 billion) mining rail and port project in Western Australia (WA), in a move that could unlock the nation's next iron ore export province. Sinosteel has acquired Japanese giant Mitsubishi's interests in the long-stalled Oakajee Port and Rail project, in a deal that comes in the strongest year for iron ore prices since 2014.
China’s CATL Takes Stake of Australian Lithium Exporter
Chinese lithium-ion battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) will emerge as one of the biggest shareholders in Pilbara Minerals under a plan to raise up to AU$111.5 million ($75 million). CATL will pay AU$55 million for 8.5% of Pilbara, under a placement that effectively values the Western Australian lithium exporter at AU$646 million.
Facing China Restrictions, Australian Mining Giant Upgrades Coal for New Markets
(AFR) — BHP is working on a plan to change the types of coal it produces in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) in response to the Chinese import curbs that shocked coal markets earlier this year. China is the main buyer of export thermal coal from BHP's Mt Arthur mine in the Hunter Valley, but unofficial import restrictions on Australian coal shipments this year have prompted BHP to study ways to produce more of the coal specification demanded by Japanese customers.
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