Rivers of gold pour into Kalgoorlie for mining forum

The Advertiser

a day ago

Mining has always been an industry of boom and bust.
The fickle fortunes of Australia's biggest export sector were clear to see on opening day of the annual Diggers and Dealers conference on Monday.
With bullion prices sitting at record highs, goldminers Evolution and Ramelius Resources could scarcely conceal their glee as they boasted to investors, analysts and rivals of the rivers of cash flowing their way.
Just a few years ago, Ramelius was targeting an ore grade of two grams per tonne and making good money, chief executive Mark Zeptner said.
Today, following its merger with Simon Lawson-founded Spartan Resources, it's hitting an average grade of three grams of gold per tonne of ore mined.
"So it's fair to say at a three gram per tonne head grade and the current gold price, we are killing it," Mr Zeptner said, grinning.
After "sparring" with Mr Lawson in the past year or so, the pair find themselves at the helm of one of the ASX's largest goldminers following a $2.5 billion merger.
Mr Zeptner said he would handle the "boring" financial operations of the new joint entity - "that is if you find ridiculous cash flows boring" - while Mr Lawson, who has stayed on as deputy chairman, said he was content to focus on exploration.
"Mark and I, after stopping sparring, agreed that it would be a great combination to bring that skill set together, that operational excellence and that exploration upside … hopefully, that sizzle," he said.
Mr Lawson is a rockstar in the WA Goldfields town of Kalgoorlie, which is hosting the mining forum for a 34th time.
The price of gold has almost doubled in less than three years to nearly $5200 an ounce, flooding the coffers of miners.
Following the Ramelius-Spartan tie-up and Northern Star's $5 billion takeover of De Grey Mining, there is still plenty of M&A appetite in the sector.
Miners attending the forum are sitting on astronomical cash and bullion reserves, with five companies - Northern Star, Ramelius, Evolution, Vault and Regis - on more than $500 million each, according to gold mining consultants Surbiton Associates.
"Perhaps they could be used for further acquisitions, although prices now paid to obtain such new assets are very high," director Sandra Close said.
"The concern is that the larger the cash reserves become, the more the company may become a tempting takeover target."
But things were less rosy for uranium miners Paladin and Boss Energy.
The short seller targets were the first miners to present on Monday and had a tough story to sell.
Falling uranium prices have smashed share valuations, while Paladin and Boss have suffered output downgrades at their Langer Heinrich and Honeymoon mines, respectively.
Additionally, hopes for an Australian nuclear power industry to boost demand for the radioactive ore were dashed when the Peter Dutton-led coalition, which championed the policy, was trounced at the May election.
But governments globally were looking increasingly favourably at uranium to power their energy needs; a promising prospect for the industry, outgoing Boss Energy chief executive Duncan Craib said.
"Australia has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to contribute in achieving net zero and capitalise on the inevitable surge of global uranium demand that will accompany it," he said.
Despite his bullish comments, Mr Craib shied away from the media pack, avoiding the customary question-and-answer with journalists following his presentation.
There was plenty of support for nuclear energy in the event's curtain-raiser, a panel discussion between Canadian nuclear advocate Chris Keefer, Centre for Independent Studies energy expert Aidan Morrison and the right-wing think tank's executive director Tom Switzer.
Australia's best shot at reducing carbon emissions in electricity generation remained nuclear power, but even then it would not be possible to achieve net zero by 2050, Mr Morrison said.
Mining has always been an industry of boom and bust.
The fickle fortunes of Australia's biggest export sector were clear to see on opening day of the annual Diggers and Dealers conference on Monday.
With bullion prices sitting at record highs, goldminers Evolution and Ramelius Resources could scarcely conceal their glee as they boasted to investors, analysts and rivals of the rivers of cash flowing their way.
Just a few years ago, Ramelius was targeting an ore grade of two grams per tonne and making good money, chief executive Mark Zeptner said.
Today, following its merger with Simon Lawson-founded Spartan Resources, it's hitting an average grade of three grams of gold per tonne of ore mined.
"So it's fair to say at a three gram per tonne head grade and the current gold price, we are killing it," Mr Zeptner said, grinning.
After "sparring" with Mr Lawson in the past year or so, the pair find themselves at the helm of one of the ASX's largest goldminers following a $2.5 billion merger.
Mr Zeptner said he would handle the "boring" financial operations of the new joint entity - "that is if you find ridiculous cash flows boring" - while Mr Lawson, who has stayed on as deputy chairman, said he was content to focus on exploration.
"Mark and I, after stopping sparring, agreed that it would be a great combination to bring that skill set together, that operational excellence and that exploration upside … hopefully, that sizzle," he said.
Mr Lawson is a rockstar in the WA Goldfields town of Kalgoorlie, which is hosting the mining forum for a 34th time.
The price of gold has almost doubled in less than three years to nearly $5200 an ounce, flooding the coffers of miners.
Following the Ramelius-Spartan tie-up and Northern Star's $5 billion takeover of De Grey Mining, there is still plenty of M&A appetite in the sector.
Miners attending the forum are sitting on astronomical cash and bullion reserves, with five companies - Northern Star, Ramelius, Evolution, Vault and Regis - on more than $500 million each, according to gold mining consultants Surbiton Associates.
"Perhaps they could be used for further acquisitions, although prices now paid to obtain such new assets are very high," director Sandra Close said.
"The concern is that the larger the cash reserves become, the more the company may become a tempting takeover target."
But things were less rosy for uranium miners Paladin and Boss Energy.
The short seller targets were the first miners to present on Monday and had a tough story to sell.
Falling uranium prices have smashed share valuations, while Paladin and Boss have suffered output downgrades at their Langer Heinrich and Honeymoon mines, respectively.
Additionally, hopes for an Australian nuclear power industry to boost demand for the radioactive ore were dashed when the Peter Dutton-led coalition, which championed the policy, was trounced at the May election.
But governments globally were looking increasingly favourably at uranium to power their energy needs; a promising prospect for the industry, outgoing Boss Energy chief executive Duncan Craib said.
"Australia has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to contribute in achieving net zero and capitalise on the inevitable surge of global uranium demand that will accompany it," he said.
Despite his bullish comments, Mr Craib shied away from the media pack, avoiding the customary question-and-answer with journalists following his presentation.
There was plenty of support for nuclear energy in the event's curtain-raiser, a panel discussion between Canadian nuclear advocate Chris Keefer, Centre for Independent Studies energy expert Aidan Morrison and the right-wing think tank's executive director Tom Switzer.
Australia's best shot at reducing carbon emissions in electricity generation remained nuclear power, but even then it would not be possible to achieve net zero by 2050, Mr Morrison said.
Mining has always been an industry of boom and bust.
The fickle fortunes of Australia's biggest export sector were clear to see on opening day of the annual Diggers and Dealers conference on Monday.
With bullion prices sitting at record highs, goldminers Evolution and Ramelius Resources could scarcely conceal their glee as they boasted to investors, analysts and rivals of the rivers of cash flowing their way.
Just a few years ago, Ramelius was targeting an ore grade of two grams per tonne and making good money, chief executive Mark Zeptner said.
Today, following its merger with Simon Lawson-founded Spartan Resources, it's hitting an average grade of three grams of gold per tonne of ore mined.
"So it's fair to say at a three gram per tonne head grade and the current gold price, we are killing it," Mr Zeptner said, grinning.
After "sparring" with Mr Lawson in the past year or so, the pair find themselves at the helm of one of the ASX's largest goldminers following a $2.5 billion merger.
Mr Zeptner said he would handle the "boring" financial operations of the new joint entity - "that is if you find ridiculous cash flows boring" - while Mr Lawson, who has stayed on as deputy chairman, said he was content to focus on exploration.
"Mark and I, after stopping sparring, agreed that it would be a great combination to bring that skill set together, that operational excellence and that exploration upside … hopefully, that sizzle," he said.
Mr Lawson is a rockstar in the WA Goldfields town of Kalgoorlie, which is hosting the mining forum for a 34th time.
The price of gold has almost doubled in less than three years to nearly $5200 an ounce, flooding the coffers of miners.
Following the Ramelius-Spartan tie-up and Northern Star's $5 billion takeover of De Grey Mining, there is still plenty of M&A appetite in the sector.
Miners attending the forum are sitting on astronomical cash and bullion reserves, with five companies - Northern Star, Ramelius, Evolution, Vault and Regis - on more than $500 million each, according to gold mining consultants Surbiton Associates.
"Perhaps they could be used for further acquisitions, although prices now paid to obtain such new assets are very high," director Sandra Close said.
"The concern is that the larger the cash reserves become, the more the company may become a tempting takeover target."
But things were less rosy for uranium miners Paladin and Boss Energy.
The short seller targets were the first miners to present on Monday and had a tough story to sell.
Falling uranium prices have smashed share valuations, while Paladin and Boss have suffered output downgrades at their Langer Heinrich and Honeymoon mines, respectively.
Additionally, hopes for an Australian nuclear power industry to boost demand for the radioactive ore were dashed when the Peter Dutton-led coalition, which championed the policy, was trounced at the May election.
But governments globally were looking increasingly favourably at uranium to power their energy needs; a promising prospect for the industry, outgoing Boss Energy chief executive Duncan Craib said.
"Australia has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to contribute in achieving net zero and capitalise on the inevitable surge of global uranium demand that will accompany it," he said.
Despite his bullish comments, Mr Craib shied away from the media pack, avoiding the customary question-and-answer with journalists following his presentation.
There was plenty of support for nuclear energy in the event's curtain-raiser, a panel discussion between Canadian nuclear advocate Chris Keefer, Centre for Independent Studies energy expert Aidan Morrison and the right-wing think tank's executive director Tom Switzer.
Australia's best shot at reducing carbon emissions in electricity generation remained nuclear power, but even then it would not be possible to achieve net zero by 2050, Mr Morrison said.
Mining has always been an industry of boom and bust.
The fickle fortunes of Australia's biggest export sector were clear to see on opening day of the annual Diggers and Dealers conference on Monday.
With bullion prices sitting at record highs, goldminers Evolution and Ramelius Resources could scarcely conceal their glee as they boasted to investors, analysts and rivals of the rivers of cash flowing their way.
Just a few years ago, Ramelius was targeting an ore grade of two grams per tonne and making good money, chief executive Mark Zeptner said.
Today, following its merger with Simon Lawson-founded Spartan Resources, it's hitting an average grade of three grams of gold per tonne of ore mined.
"So it's fair to say at a three gram per tonne head grade and the current gold price, we are killing it," Mr Zeptner said, grinning.
After "sparring" with Mr Lawson in the past year or so, the pair find themselves at the helm of one of the ASX's largest goldminers following a $2.5 billion merger.
Mr Zeptner said he would handle the "boring" financial operations of the new joint entity - "that is if you find ridiculous cash flows boring" - while Mr Lawson, who has stayed on as deputy chairman, said he was content to focus on exploration.
"Mark and I, after stopping sparring, agreed that it would be a great combination to bring that skill set together, that operational excellence and that exploration upside … hopefully, that sizzle," he said.
Mr Lawson is a rockstar in the WA Goldfields town of Kalgoorlie, which is hosting the mining forum for a 34th time.
The price of gold has almost doubled in less than three years to nearly $5200 an ounce, flooding the coffers of miners.
Following the Ramelius-Spartan tie-up and Northern Star's $5 billion takeover of De Grey Mining, there is still plenty of M&A appetite in the sector.
Miners attending the forum are sitting on astronomical cash and bullion reserves, with five companies - Northern Star, Ramelius, Evolution, Vault and Regis - on more than $500 million each, according to gold mining consultants Surbiton Associates.
"Perhaps they could be used for further acquisitions, although prices now paid to obtain such new assets are very high," director Sandra Close said.
"The concern is that the larger the cash reserves become, the more the company may become a tempting takeover target."
But things were less rosy for uranium miners Paladin and Boss Energy.
The short seller targets were the first miners to present on Monday and had a tough story to sell.
Falling uranium prices have smashed share valuations, while Paladin and Boss have suffered output downgrades at their Langer Heinrich and Honeymoon mines, respectively.
Additionally, hopes for an Australian nuclear power industry to boost demand for the radioactive ore were dashed when the Peter Dutton-led coalition, which championed the policy, was trounced at the May election.
But governments globally were looking increasingly favourably at uranium to power their energy needs; a promising prospect for the industry, outgoing Boss Energy chief executive Duncan Craib said.
"Australia has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to contribute in achieving net zero and capitalise on the inevitable surge of global uranium demand that will accompany it," he said.
Despite his bullish comments, Mr Craib shied away from the media pack, avoiding the customary question-and-answer with journalists following his presentation.
There was plenty of support for nuclear energy in the event's curtain-raiser, a panel discussion between Canadian nuclear advocate Chris Keefer, Centre for Independent Studies energy expert Aidan Morrison and the right-wing think tank's executive director Tom Switzer.
Australia's best shot at reducing carbon emissions in electricity generation remained nuclear power, but even then it would not be possible to achieve net zero by 2050, Mr Morrison said.