Contractionary conditions continue – Ai Group

The industrial economy continues to contract in response to higher interest rates according to the latest data released by employer group the AiGroup. The group’s Australian Industry Index, which is broader than its companion Performance of Manufacturing Index, fell in June 2023, losing 1.1 points to minus 11.9 points (seasonally adjusted). The index has indicated…

Hexagon progresses ammonia from gas project

Hexagon Energy is pressing ahead with its plans to construct its WAH2 low-emissions ammonia project in Western Australia following release of a positive pre-feasibility study. The engineering and cost estimation study, by energy services company Petrofac, support a commitment to a Pre-Front End Engineering Design (Pre FEED) step which is scheduled to start mid-2023. The…

Boost for Townsville defence innovation hub

The federal government is to back efforts by not for profit group North Queensland Simulation Park (NQ Spark) which is establishing an innnovation and industry precinct in critical technologies. The government signed a $32.2 million that paves the way for work to begin on northern Australia’s first collaborative defence industry hub in Townsville. Also supported…

Calix and Pilbara Minerals advance lithium processing technologies

Industrial technology company Calix and Pilbara Minerals have made ‘significant progress’ in the development of their mid-stream lithium processing demonstration plant which aims to be a model for a full-scale lithium processing industry. The companies have been developing a demonstration plant at Pilbara’s Pilgangoora Project in Western Australia (pictured) to produce lithium salts from ores…

New TAFE cyber security training launched

The federal government has teamed with TAFEcyber to better train experts to guide federal government departments, critical infrastructure, and industry to improve their cyber security. The nation’s top cyber security agency, the Australian Signals Directorate, has developed a new cyber training course that will be delivered nationally by TAFEcyber from August this year. The Essential…