昆士兰西北矿产省的矿业公司在钻探工作加速、新岗位陆续开放之际,难以招募到工人。AIC Mines董事长Aaron Colleran表示,各地招聘都十分困难,包括其位于克洛恩科里附近的Eloise铜矿。澳大利亚资源与能源雇主协会(Australian Resources and Energy Employer Association)估计,到2027年,全国该行业将需要24,000名新工人。昆士兰资源理事会(Queensland Resources Council)的数据显示,各行业争夺的技能需求增加,而年轻人进入技工和矿业职业领域的人数减少。行业领袖表示,必须扩大学徒培训,以缓解人才短缺。
BHP shareholders will meet at Sydney Showgrounds on Thursday, the first annual meeting under chief executive Brandon Craig. The miner reported copper production of 400,000 tonnes in the September quarter, down 19 per cent from the June quarter and below analyst expectations. It blamed severe weather and a fatality at its Escondida mine in Chile. Sharesies Australia's Jacki Neumann said investors will want confidence in cost control and copper returns. Pacific Climate Warriors plan to protest outside the meeting against coal expansion projects.
Australian shares fell on Tuesday, dragged lower by the big banks and major miners. The S&P/ASX200 index closed 28.8 points lower at 8816.9, after recovering from an early drop of as much as 98 points. BHP shares fell 1.6 per cent to $59.50 after its quarterly copper output dropped 19 per cent to around 400,000 tonnes, below analyst expectations. NAB shares fell 1.8 per cent after the bank announced plans to cut 2500 jobs over 2026/27. Ingenia Group rose 9.7 per cent after its takeover talks with Warburg Pincus were extended, and Cochlear gained 5.2 per cent.
Rio Tinto says it expects to release about $US5 billion, or $A7.2 billion, in capital by the end of 2026, supported by strong mine performance. Third-quarter iron ore sales from its Pilbara operations came in above market forecasts, reaching 85.7 million tonnes, up two per cent on a year earlier. The company has already released more than $US2 billion this year under an optimisation program aimed at higher-return growth projects. Copper output was broadly flat, with a rise at Oyu Tolgoi offsetting weaker output elsewhere.