Energy & Natural Resources

Australia has signed a critical minerals agreement with Japan, under which it will invest up to $1.3 billion in critical minerals projects with its Asian ally to help reduce dependence on China.

Piper Alderman has hired a leading real estate partner from Clayton Utz who brings in-demand expertise on renewable energy and large-scale developments to the firm.

The federal government will spend $45 million over the next four years to develop bilateral agreements with states that will put an end to duplicative environmental approvals. 

Ampol has offered to divest 41 sites to win ACCC approval for its $1.1 billion acquisition of EG Australia, after the regulator started a phase two review into the tie-up.

Activists fighting to protect the Murujuga rock art in Western Australia have lost their transfer bid in a challenge to Woodside's North West Shelf gas project.

Mining company Fortescue will invest US$680 million ($960 million) to develop new green energy infrastructure in Western Australia's Pilbara region for new industry, including the booming data centre sector.

Holding Redlich has advised on the country's first utility scale solar microgrid led by a First Nations cooperative in a remote area of the Northern Territory, a project that will deliver critical energy autonomy in the community.

Environmental group Greenpeace won't take its case alleging Woodside misled the public by greenwashing its oil and gas projects to trial, after a judge tossed a similar case against Santos in February.

The Western Australian premier has started talks with the federal government on a bilateral agreement to put an end to duplicative environmental approvals. 

New federal fuel cost pass-through laws are expected to generate uncertainty in the construction industry, according to partners in Corrs Chambers Westgarth's leading construction practice group, who say the reforms may apply more widely than anticipated.