The $17.5 billion asset has an expansion capacity up to 27.6 Mtpa, and is set to position Woodside as a global LNG powerhouse, delivering around 24 Mtpa from its portfolio in the 2030s—representing over 5% of global LNG supply.

The company expects the project to book around $2 billion in revenue at full capacity, contributing $8 billion to coffers over the next decade.

The investment has an internal rate of return above 13% and am expected payback period of seven years.

Stonepeak will invest $5.7 billion toward the project, accelerating funding through 2025 and 2026, while Woodside’s share of total capital expenditure is estimated at $11.8 billion.

Woodside emphasised that its greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets remain unchanged following the decision.

CEO Meg O’Neill says Louisiana LNG is a “game-changer” that bolsters Woodside’s portfolio by adding US low-cost gas assets to its Australian base, offering marketing opportunities across the Pacific and Atlantic basins.

The project, the largest single foreign direct investment in Louisiana’s history, is anticipated to support around 15,000 jobs during construction and highlights the project as the first greenfield US LNG project final investment decision since July 2023.

Woodside has been trading at $20.40 at the time of writing.

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Rhetoric accompanying these levy threats has been equally uncompromising, with many leaders finding themselves the target of a Trumpian talking-to about how their country may have exploited the goodwill of the U.S. and its economy.

On Wednesday (U.S. time), it was the turn of Irish taoiseach Micheal Martin – meeting Trump and his deputy J D Vance for the annual meeting before St Patrick’s Day – who was scolded about Ireland snapping up American pharmaceutical companies.

Similarly, Australia has recently been accused – this time by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick – of apparently “dumping” excess aluminium on the U.S. market. This is being used as the justification for 25% tariffs hitting imports of the metal, in addition to steel, which rolled out in Week 11.

But perhaps the most standout (and head-scratching) example is the U.S.’s northern neighbour, Canada, which is being slapped with the same 25% tariffs on its steel and aluminium production as well as an across-the-board levy (another 25%) on all Canadian goods flowing into the U.S.

The latter was announced almost as soon as Trump came into office, with the President saying he would be targeting Canada and Mexico jointly in response to drugs – particularly fentanyl – coming into the U.S. from north and south.

Of course, this garnered a reaction, plus a series of retaliatory actions which indicated the economic and political relationship between the countries was souring.

On March 10, Ontario Governor Doug Ford announced electricity normally flowing from the province into three U.S. states – Michigan, Minnesota, and New York – would be hit with a 25% surcharge to answer Trump’s metals tariffs.

This prompted a threat by the President to push the latter to 50%, before a compromise was eventually reached between Ford and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick that will facilitate a rollback of the electricity charges. Levies of 25% against Canadian metals still went ahead on Wednesday, March 12.

The previous day, Trump suggested the best way to resolve the issue would be for Canada to become the 51st state. “This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear,” he said.

It’s difficult to overstate how irrational Trump’s approach seems to be – not only his threats against the Canadian economy, but also the language wrapping it – given the integrated relations between the two in previous years.

Energy is a great place to start, with Canada and the U.S. being each other’s largest trade partner in this sector, among which is an established, nearly century-long trade in electricity underpinned by an integrated grid.

In the past two decades, reliance has been increasingly one-way, with the U.S. importing more electricity than it exports; this affects 22 states. According to Canadian nonprofit media organization Narwhal, the province of Ontario is responsible for providing $700 million worth of electricity – that is, power to 1.5 billion homes.

Professor Wesley Widmaier – from Australian National University (ANU)’s Department of International Relations – believes the tensions between the two can be compared to a personal relationship.

“There are some cases where just like in a relationship, you can say something to your partner where it changes everything,” he said.

“Trump’s ill-considered rhetoric about annexing Canada has affected what could be a lasting change like relations between the two sides, the two people.

“I was just in the U.S., and many Canadians are quite angry and offended, and that affects people where they live.”

Professor Widmeier said Canada was just one country which had been hit with uncertainty over its working relationship with the U.S. going forward.

“In the context of Europe, he’s called Article 5 into doubt by seeming to side with the Russians against Ukrainians on foreign policy,” he said.

“For Australia, I don’t think we’ve reached that point yet, I don’t think he’s engaged in any really egregious rhetoric that would change people’s views of the United States on the ground, so we can play that game of biding and waiting to see to what extent Trump himself pulls away from some of these policies.

“But it’s led to a reconsideration and in some places a deep questioning.”

Certainly, when it comes to Canada, the trade war doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon, with the country promising to match the U.S. “dollar for dollar” in response to the 25% metal tariffs which came in on Wednesday, announcing levies against $30 billion worth of imports from the country – that is, its own 25% tariffs against American steel, computers, and sports equipment.

Professor Widmeier said when it came to geopolitical engagements around defense, Donald Trump had returned to some longstanding preoccupations – particularly that of the U.S.’ allies relying too much on it – but had delivered these very differently.

“Burden sharing has always been an issue between the U.S. and the Europeans: it goes back to the Kennedy administration in the 1960s,” he said.

“What’s different this time – and it goes back to Trump’s statements from his first term – a suggestion that if NATO allies aren’t paying their 2% or whatever the exact amount is, that the US might consider not protecting them.

“It’s taking what was an iron-clad alliance and changing it to something transactional.

“So again, before Trump, if the Russians invaded Lithuania, Estonia, or Latvia, the U.S. – and NATO – would respond quite seriously. You have to think that that might not happen now.”

Professor Widmaier said it was plausible this was what the US President was aiming for long term: Particularly given the support he’d received in states most affected by the free trade, and Chinese dominance in manufacturing.

“Free trade creates winners and losers, protectionism creates winners and losers,” he said.

“To the extent that Trump has a constituency – ‘Build American Manufacturing’ states, the blue wall, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, – they all want to bring those jobs back.

“To the extent that he’s pressuring companies to build factories in the States and that would bring jobs back to the States, it’s not implausible.

“Would that be a rational economic policy? Is that the best allocation of goods and services? No. So there’d be many more losers than there’d be winners.

“The case for free trade is the winners compensate the losers and everyone’s still better off. The problem is for the last 50 years, the losers from free trade have gone pretty uncompensated, and that’s one of the reasons for Trump’s rise.”

Undoubtedly one of the main things to say about Trump’s tariff policy, and the back-and-forth reactions it’s provoked, is that world markets have so far been taking a significant hit thanks to economic uncertainty.

Here in Australia, the ASX200 has experienced four consecutive weekly declines on the back of Trump’s levy threats, and Wall Street has experienced a similar downturn. Professor Widmaier said this would be an issue the President could not ignore.

“I can tell you, when I talk to people back in the United States, stock market swoon has gotten a lot of people’s attention,” he said.

“Americans have their retirement funds tied up in 401K accounts – which are bundles of stock market investments – so when people see the stock market go down, they see their retirement savings go down, and Trump is aware of this.

“And meeting – as he did recently – with the business executives round table, one can imagine this explains a bit of his erratic back and forth kind of reactions.”

The White House has commented that some short-term pain might be necessary for Trump’s trade plan to be realised. And this could be strategic.

“When he’s warning people, when he’s suggesting that a recession is likely, that’s a little more esoteric for people,” Professor Widmaier said.

“And there’s a saying in politics, ‘get your recession out of the way early’.

“Dick Cheney, when the Bush administration back in 2000 took power, Cheney was very quick to declare that the US was likely to head into a recession, because that’s a recession you can blame on the outgoing guy, and 4 years is a long time, so people aren’t going to remember it, they want to get it out of the way.”

He added that while many were talking about the potential impact of tariffs on inflation, there was not likely to be a direct effect, although the instability brought on by constantly shifting policy was something to watch.

“When people say that tariffs are going to cause inflation, I’m sceptical to the extent that these price increases are sector-specific, one-off price increases,” Professor Widmaier said.

“A one-off increase in prices because of a tariff on a particular good – if it doesn’t become embedded in people’s expectations – will not cause prolonged inflation.

“If there are constantly increasing tariffs, where he’s got 25%, then 50%, and cyclical tariffs, and things start to feed on themselves, yes that will be inflationary.”

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This number represented a 41.3% rise in net profit after tax compared to the prior period for the engineering company, which also reported a 30.2% rise in EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), to $79.8 million.

Revenue had also risen by 4.2% to $1.051 billion during the six months.

The strong figures reflected securing a strong suite of new contracts and extensions, for a total value of $1.7 billion, and a pipeline of other activities in the sectors of resources, energy and renewable energy.

More specifically, MND said strong demand was evidenced in the maintenance and industrial services division – resulting in revenue of $645.1 million for the six months to December – while the engineering construction division reported revenue of $405.4 million, a rise of 33.7% during the same period.

Monadelphous declared an interim dividend of 33cps for the first half of FY25.

Managing Director Zoran Bebic said although global uncertainty remained, there would continue to be work prospects across the energy, materials, and renewable energy sectors.

“Resources and energy demand is expected to remain strong over the long-term, underpinned by sustained economic growth and increasing investment in decarbonisation activities,” Mr Bebic explained.

“Significant investment in the renewable energy sector is also forecast to support the energy transition.

“The company continues to focus on sustainable growth and quality of earnings through a selective approach to new work, collaborative customer engagement, high standards of delivery, and the appropriate allocation of risk.”

Monadelphous has been trading at $15.59.

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The material provided in this article is for information only and should not be treated as investment advice. Viewers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a certified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. For full disclaimer information, please click here.

Production commenced on November 30, with the well averaging 1.2 MMscf/d of gas production, and 4 bbl/d of oil production during the first eight days of flow back on a constrained 25/64th-inch choke.

On December 12, it began being operated on a less constrained basis and was flowed on a 37/64th-inch choke for four hours, achieving a rate of 4.1 MMscf/d of gas production and 17 bbl/d of oil production.

The production start was facilitated following the release from the location of the Enterprise 264 jack-up rig on November 24, with offshore construction crews hooking up flowlines and other necessary equipment to begin production from the F5-ST Bypass well through processing facilities on the SM 71 F platform.

This production ultimately then began on November 30.

Otto’s acting CEO Phil Trajanovich said the production results from this well had been surprising at this early stage.

“We will continue to produce the well-observing production rates and pressures so future production can be more accurately predicted and the relationship between F5 and other wells in the field can be more clearly understood,” he said.

He added: “We will provide additional updates to the market as further production information becomes available.”

Otto has been trading at 1.1 cents.

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The material provided in this article is for information only and should not be treated as investment advice. Viewers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a certified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. For full disclaimer information, please click here.

Both projects are described as ‘the most advanced geothermal projects in Australia’, with $40 million spent on fieldwork and studies for both Paralana and Flinders West as part of EE1’s Techno-Economic Feasibility Study (TES).

The initial phase of this feasibility has shown that Paralana is suitable as an open loop Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) target.

The TES – which is being carried out by GLJ Ltd – has already completed a Red Flag assessment on the two projects, and the remaining parts of the feasibility work will now concentrate on the EGS development of Paralana.

EE1 CEO Josh Puckridge said the TES had confirmed expectations for Paralana in particular.

“GLJ’s preliminary findings affirm our belief in Paralana’s potential as an Enhanced Geothermal System project,” he said.

“Independently validating Paralana’s permeability and stress conditions for EGSdevelopment is both significant and valuable.

“Momentum around EGS is building, spurred by pioneering successes in the USA, whereprojects in Nevada and Utah are setting the stage. Paralana stands alongside these leadingefforts, and our collaboration with GLJ will showcase this further.”

EE1 has been trading flat at 1.5 cents.

Join the discussion: See what HotCopper users are saying about EE1 and be part of the conversations that move the markets.

Speaking at the Critical Minerals & Energy Investment Conference in Perth this week, Dr Kim told investors in order to comprehensively achieve decarbonisation, the world would need 10 terrawatts (TW) of photovoltaic (PV) technology by 2030, or 2TW per year.

But the growing move towards this technology would involve a significant use of the minerals and metals currently being produced, including 20.5% of copper in production (4.5 million tonnes out of a total annual supply of 22 million tonnes), 59.5% of silicon (2,200,000t out of the 3,700,000t produced annually), and 42.9% of all silver produced annually (12,000t out of 28,000t).

Steel – used for mounting TV modules – would also be required in notable amounts, specifically 50 million tonnes, or 2.6% of the annually produced 1.9 billion tonnes.

The supply question with silver was one to watch in particular, according to Dr Kim.

“The PV industry used over 20% of silver produced in 2023,” he said.

“Overall since 2018, the proportion of annual silver production being diverted to this industry each year is around 35%.”

However, the technology’s contribution to decarbonisation, and the relatively low emissions produced by solar energy and low amounts of waste produced, boosted the case for the PV industry – which is currently dominated by monocrystalline Si (silicon) module technology – he added.

In addition to this, Dr Kim said he could envision a roadmap to achieving carbon-free PV production in the future, which would involve the decarbonisation of electricity (which is used to make the silicon, glass and aluminium components of modules), the use of green steel and decarbonised concrete in modules’ mounting frames, and through improvements in performance of modules themselves.

Dr Kim’s research into PV technology is being funded by the Federal government under the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).

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The material provided in this article is for information only and should not be treated as investment advice. Viewers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a certified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. For full disclaimer information, please click here.

Managing director Neil Young told an audience at RIU’s Essential Energy conference on Wednesday that depletion in the Bass Strait – in conjunction with increasing demand – meant that news solutions needed to be found for gas supply.

“Our assets are on the east coast, and I’m sure that even in Perth you’ve heard that the gas crunch there is now upon us,” he said.

“Government intervention has actually put a floor on gas prices of about 12 dollars, and LNG imports are inevitable, and governments will need to provide more support to avoid the consequences of cold showers and power outages.”

One such solution was greater investment in south Queensland’s Taroom Trough, where a number of energy operators – such as Shell, Santos and Omega – have situated themselves, and where Elixir is currently looking for coal-bed methane (CBM) gas.

Aside from being a significant part of the larger Bowen Basin, the trough is also promising because of its infrastructure, Mr Young said.

“Pipelines take gas from Queensland to the southern states, and the LNG plants in Gladstone have growing haulage,” he said.

“There’s also a lot of local gas usage for power stations in the region. There’s gas storage in the region, which is expected to grow.

“It’s also advantaged in terms of this area of oil and gas being present for a hundred years, the communities understand it.”

Elixir’s flagship Grandis Gas Project has seen a number of breakthrough developments this year from its Daydream 2 appraisal well, Mr Young added.

“The Taroom Trough hosts – and we think we’ve proved it – a Basin-Centred Gas play: that’s an unconventional play that does not need conventional structures,” he said.

“It can accordingly be pervasive and can host an enormous amount of extractable gas.

“A number of fronts on which we’ve made breakthroughs are validating a mechanical earth model…it’s the cornerstone of us achieving the R and D (research and development) tax credit, whereby the Federal government is generously paying for half the cost of our well.”

News-flow from Daydream 2 had bolstered expectations for the region, Mr Young said.

“We took cuttings from coals at 3700 metres and deeper – that’s never been done before,” he said.

“We proved that the gas content in those coals was vastly higher than what we or anybody else had thought.

“We also encountered a free-flowing reservoir that flowed without stimulation – again, never achieved before in the Taroom Trough, and up to 4200 metres in depth, which normally the overburdened pressure would prevent free flow at those depths.”

He added that Elixir was close to declaring commerciality for the project, with Economic Modelling showing a breakeven flowrate of approximately 2.5 MMCFPD (million cubic feet per day).

Elixir has been trading at 14.5 cents.

See Neil Young’s interview with HotCopper’s Sonia Madigan at the conference.

But this would require a streamlined and responsible approach which was reflected in the policies being brought online by his government, with these representing the ‘biggest reforms since the EPA (Environmental Protection Authority) was brought in the early seventies’.

Speaking to the RIU Essential Energy conference in Perth on Wednesday, Mr Whitby said one of the key changes was the introduction of parallel approvals – meaning that companies could tick off approvals from other regulators while the EPA was conducting its environmental assessment of a project.

“In other words, we’re not going to have every government agency sit on their hands in terms of their licensing or approvals requirements while the EPA makes a decision – because that could take a couple of years,” he said.

“You go get your approvals from a range of agencies while the EPA considers the assessment, and when they make a decision, you’re right to go.”

This – he added – was a needed response to the process of transition, which would need consideration of a range of energy projects.

“Our former approvals process could not facilitate investment at the speed required to build the transmission, distribution and generation needed by 2050,” Mr Whitby said.

“It’s not just those very clearly green energy projects: the green energy transition requires all sorts of projects – such as the mining of critical minerals.”

An additional change would be the removal of different parties’ right to appeal in cases where the regulator decided not to undertake an assessment.

“A lot of people have suggested the EPA needs to be independent – I’m one of them – and as an independent organisation, it should have the right decide whether to assess a project or not,” Mr Whitby said.

“At the moment…the EPA can consider a project to be lacking in environmental consequences that require its investigation, but there are people who can appeal against that and say, ‘no EPA, you’ve got it wrong’.

“If you support an independent EPA, you must support its ability to decide what it needs to assess or not. There are other public appeal opportunities, but the EPA needs to be able to get on and decide, and have confidence in the organisation that once it makes a decision to not assess, we trust its judgement.”

Another change highlighted by the minister was the expansion of the EPA’s board from 5 to 9 members, with the government aiming to ensure it had a solid breadth of experience, drawing people from different industries and backgrounds.

The agency would also be required to make sure its priorities aligned with the public interest through a ‘statement of expectations’, one of which was a dedication to the green transition.

“These sensible reforms retain all of our state’s high standards in environmental protection for which we are world famous, while streamlining processes to be more efficient and responsible,” Mr Whitby said.

Before diving into the opportunities, it’s important to understand the relationship between the US and Australian energy sectors. Historically, they’ve been closely correlated, but that connection began to break in 2020.

Since then, the US energy sector has reached new all-time highs, while Australia’s energy sector remains nearly 60 per cent below its all-time high. However, with the US reaffirming its commitment to fossil fuels, and Australia’s tendency to follow the lead of its ‘big brother’, opportunities may be emerging for Australia’s largest energy players. Let’s take a closer look at three oil and gas companies worth watching.

Woodside Energy (WDS): As Australia’s largest independent oil and gas producer, Woodside is well-positioned to benefit from growing demand. The stock has dropped more than 40 per cent since November 2022, creating an intriguing opportunity for a potential rebound. Keep an eye on the $19 to $22 range, given this level has provided strong support back in 2020 and 2021.

Santos (STO): With a global diversified portfolio, including activity in the US, the renewed confidence in fossil fuels bodes well for the future of this company. Though the stock has been relatively flat post-COVID, it’s currently trading at a 60 per cent discount to its all-time high. A move above $8 would be a strong signal for further upside, and a rise past $9 could push the stock toward $13 in the medium to long term.

Viva Energy (VEA): As one of Australia’s largest downstream energy companies, the recent support for fracking could not have come at a better time. The stock has fallen around 30 per cent since April this year and is currently trading around $2.70. What’s exciting is that this level has provided huge support since 2022, so watch closely as a tick back upward could see the stock resume the long-term uptrend and reach $3.80 in the near term.

So, as the 2024 US election unfolds and political uncertainty fades, ASX-listed oil and gas stocks could follow the historical pattern of rallying, positioning these companies for significant gains in the coming months.

What are the best and worst-performing sectors this week?

The best-performing sectors include Real Estate, Utilities and Information Technology, all up over two per cent. The worst-performing sectors include Financials, down under half a per cent, followed by Industrials and Healthcare, up under half a per cent.

The best-performing stocks in the ASX top 100 include Mineral Resources, up over 24 per cent, followed by Pilbara Minerals, up over 19 per cent, and Paladin Energy, up over 17 per cent. The worst-performing stocks include Steadfast Group, down over 11 per cent, followed by ALS Limited and NEXTDC Limited, down over three per cent.

What’s next for the Australian stock market?

With the All Ordinaries Index up almost one per cent this week, buyers have re-established their dominance and a notable trend has emerged. Since mid-August, the All Ords has pulled back to the previous all-time high of 8,168 points, set in early April, on three separate occasions, with buyer activity increasing each time.

The first pullback to 8,168 points came in the week ending August 23, when buyers pushed the market up by over half a per cent. The index revisited the 8,168-point level last week, with buyers once again stepping in, closing the week nearly one per cent higher. After briefly touching 8,168 this week, buyers drove the All Ords up by more than one and a half percent.

It’s evident that buyers are becoming more aggressive, and the 8,168-point level has now become a key support zone. This points to one likely scenario being a push to new all-time highs, which may surprise some as September is traditionally the most bearish month of the year. Consider what this unexpected resilience suggests: if the market is moving up during its weakest month, what does that tell us about current sentiment? And how could you adjust your strategy?

For me, the answer is simple. Now is not the time for caution. It’s time to be proactive—seeking opportunities and positioning yourself to benefit from the bullish momentum. Sitting on the sidelines could mean missing optimal entry points, forcing you to chase the market and make suboptimal trading decisions.

For now, good luck and good trading.

Dale Gillham is Chief Analyst at Wealth Within and international bestselling author of How to Beat the Managed Funds by 20%. He is also the author of Accelerate Your Wealth—It’s Your Money, Your Choice, which is available in bookstores and online at www.wealthwithin.com.au

Disclaimer:While Wealth Within holds an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL:226347) the information featured in this program is general in nature and therefore should not be relied upon. Before making any investment decisions, you should consult a licensed professional who can advise whether your investment decisions are appropriate for you.

The material provided in this article is for information only and should not be treated as investment advice. Viewers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a certified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. For full disclaimer information, please click here.

Contact has entered into a court-approved Scheme Implementation Agreement (SIA) to acquire 100% of Manawa, which is one of the country’s largest renewable energy generators.

The latter company will be an important addition to Contact as it seeks to diversify its portfolio. Manawa owns and operates 25 hydro schemes around New Zealand, hasaround 500 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity – which is winter-weighted – as well as over 1,200MW of geographically diversified, secured development options in wind and solar.

The agreement is backed by major Manawa shareholders Infratil and TECT Holdings, who hold or control between them 77.9% of Manawa shares, and have said they will vote n favour of the Scheme subject to certain conditions.

As part of the agreement, eligible Manawa shareholders will receive 0.5719 shares in Contact for each Manawa share (this being equivalent to $4.79 per Manawa share), plus cash consideration of $1.16 per Manawa share.

They will then take on around 18.5% of Contact shares once the scheme is completed.

Final approval will come from the New Zealand Commerce Commission (NZCC), with this to be implemented in the first half of 2025.

Contact chief executive Mike Fuge said the acquisition was an important step.

“This acquisition will make Contact Energy a stronger, more resilient electricity company forNew Zealand with a more diversified generation portfolio across the North and SouthIslands,” he said.

“Our hydro assets are complementary, with different seasonal generation profiles, which willhelp Contact to better manage dry year risk and to sell larger volumes of fixed priceelectricity into the market than we could independently.”

Investors appeared pleased with the news, and by 12:47 AEST, Contact shares were trading at $7.57 cents – a rise of 0.13% since the market opened.

By the end of the session, the Consumer Staples sector had gained 1.4%, while Energy – on the other hand – had shed the same.

To the winners first, Lynas Rare Earths (ASX:LYC) was up 3.4% despite results showing net profit down more than 70%. However, the company’s major works program in Malaysia saw the cost of sales reduced by 17%.

Lynas Rare Earths closed at $7.02.

Gold miner in Africa, Perseus Mining (ASX:PRU), gained about 6% on higher FY24 revenue at above US$1 billion; profit after tax of US$365 million; and, a final 3.75-cent dividend.

Perseus Mining closed at $2.69.

And iron ore play, Macro Metals (ASX:M4M) finished Wednesday up 12.5% on finding high grade hematite outcrops at its Goldsworthy East project, 100 kilometres inland from Port Hedland.

Macro also reported an objection to its exploration licence lodged by BHP (ASX:BHP) had been withdrawn.

Macro Metals closed at 2.7 cents.

Meanwhile, Energy Resources of Australia (ASX:ERA) fell nearly 55% as it announced it’ll raise hundreds of million of dollars to meet rehabilitation requirements at its Ranger Mine site in the Northern Territory.

Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) has indicated it will support the raise to the tune of $760 million with shares priced at point-2 of a cent.

ERA shares closed at point-7 of a cent.

As energy stocks suffered today, another uranium company Paladin Energy (ASX:PDN) also dropped, down nearly 6% with no news to tell… closing at $10.13.

And Star Entertainment Group (ASX:SGR) shed more than 5% ahead of the staged opening of its $3.6 billion Queens Wharf Brisbane resort and casino from tomorrow.

Star Entertainment Group closed at 46 cents.

Earnings season on the ASX is coming to a close, but tonight world markets will be impacted by the release of chip giant NVIDIA’s financial results.

Mining titan BHP emphasised a better-than-expected underlying profit figure of US$13.7 billion for the 2024 fiscal year, representing an increase of 2% from FY23, while underlying EBITDA rose 4% to US$29 billion.

Higher prices in both iron ore and copper accounted for a 3% rise (or US$1.8 billion) in revenue to US$55.7 billion, with sales volumes increasing 3% for the red metal and 5% for iron ore.

However, more sobering was the company’s general reading for net profit after tax, which showed a fall by 39% to US$7.9 billion.

Additionally, BHP chair Ken MacKenzie warned that geopolitical headwinds would continue to impact the global economy and create volatility in the 2025 fiscal year.

BHP’s final dividend came in at US 74 cents a share, or a 53 per cent payout ratio.

Over in retail sector, supermarket behemoth Coles said its profit after tax had increased 8.3% to $1.13 billion in FY24, from $1.04 billion the previous year.

Earnings before interest and tax were also trending upwards, at $2.04 billion from $1.97 billion, representing an increase of 3.4%.

Coles’ final dividend was 32 cents, for a total dividend of 68 cents, this being a change from 30 cents and 66 cents respectively in FY23.

The company’s supermarket sales revenue grew by 6.2% to $39.0 billion compared to the 2023 fiscal year, and this was underpinned by customer responses to Coles’ initiatives such as the ‘Great Value, Hands Down’ seasonal value campaigns, continuity and collectibles programs and trade events such as Christmas, Easter and Mother’s Day, as well as strong growth in eCommerce and improvements in availability.

Meanwhile, in the energy sector, Woodside said its net profit after tax had risen 11% in the first half of FY24 to US$1.94 billion, from US$1.74 billion in the prior comparable period.

However, earnings (EBIT) also came in weaker, with a 15% fall to US$2.36 billion (from US$2.79 in the first half of FY23).

Woodside’s interim dividend was 69 US cents, compared to 80 cents in the first half of 2023.

The company said its production volumes were 4% lower when it came to gas, but 2% higher when it came to liquids.

The market responded positively to all three sets of results on Tuesday. At 13:28 AEST, Woodside shares had risen 4.76% to $27.64, BHP shares were up 1.93% at $41.63, and Coles shares were up 2.28% at $18.88.

Capitol told investors that its underlying NPAT (net profit after tax) for the 2024 fiscal year had increased by a quarter of a percent (25%) to $11 million compared to the previous year, while revenue had also grown for the same period, by 12% to $238 million.

In a year when Capitol had announced a proposed merger with Integral Diagnostics Limited (ASX:IDX) and opened new MRI comprehensive clinic at Sunshine Private Hospital in Victoria, the company said its final dividend for FY2024 would be declared in line with merger ratio (with this being 0.12849 of the FY2024 final dividend of IDX).

Meanwhile, Genesis Energy Ltd (ASX:GNE) posted a significant fall in profit during the 12-month period to June 2024.

In its full statutory accounts, Genesis said its net profit was down 33% to $131.1 million compared to $195.8 million in the previous fiscal year.

This was also reflected in the company’s EBITDAF (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation, fair value movements of financial instruments, investment costs, realisations and impairments), which came in at $407.2 million in FY2024, a fall of 22% from the figure of $523.5 million in FY2023.

Genesis said its ‘strategy was on track despite a challenging year’ impacted by constraints in gas supply, low hydro and wind levels, and a 7-month outage at Huntly Unit 5.

Its total dividends per share for FY2024 were 14 cps, compared to 17.6 cps in FY2023, a fall of 21%.

An annual report was also out from casino operator SkyCity Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX:SKC), who said that underlying group NPAT had fallen 7.2% TO NZ$123.2 million, reflecting lower earnings.

EBITDA was also down 8% to NZ$277.8 million, and CEO Jason Walbridge said the weaker figures overall were underpinned by cost-of-living pressures, a softer economy, and SkyCity’s requirement to respond to certain regulatory issues.

SkyCity previously announced that it would be closing gambling operations at its Auckland site for five days next month, and this was set to cost the company NZ$5 million in expected earnings for FY2025.

The decision was made as part of an agreement between management and the Secretary of Internal Affairs in order to avoid the temporary suspension of the company’s casino operator’s licence.

Underlying earnings per share were 16.2 cps for FY2024, a fall of 7.3% year on year.

Medibank Private Ltd (ASX:MPL) reported a strong suite of results today, with underlying NPAT coming in at $570.4 million for the 2024 fiscal year: a rise of 14.1% from the previous reporting period.

CEO David Koczkar said the priority for Medibank had been on keeping premiums low and providing support for customers, as reflected in a $305 million COVID give back, which brought total customer support to a record $1.46 billion during the period.

The company’s final ordinary dividend (fully franked) was 9.4 cps.

At 12:11 AEST, Medibank shares were down 1.5% at $3.88, SkyCity shares were down 2.41% at $1.42, shares in Genesis Energy had risen 0.48% to $2.08, and Capitol Health shares were 4.24% higher at 31 cents.

Positioned to become a leader in high-performance electric power conversion devices, the company’s Zero Voltage Switching (ZVS) inverter technology platform aims to address inefficiencies in conventional inverters on the market today. This offers a solution that enhances power conversion across various sectors. This article takes a deeper look into Hillcrest’s technology, its applications and the company’s strategy for commercialization and growth.

According to Bloomberg NEF, the global energy storage market almost tripled in 2023, marking the largest year-on-year gain on record. In 2024, the global energy storage sector is set to add more than 100 gigawatt-hours of capacity for the first time. As energy storage capabilities expand, the demand for power inverters is skyrocketing.

Fortune Business Insights recently reported that the power inverter market is projected to grow from US$46.57 billion in 2023 to US$209.74 billion by 2032, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.62 per cent. These projections expose the burgeoning demand for advanced power conversion technologies, a demand that Vancouver-based Hillcrest Energy Technologies is well-positioned to meet.

Hillcrest recently announced that demonstration slots for its Zero Voltage Switching (ZVS) inverter technology are fully booked for 2024, reflecting the high interest from EV manufacturers and the sectors covering various grid applications, such a utility-scale solar and wind generation as well as energy storage and EV charging.

“Over the past few months, several clients have inquired about our industry-leading ZVS technology for improving power factor correction,” Don Currie, CEO of Hillcrest Energy Technologies said in a release on this news. “We are currently in discussions with five customers who have requested demonstrations. This new prototype allows us to showcase the superior efficiency and cost-saving potential of our ZVS technology in this new application.”

Hillcrest’s inverter technology platform is a game-changer in the field of power electronics. At the heart of this platform is the ZVS inverter, a device that significantly improves efficiency in converting direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC), and vice-versa.

Traditional inverters often suffer from power losses during the switching process, but Hillcrest’s ZVS inverter minimizes these losses, achieving an impressive efficiency rate of up to 99.7 per cent. This advancement positions Hillcrest’s technology far ahead of conventional inverters available in the market.

The company produced a video explaining the technology:

The ZVS inverter operates by ensuring that voltage is reduced to zero before switching occurs, effectively eliminating the primary cause of power loss and heat generation in standard inverters. This technology can be applied across various electrification systems, including:

In regions like Australia, where vast distances and the need for robust infrastructure are significant challenges, Hillcrest’s technology can play a critical role. Australia’s total electricity consumption has grown nearly 8% over the past decade, more than France, Germany, Japan or the U.K. Achieving this will require more efficient.

technologies such as Hillcrest’s ZVS inverter to optimize power generation and distribution.

Hillcrest’s ZVS inverters offer superior electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and industry-leading efficiency of up to 99.7 per cent. These features translate into significant cost savings, estimated at up to US$2,200 per vehicle in EV applications. In stationary applications, such as grid-tied energy generation and storage, Hillcrest’s ZVS inverters promise to enhance power production and storage capabilities, contributing to substantial cost reductions. For instance, a 250MW solar farm using Hillcrest’s technology could deliver 5MW more power to the grid, generating millions of dollars in additional revenue over its lifetime.

As Hillcrest makes strident steps towards commercialization, it is also expanding its market reach through strategic partnerships. In June, the company announced a joint development agreement with Norway’s Ocean Batteries AS, an innovator in the marine electrification space. The agreement focuses on the delivery of 300kVA | 800V Hillcrest ZVS inverter prototypes, which will be designed and tested for integration into Ocean Batteries’ onshore energy storage systems.

“Marine applications demand unparalleled efficiency, uptime and safety,” Ocean Batteries’ CEO, Kent Thoresen, said in news release about this partnership. “We design our systems to consistently deliver superior uptime, performance and reliability. We make sure we understand the end user’s application and tailor-make the solution to match the needs of the individual vessel. Through our partnership with Hillcrest Energy Technologies, we are aiming to set a new benchmark in the energy storage sector, contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable future.”

Hillcrest Energy Technologies is not just a concept but a proven solution ready for commercialization. The company is in advanced discussions with original equipment manufacturers in Germany who are leaders in automotive and industrial sectors. These partnerships are crucial for implementing Hillcrest’s technology in next-generation powertrains and grid applications. One notable project is the Ocean Batteries initiative, aimed at enhancing energy storage solutions for shipyards. This collaboration will see Hillcrest’s ZVS inverter technology integrated into energy storage systems, improving efficiency and reducing costs. This project exemplifies how Hillcrest’s technology can accelerate revenue generation and pave the way for broader market adoption.

Earlier this year, Hillcrest announced the successful completion of its first in-vehicle demonstration of its ZVS traction inverter, conducted in partnership with Hercules Electric Mobility, a leading player in electric mobility solutions. The successful demonstration was the first time the company tested its technology outside the lab in a fully integrated, real-life, and uncontrolled environment. The demonstration took place in a Hercules Electric Mobility-powered E-boat on Orchard Lake, Michigan, approximately 44 kilometres north of Detroit.

Hillcrest’s power conversion technology has also garnered significant interest from utility companies worldwide, including in its home province of British Columbia. In April, the company entered into a collaboration agreement with Powertech Labs Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of BC Hydro. Under this agreement, Powertech Labs will provide testing and consulting services to assist Hillcrest in the development and validation of its ZVS inverter technology for grid-connected applications.

Leveraging their partnerships, successful demos, seasoned experts and strong industry relationships, Hillcrest has positioned itself as a key player in the clean energy technology sector. The company’s technology is proving to be versatile and applicable across multiple industries, from EVs to marine applications and grid-connected energy storage systems.

Hillcrest’s potential to revolutionize the power conversion industry is driven by a team of seasoned professionals with relevant and extensive experience as well as proven success within the industry. Michael Moscowitz, the former CEO and chairman of Panasonic North America, is a member of Hillcrest’s board of directors. The company’s advisors include industry veterans such as automotive executives Dan Coker and Dr Heinz-Georg Burghoff. Their combined industry expertise and extensive networks ensures that Hillcrest is well-positioned to capitalize on its innovative technology.

The technical team, led by Ari Berger and Harald Hengstenberger, brings unparalleled knowledge and experience in power electronics and power conversion technologies. Their ability to crack the ZVS code that has eluded others for decades is a testament to Hillcrest’s unique capabilities as a company.

“Each member of our technical team brings decades of experience and deep industry networks. It is incredible for such a young company to possess this much know-how under one roof” the company’s Chief Operating Officer, Jamie Hogue explained in an exclusive interview with The Market Online. “Then you add the commercial leaders advising us on strategy and facilitating industry introductions, and we are unstoppable. Over the past eighteen months, we’ve landed demonstrations and collaborative projects that have each taught us something new. We’ve leveraged that knowledge and now, nearly every one of the customers we are talking to is global in scale, be it automotive or grid-connected power or industrial applications. It’s very hard for a company our size to get in those doors. I think that is a success story in and of itself.”

Hillcrest Energy Technologies represents a compelling investment opportunity in the clean technology sector. With its revolutionary ZVS inverter technology, the company addresses critical inefficiencies in power conversion, offering a solution that enhances efficiency and reduces costs across various applications. Backed by a team of industry experts and a robust commercialization strategy, Hillcrest is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for efficient power conversion technologies. As the market for electrification continues to expand, Hillcrest’s innovative solutions and strategic partnerships are set to drive significant value for investors.

Join the discussion: Find out what everybody’s saying about this lithium penny stock on the Hillcrest Energy Technologies Bullboard, and check out the rest of Stockhouse’s stock forums and message boards.

This is sponsored content issued on behalf of Hillcrest Energy Technologies Ltd., please see full disclaimer here.

In its June quarterly report, Fortescue told the market its iron ore production was expected to be between 190 million and 200 million tonnes during the 2025 Financial Year, with this including between 5 and 9 million tonnes from Iron Bridge, with the direction production (C1) cost for Pilbara Hematite being set between US$18.50 and US$19.75/wmt (wet metric tonne).

During the fourth quarter of the 2024 Financial Year, the direct production cost of Pilbara Hematite was US$18.53/wmt – two percent lower compared to the previous quarter.

The company also said it had $US4.9 billion cash on hand at the end of June, plus a net debt of $US500 million.

The iron ore price forecast is significantly down on the US$108 it is trading at today.

Fortescue has been trading at $20.76 (11.30am AEST).

Second quarter results have also been well received for Newmont Corporation (ASX:NEM), which reported its attributable gold production had fallen 4% to 1,607 thousand oz during the period – compared to 1,6800 in the prior quarter – mainly due to lower production from Cerro Negro in Argentina, following the death of two workers which suspended operations on April 9.

These were resumed the following month, but Newmont also reported a suspension at Telfer in the Pilbara region of Australia mid April, due to further work needing to be completed to remediate the safe operation of the tailing’s facility there.

Newmont’s gold all in sustaining costs (AISC) for the second quarter of 2024 was set at $1,562 compared to $1,439 in the previous period, while the adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was sitting at $1,966, up from $1694 the previous period.

Newmont has been trading up 2.38% today at $73.10.

And petrol retailing giant Ampol Ltd (ASX:ALD) has been trading flat at $33.12 after revealing total fuel sales for the first half of the 2024 Financial Year were expected to fall nearly 6% (5.9%) to 13,252 ML: from 14,081 ML in the prior corresponding period.

Within this, the company reported a drop of 4.8% in convenient retail fuel sales, which were 1,819 ML in the first half of FY 2024, compared to 1,911 ML for the prior corresponding period.

Meanwhile, Australian wholesale sales volumes rose 1% to 5,677 ML in the first half of FY 2024, from 5,620 ML in the prior corresponding period; international sales volumes were down 16% to 3,927 ML in the first half of 2024 from 4,649 ML for the same period last year.

Z Energy sales volumes were also lower: at 1,829 ML in the second half of 2024 compared to 1,901 ML- a drop of 3.8%.

Ampol also said it was in a strong position in terms of earnings, with adjusted EBIT expected to finish between $500 million and $510 million for the six months to June 30, together with an operating cost profit (RCOP EBITDA) of around $735-745 million for the same period.

The company cited citing earnings growth in convenience retail and New Zealand sales – as well as solid profits from the Australian market – as being the underlying factors.

The funding was provided by the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) through its Carbon Capture Technologies Program, and it will enable Pilot to move forward with engineering and technology demonstration activities.

These demonstrations will be across three sources of carbon with the initial potential to capture 200,000 – 300,000 tonnes of carbon per annum, with this representing around 50% of the estimated volume required to support Pilot’s Cliff Head Carbon Storage Project.

Securing this funding was a collaborative effort, as Pilot worked together with partners such as KC8, Svante and CarbonCo on carbon capture, while Capture6 was involved in carbon capture and water processing, Genesis Energies supported in terms of carbon supply chain engineering, Curtin University contributed carbon supply chain R&D, and Deloitte provided grant application support.

Regional stakeholders also played a role, including Yamatji Water – a potential water supplier to the project.

One particularly important partner for Pilot in MWCEP is Capture6, whose technology will play an essential part in processing water produced by future carbon storage operations for re-use in the proposed blue ammonia production system.

Pilot’s chairman Brad Lingo said the awarding of this grant will help to push the project further down the road.

“This $6.5 million grant allows Pilot to continue to build momentum in the MWCEP following the recent declaration of storage formation and completion of the pre-FEED study,” he said.

“We are grateful for the broad support our application received from a range of parties.

“We look forward to working with the DCCEEW and Department of Industry, Science andResources on the grant and commencing work on this important carbon removal initiative.”

At 12:43 AEDT, Pilot’s shares were trading at 1.9 cents, a rise of 5.5% since the market opened.

The company – through its subsidiary SCEE Electrical – will now add the Collie Battery Energy Storage System 330kV Switchyard Package to its original deal with Synergy, which had instead been built around the 500 MW/2000 MWh Collie Battery Energy Storage System.

This variation to the contract will now bring its total value to SCEE up to $210 million, with the works connected to this variation planned for completion in the second quarter of 2025.

As part of the Collie Battery Energy Storage System 330kV Switchyard Package, SCEE Electrical will be undertaking civil and structural works, 330kV overhead line gantries, installation, testing and commissioning support of 330kV/33kV transformers, circuit breakers, surge arrestors, current/voltage transformers, a 330kV control room and a communications and SCADA system, all tying into the Western Power network.

SCEE’s initial arrangement with state-owned company Synergy – which was announced on May 6 – was the former’s largest contract to date, and SCEE managing director Graeme Dunn said he was pleased this was being boosted again.

“I am very pleased that Synergy has awarded us this further package of works at what will eventually be one of the largest battery energy storage systems in Australia,” he said.

“This brings the total value of work for us on this project to approximately $210m already, and I note there are many further battery projects to come here in Western Australia and in the rest of the country to support Australia reaching its net zero emissions targets.”

SCEE has been trading at $1.69

The company will conduct a placement directed towards sophisticated and professionalinvestors, and follow this up with a non-renounceable entitlement offer to eligible shareholders.

Binding commitments of $500,000 have already been received for the former, through an institutional placement of 41,666,667 new fully paid shares which will be issued at A$0.012, with ordinary shareholders also given the opportunity to apply for ordinary shares at the same price, in order to raise another A$1 million.

According to the entitlement offer, one ordinary share will be offered for every three shares held by eligible shareholders at the same price, with the goal of raising up to A$1,011,751, with the closing date for acceptances under this offer being set for July 26.

The offered share price represents a 19 percent discount to the five-day weighted average trading price of approximately $0.015 reported on the June 7, 2024, as well as a13 percent discount to the last closing price of approximately $0.014 on the same date.

The capital raise will go towards Whitebark’s progression of assets EPG2037 and EPG 2040, located in southeast and southwest Queensland respectively, with these representing the geothermal energy sector which has been the company’s focus since the beginning of 2024, as part of a strategic review.

In particular, Whitebark is aiming for early commerciallity of hydrogen production in both assets, while also progressing development at Warro – another geothermal asset in WA’s Perth Basin.

Part of the strategic review also involved reassessment of Whitebark’s Canadian asset, Wizard Lake, with the company also announcing today that its subsidiary Rex Energy had signed a purchase and sales agreement through which Conflux Energy Corp would assume a 90 percent interest in the operations there.

According to the transaction, Conflux would also take on all outstanding contingent liabilities in Rex Energy, totalling CAD $1.44 million, and would also give Whitebark a ‘free carry’ on Rex’s 10 percent working interest for the initial capital required to bring the field back into full production.

The Wizard Lake oil field- located in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin – has been offline since January due to extreme weather conditions and operational issues.

At 13:44 AEST, Whitebark was trading at one cent, a fall of 28.57 percent since the market opened.

ECM Lithium AT GmbH is a subsidiary of Critical Metals Corp, a company in which European Lithium holds a majority (83.03 percent) of shares, with this arrangement reflecting Critical Metals’ plans to become a key supplier of lithium-ion batteries as part of a European supply chain.

Wolfsberg – located 270 kilometres south of Vienna – is a project in development, comprising 22 original and 32 overlapping exploration licences and a mining licence over 11 mining areas issued by the Austrian government.

It holds a measured, indicated and inferred mineral resource estimate (MRE) of 10.98 million tonnes at 1 percent lithium oxide.

Chairman of European Lithium Tony Sage said BMW’s interest in obtaining material from the project pointed to its viability within the region’s market for lithium.

“This is a huge milestone for the Wolfsberg project which now paves the way for the next financing steps,” he said.

European Lithium has been trading at 5.0 cents.

While the Real Estate sector has taken the lead, the Energy sector spurred early gains, driven by Strike Energy (ASX:STX), which is up more than 6 per cent on its update to net gas pay, thanks to gas intersections at its Walyering-7 well.

And $1.64 billion market cap uranium explorer, Deep Yellow (ASX:DYL) will join the ASX200 tomorrow, replacing Silver Lake Resources (ASX:SLR) which is being acquired by Australian Gold producer, RED 5 (ASX:RED).

Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting has acquired an additional A$20.4 million stake in Vulcan Energy Resources (ASX:VUL), bringing its holding to 7.5% and making it Vulcan’s second-largest shareholder.

This investment coincides with an additional $40.8 million investment from international engineering giant CIMIC and $4 million from the Victor Smorgon Group as part of a Vulcan-led private placement priced at $4.08 cents a share. CIMIC holds 6% of the company.

The funds raised will cover early-stage engineering work, some of which will be done by CIMIC.

VUL has been trading up nearly 3.4 per cent to around $4.90.

Infini Resources (ASX: I88) has been up about 5.5%, on news its acquired the Bellah Bore East uranium deposit in WA from Mine Operations Exchange Pty Ltd.

The project has an inferred resource under the 2004 JORC code, of 350,000 tonnes at 210 parts per million. It lies alongside the Yeelirrie North uranium tenement already held by Infini. The deal is $47,500 plus a one per cent smelter royalty.

I88 has been trading at 19 cents.

And, kava drinks company, The Calmer Co (ASX:CCO) has launched a $2 million capital raise so it can boost its milling, drying, sieving, packaging and labelling capabilities at the Company’s Navua processing facility in Fiji.

CCO has been trading at 0.6 cents.

Recce Pharmaceuticals (ASX:RCE) will present at a key military conference in Florida in August regarding its flagship R327 anti-infective’s development for treating burn wounds and sepsis. 

A research abstract and poster presentation will be done by the company’s executive chair Dr John Prendergast and chief medical advisor Alan Dunton.

Earlier this year, the company confirmed it had applied for a US defence research grant. 

Recce has been trading just below 60 cents. 

And Lithium Energy (ASX:LEL) has added nearly 15 per cent this morning on the conditional sale of its 90% stake in the Solaroz Lithium Brine Project in Argentina to CNGR Netherlands New Energy Technology for $97 million (US$63 million) cash.

CNGR Netherlands is a subsidiary of a Chinese listed company that produces precursors cathode active materials used in batteries.

LEL has been trading around 46.5 cents.