The 2014 Australasian Oil and Gas Exhibition and Conference (AOG) will feature a new zone: the Non-destructive Testing and Condition Monitoring Zone, which is sponsored by the Australian Institute of Non-destructive Testing (AINDT). [ + ]

The critical shortage of skills in the oil and gas industry will need to be filled by foreign workers unless the government and education providers develop a national strategy to deal with the shortage, the AWPA has claimed. [ + ]

AGL has been fined $1500 and issued with an official caution for exceeding oxides of nitrogen (NO_x) concentration limits on two occasions in 2013. [ + ]

RSTechED is returning to Australia and New Zealand in 2014. Now in its 14th year, the event brings together a diverse range of professionals, including control engineers, manufacturing IT, and plant, operations and maintenance managers. [ + ]

APM Automation Solutions, a leading developer of solids volume and level measurement instrumentation, has been acquired by Emerson and will become part of the Emerson Process Management business. [ + ]

Yokogawa Australia has received certification in the occupational health and safety management system standard, the OHSAS 18001:2007, which is likely to become a new international standard. [ + ]

The approval of four mining and related infrastructure projects in Queensland shows that the mining boom is far from over, according to the Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA). [ + ]

Roy Hill Iron Ore has engaged Schneider Electric to provide a comprehensive demand chain planning and scheduling (DCPS) system for its West Australian iron ore project. [ + ]

AMMA is hosting the Connecting Women Jobseeker Forum in Brisbane to attract more women to the mining industry. More than 150 women will have the opportunity to engage directly with employers and enrol in fully funded training at the forum. [ + ]

Coopers Brewery officially opened its second bottling line on Friday, 6 December in a ceremony held at its Regency Park brewery in Adelaide. [ + ]

New alarm suite helps industrial plant operators identify and address most important automation alarms. [ + ]

Over the past three years Maric has recorded a 32% increase in exports, which now account for 40% of total sales, and overall turnover has surged 11% in the first four months of 2013-14. [ + ]

Australia's first Professional Process Safety Engineers have been announced at the Hazards Australasia conference in Perth. [ + ]

Attitudes towards process safety need a mindset and culture change, from the boardroom down, according to Judith Hackitt, president of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE). [ + ]

Heat transfer specialist HRS Heat Exchangers has announced it will open a new office in Australia in the new year. The Melbourne office will be headed by Chris Little, an experienced mechanical engineer with expertise in HRS' larger systems. [ + ]