Critical minerals company Tivan targets 2027 fluorite production
A Western Australian fluorite project could underpin development of an innovative project planned for Middle Arm. Read what it is.
Northern Territory
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The long, border-hopping road to green batteries in the Northern Territory took another step this week with the release of Tivan’s Speewah project Pre-Feasibility Study.
Tivan wants to develop vanadium redox flow batteries at Darwin’s proposed Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct.
To get there, Tivan is leading with its Fluorite project, aiming to achieve free cash flow and establish key infrastructure at Speewah, which also hosts the world’s largest Vanadium Titanomagnetite deposit.
The project will supply commercial grade Fluorspar to Asian markets, a critical feedstock to semiconductor and electric vehicle battery manufacturing, establishing a new Australian export commodity.
Critically for the Territory, the Vanadium is proposed to feed the Middle Arm Development Precinct for manufacture of vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB), which have a 20 year lifespan and are suitable for large-scale integration with the Territory’s solar and gas resources.
Fluorite is a new critical mineral for Australia, having only been added to the Critical Minerals List in December.
Tivan is targeting first commercial production in Q1 2027, in parallel with a five-phase resource expansion plan.
When completed, mining and processing operations would take place onsite at Speewah, about 100km south of Wyndham in the East Kimberley, exporting from Port of Wyndham.
Up to 300 people could be employed during mine and processing plant construction and up to 150 during the site’s preliminary 10.6-year plus operational life.
In April, Tivan released a Mineral Resource estimate report in accordance with the Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC), which established Speewah as Australia’s only compliant Fluorite resource, with 37.3 million tonnes (CaF2), including a high-grade component of 8.6 million tonnes (CaF2).
The PFS said size, grade, depth, mineralogy and location put Speewah among the top tier of Fluorite resources worldwide.
Buttressed by the Critical Minerals Production Tax Incentive, the PFS said “low break-even costs are consistent with Speewah’s attributes as a world class Fluorite resource. Resource expansion is the principal pathway to capture the full potential of the project”.
Negotiations between Tivan and strategic partner Sumitomo Corporation to develop and finance the project as a joint venture continue, with “both parties … using all reasonable endeavours to conclude negotiations promptly, and not later than end 2024.”
If concluded, Sumitomo will be sole distributor and agent to market Speewah’s
commercial grade Fluorspar product in Asia, with prescribed tonnage reserved for Japanese customers.
Capital expenditure is a “low” $236m, and the technical risk is also low.
“These characteristics are supportive of project finance and government facilitation.”
Commenting on the PFS, Tivan executive chairman Grant Wilson said the Speewah Fluorite Project “is one of the most important resource projects in Australia”.
“We have a fantastic opportunity to strengthen the resilience and diversity of key supply chains in Asia, including for semiconductors and electric vehicle batteries, with our strategic alliance partner, Sumitomo Corporation,” Mr Wilson said.
Days after the PFS release, Tivan announced two new appointments to its Darwin office including another high-profile departure from Fortescue Future Industries.
Dr Ellin Lede will join Tivan as head of Northern Australia.
Formerly Northern Australian office lead with Fortescue Future Industries’ Office of Northern Australia, Dr Lede also served as policy director and adviser to former Chief Minister Michael Gunner.
Her focus will be on advancing Tivan’s project priorities including Middle Arm, the Sandover Project in Central Australia and Speewah.
A new senior geologist, Michael Fuss has been appointed to work with Stephen Walsh to establish critical mass for Tivan’s geology capabilities in Darwin, ahead of drilling Speewah and the Sandover.
Michael had previous mine site experience at Tanami for Newmont’s Granites mine and MIM for Glencore.
Last September former deputy Reserve Bank governor Guy Debelle, previously a director of FFI, was appointed to Tivan’s Board.
The company described Darwin “as foundational to Tivan’s strategic objectives, as well as to Tivan’s corporate identity.
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Originally published as Critical minerals company Tivan targets 2027 fluorite production
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