New manganese exploration licence granted for part of NT’s Winchelsea Island

A NEW manganese exploration licence for Winchelsea Island has been granted hot on the heels of the historic awarding of the first lithium minerals lease in the NT

Giant trucks at the BHP Billiton/ GEMCO Groote Eylandt Manganese mine.

HOT on the heels of Tuesday’s historic awarding of the first lithium minerals lease by the Gunner Government in the Northern Territory, is the granting of a new manganese exploration licence covering part of Winchelsea Island.

The exploration licence has been given to Winchelsea Mining Pty Ltd – a joint venture between the Anindilyakwa Advancement Aboriginal Corporation (AAAC) and AUS China International Mining, with AAAC the majority partner.

The unique joint venture came together following the successful trade mission from Chief Minister Michael Gunner and the Anindilyakwa Land Council to Rizhao, Shandong, in November 2016.

• HISTORIC mineral lease to spark new NT industry

AAAC is made up of the two traditional owner clans of Winchelsea, and benefits from this project will be shared with all 14 Anindilyakwa clans.

Acting Primary Industry and Resources Minister Dale Wakefield said the exploration licence enabled the joint venture to explore part of Winchelsea Island.

“Should an economic resource be located, an application will then be made for a mineral lease,” she said.

“Last year the Territory Government signed the Groote Archipelago Local Decision Making Agreement with the Anindilyakwa Land Council (ALC).

“This binding agreement outlines Anindilyakwa priorities and time frames for transition to local control in the areas of housing, education, health, local government, economic development, law and justice and environmental sustainability.

“This exploration licence is great news for Anindilyakwa and great news for the Territory. It’s a great example of our Asian engagement plan at work and how working together in partnership with our Asian neighbours can deliver results for Territorians.

“Supporting the development of mineral resources in a sustainable manner will maximise economic benefits for local communities.”

The NT is the world leader in the production of manganese with more than 100 million tonnes of manganese ore and concentrate produced to date.

The Groote Eylandt deposit is deemed one of the world’s largest and highest grade manganese mines.

If exploration locates an economical resource, resulting in a subsequent mineral lease, a new mine would result in direct jobs for Territorians, and positive flow-on effects for Territory businesses by providing opportunities for new contracts and new tenders.

Ms Wakefield said the Gunner Government’s granting of a mineral lease for the Core lithium mine was more reason to be excited about a minerals and resource led recovery for the NT. The Core lithium mine has the capacity to create up to 150 jobs.

The project, located about 36km from Berry Springs and 80km from Darwin by road, is a vital ingredient in lithium-ion battery technology, used in electric vehicles and energy storage, and the present boom in demand for the resource is expected to continue.

No chemicals are required to turn lithium ore into concentrate, which will be processed at the site then shipped by road to Darwin Port for export.

“If it successfully goes through the rest of the approvals process, this mine could not only provide direct jobs for Territorians on site, but also flow-on effects for Territory businesses through contracts and tenders,” Ms Wakefield said.