Core Lithium’s Finniss project opens BP33 mine near Darwin

A flagship mine for Core Logic’s Finniss project has officially opened, being billed as a major step forward for local jobs, investment, and global decarbonisation.

Northern Australia Civil Managing Director Jimmy Riggall and Mining Minister Nicole Manison at the official opening of the Core Lithium Finniss Lithium Project BP33 Underground Mine near Darwin. Picture: Fia Walsh

Core Lithium has launched its second mine at the Cox Peninsula site about 30km west of Berry Springs, promising local jobs and positioning itself as a cornerstone of the Territory’s critical minerals industry.

Mining Minister Nicole Manison welcomed the BP33 mine – the flagship of Core Lithium’s Finniss project – as part of “a new era” of critical mineral demand in the NT.

“The world needs critical minerals, and the one thing that our trade partners are telling me from overseas is that they want lithium,” she said at an official opening ceremony on Thursday.

“We know that Australian companies want lithium as well, so we can all work together to produce the products that we need in the world to combat climate change, and to decarbonise our economies.”

Mining Minister Nicole Manison said the Finniss project heralded “a new era” for the Territory’s critical mineral industry. Picture: Fia Walsh

Lithium is a key component of batteries used in green technology such as electric vehicles and renewable energy storage.

Along with delivering hundreds-of-millions of dollars in lithium exports, the BP33 mine is expected to employ 60 people during construction and about 150 people during operations – with its location just an hour from Darwin allowing drive-in drive-out workers.

Local company Northern Australia Civil were awarded a $45m early works contract to excavate and construct a covered box cut which will be the entrance to the mine.

“It’s a really good opportunity for local people, it’s close to home, they get to go home every night,” NAC Managing Director Jimmy Riggall said.

“It’s something really to be proud of, we’re proud to be a part of it and proud to be on the journey with Core Lithium for the second lithium mine in the Northern Territory.”

Once the entrance to BP33 is in place – estimated to be within six months’ time – works will begin drill as deep as 800m into the earth.

Core Lithium said they were “thrilled” to be launching the mine, which has had a rapid turnaround since its approval in May this year.

Mining Mining Minister Nicole Manison is shown the BP33 plans by Northern Australia Civil Managing Director Jimmy Riggall, Robert Wilson OAM, and Core Lithium Executive General Manager, Sustainability Melissa Winks. Picture: Fia Walsh

“BP33 will effectively be the cornerstone of our Finniss operation,” executive general manager of sustainability Melissa Winks said.

“We’ll be working underground to maximise and optimise the resource.

“We’ve done this in a relatively short time frame … it’s really been a collective effort.”

BP33 sits 5km south of Core Lithium’s first Territory site, Grants mine, and three other sites have been earmarked for future exploration.

The lithium reserves are expected to last 12 years, but Core Lithium was optimistic that lifespan could be extended if new deposits were discovered.