Tivan and Sun Cable sign renewable power deal for Middle Arm processing plant

Two Territory start-up businesses have inked a renewable power supply deal contingent on future growth. Find out how the ‘important milestone’ will benefit the Top End.

Two start-up Territory businesses have signed a letter-of-intent to provide renewable power if their respective projects go ahead.

Tivan and Sun Cable have signed a one-year non-binding agreement to consider a potential offtake agreement to deliver between 200 to 300 megawatts of renewable electricity from Sun Cable’s proposed Australia-Asia PowerLink project.

The energy will be used to power Tivan’s proposed processing facility at Middle Arm.

Tivan executive chairman Grant Wilson said the two companies and Sun Cable would try to develop a renewable energy strategy in time for construction and operation of Tivan’s processing facility.

Sun Cable chief executive Dave Griffin is excited about the power deal. Photo: Britta Campion/The Australian

Tivan is a critical minerals company with a focus on processing magnetite concentrate at Middle Arm from deposits at its Speewah project in north-west WA and the Mount Peake project in central Australia.

Currently in voluntary administration, Sun Cable is subject to a corporate battle between billionaires Andrew Forrest and Mike Cannon-Brookes for control of the project.

Mr Forrest wants to develop a massive solar farm in the NT for power generation and hydrogen production and Mr Cannon-Brookes wants to develop the solar farm to generate power to be transported via sub-sea cable to Singapore.

Administrators FTI Consulting will seek binding proposals for the project until the end of April, with commpletion anticipated by the end of May.

Tivan executive chairman Grant Wilson says his company is focused on sustainability.

Tivan executive chairman Grant Wilson said the agreement reflected the company’s commitment to “sustainability principles”.

“As the first-moving public proponent at the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct, Tivan has an important interest in how it is shaped,” Mr Wilson said.

“By partnering with Sun Cable, we are endorsing and facilitating the proposed provision of

large-scale renewable energy to the Middle Arm precinct.

“I am confident that this will enable and inspire like-minded industry proponents to pursue similar sustainable development pathways.

“Tivan and Sun Cable can put the Territory at the global forefront of critical minerals processing and the energy transition.”

Sun Cable founder and chief executive David Griffin said the letter-of-intent was an important milestone.

“The provision of 24/7 dispatchable, renewable electricity can underpin industrial processes, enabling a new wave of green industrial development,” Mr Griffin said.

“Sun Cable is delighted to be developing a relationship with Tivan and supporting their vision to ensure sustainable development of key critical mineral projects in the Northern Territory.”