Tivan to develop critical minerals plant at NT’s Middle Arm precinct

Less than two years since abandoning plans to build a processing plant at Middle Arm, Tivan has announced it wants to return. But it may not be smooth sailing.

Rebranded start-up Tivan has announced a shock return to Middle Arm less than 18 months after abandoning the site.

Formerly trading as TNG, the critical miner rebranded as Tivan in January after a comprehensive board shake-up had Grant Wilson appointed executive chairman with a promise to “reset, review and renew” the company.

Holders of the multibillion-dollar Mount Peake critical minerals prospect about 230km north of Alice Springs, TNG had planned to build an $800m Tivan processing facility at Middle Arm on land provided by the NT government.

The Environment Protection Authority threw a spanner in the project’s works in 2021 when it approved the project before requesting TNG provide additional environmental details, including the precessing plant’s potential impact on Darwin’s air quality.

In 2021, the company announced it would scrap the Middle Arm plant and build it at Mt Peake.

The Mount Peake prospect back in 2010.

Tuesday’s announcement is a significant reversal and reflects the new board’s position to completely overhaul the Mount Peake project.

The company said it made the decision based on the economic benefits Middle Arm would deliver, including its proximity to civil infrastructure and Asian export and investment markets.

Other factors included significant key government investment, access to workforce and opportunities to leverage integrated and common use infrastructure including large-scale renewable energy sources.

Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics minister Eva Lawler said Tivan would have to “comply with the conditions” before approvals would be given to build at Middle Arm.

Mr Wilson said Tivan would open an office in Darwin next month to provide “an on-the-ground presence in the local community within reach of government”.

He said the decision to develop the processing plant at Middle Arm reflected a “shared vision of sustainable development in the Territory”.

“The company will open an office in Darwin in March 2023 to provide Tivan with an important on-the-ground presence in the local community within reach of government, regulatory agencies and other stakeholders,” he said.

“Tivan has a key role to play in diversifying the footprint of the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct, in contributing meaningfully to the local economy and in delivering a forward-facing project of national significance.

“A presence in Darwin is essential for Tivan’s holistic and inclusive approach to stakeholder engagement and will allow the company to continue to earn and maintain a social licence to operate.”

Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Minister Eva Lawler. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

In its statement to the ASX, Tivan attributed the commonwealth’s $1.5bn commitment to develop common user infrastructure at Middle Arm to its decision to build the processing plant near Darwin.

If the multibillion-dollar project goes ahead, it could mean 1700 construction jobs and 600 permanent jobs when operating.

Ms Lawler said the NT had reserves of critical minerals the world required, and Middle Arm had attracted significant interest across industry.

“To enable Tivan to continue initial project planning and development of a proposal for government consideration, the Northern Territory government has agreed to hold a piece of land for the company within the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct,” Ms Lawler said.

“Tivan will now work on their environmental approvals, and be required to comply with the conditions established by the outcomes of the Strategic Environmental Assessment of the precinct which is currently under way.”