Tivan-CLC ink deal to access the Sandover for copper prospecting
A Territory company has inked a deal to begin copper exploration in Central Australia. Read what it means.
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Fluorite and battery hopeful Tivan will begin copper and lithium exploration at its Sandover project’s Dneiper prospect in December after securing agreements with the Central Land Council.
The Darwin-headquartered company announced on Thursday it had secured a mineral exploration deed with CLC at Dneiper on behalf of traditional owners and Native Title holders.
Located about 100km north of Alice Springs, Tivan’s Sandover project covers about 8000km with 14 tenements including 10 approved exploration licenses.
In a statement to the ASX on Thursday, Tivan said the mineral exploration deed sets out how the company will conduct exploration activities at Dneiper to reflect the rights and interests of Native Title Holders, including at cultural heritage and sacred sites.
The deed also provided for employment, training and business opportunities for Native Title holders at Dneiper as well as “a mechanism for economic participation” during the exploration phase.
Also on Thursday, Tivan announced it had acquired a “highly prospective” high-grade fluorite prospect in the Sandover which it said would complement its existing Speewah fluorite resource in WA’s Kimberley.
Tivan paid Investigator Resources Limited almost $1.5m for the prospect, with Tivan’s executive chairman Grant Wilson taking to social media to talk-up the Sandover’s potential for fluorite extraction.
“We looked everywhere for high-grade fluorite and found it in our own backyard,” he tweeted. “Tivan Limited will be the sole supplier from Australia potentially for the next 50 years. A generational transaction and fantastic for the Territory and Japan.”
In June, Tivan and Japanese resources servicing company Sumitomo Corporation formed a strategic alliance around the provision of fluorite from the Speewah project.
Tivan wants to become the first Australian company to produce commercial grade fluorspar products, which are widely used in manufacturing.
Mr Wilson hopes to use earnings from fluorite sales, which was recently added to the Australian Government’s critical minerals list, to in-part bankroll the company’s plans to develop a battery manufacturing plant at Middle Arm sustainable development precinct.
The junior player has several irons in the Sandover fire, with high-grade lead and silver prospects also identified at Aileron.
“Tivan is delighted to have secured its first formal agreement with the Central Land Council, on behalf of the traditional owners and Native Title Holders, at Sandover,” Mr Wilson said.
“The agreement carries additional signal value following our announcement earlier today of the acquisition of the Sandover fluorite project. Many of the traditional owners that we have engaged with throughout this year will be involved as we seek a similar agreement for our new project, considerably reducing the time frames involved.
“We will keep shareholders advised as the eagerly awaited commencement of ground-disturbing works at the Sandover Project commences”.
Tivan will hold its annual general meeting in Melbourne next week.
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