Tivan Limited secures Japanese Government as joint venture partner

A Northern Territory company has secured Japanese Government investment to launch a new mine. Read which one.

The Northern Territory’s only Australian Stock Exchange listed company has announced a stunning new deal with the Japanese Government to build on earlier agreements with the Japanese-owned Sumitomo Corporation.

Tivan Limited announced Monday morning the state-operated Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC), a lead agency of the Japanese Government, had been secured as a strategic equity partner in its Speewah Fluorite Project in WA’s East Kimberley.

The agreement involves JOGMEC becoming a strategic equity partner in Speewah through its acquisition of a 49 per cent stake in Japan Fluorite Project, a Sumitomo subsidiary.

The agreement provides that JFC can invest up to $61 million to secure 22.5 per cent of the Speewah Fluorite project.

Tivan executive chairman Grant Wilson said JOGMEC’s involvement was a landmark achievement for Tivan.

The only precedent in the Australian critical minerals sector is JOGMEC’s equity investment in Lynas’ rare earths project at Mount Weld in Western Australia in 2011.

Grant Wilson, executive chair of Tivan.

JOGMEC’s investment reflects the importance the Japanese Government subscribes to securing the supply of fluorite for Japan and across Asia.

High grade fluorite is used across key strategic industries, including semiconductors, EV batteries, aluminium fluxing, refrigerant and uranium enrichment.

Doubling down on its success, Tivan also announced a second project collaboration with Sumitomo Corporation, for the Sandover Fluorite Project north-east of Alice Springs.

Tivan acquired the high-grade fluorite project in November 2024 and Mr Wilson, who grew up in Alice Springs, is eager to develop in Central Australia.

“The prospect of building an important project in central Australia has been a key motivation since the start of Tivan,” he said.

“Today we have taken a major step forward.”

The announcement follows the signing in May of an incorporated joint venture between Tivan and Sumitomo around the Speewah development.

“We are very pleased to have formally established our joint venture with Sumitomo Corporation for the Speewah Fluorite Project,” he said.

“The Board of Tivan extends thanks to all involved for the hard work behind the scenes to reach this point.

“We are greatly honoured to have secured the involvement of JOGMEC in our joint venture. “We look forward to ongoing collaboration with their technical team in Tokyo. The pathway we have created to Final Investment Decision is being funded by contributions from Tivan and Sumitomo Corporation, and the governments of Australia and Japan.

“This model of private-public risk sharing is optimal in its design for the Speewah Fluorite Project and reflects the enduring strength of the bilateral relationship between Australia and Japan.”

Tivan and Sumitomo Corporation have also inked a memorandum of understanding for the Sandover project near Alice Springs.

Under the MoU for Sandover, the parties will engage in good faith discussions on the collaborative development, financing and operation of the project, to be formalised through negotiation of commercial agreements following the a pre-feasibility study.

Fluorite was added to Australia’s critical minerals list in December 2023.

Sumitomo Corporation is a leading Japanese trading house and Fortune Global 500 company with diversified global business interests including mineral resources and industrial chemicals.

A final investment decision for the Speewah project is expected in quarter-three, 2026.

Originally published as Tivan Limited secures Japanese Government as joint venture partner