Core Lithium has received mining approval from the Northern Territory Government for the BP33 underground mine — the second proposed mine at the Finniss Lithium Operation.
BP33 is located 33 kilometres west of Berry Springs and 5 kilometres from the Grants open pit; ore collected at BP33 will be processed at the adjacent Grants Lithium Project.
The BP33 project will employ 60 workers during construction and around 150 workers during operation.
The State Government has examined and approved the Mining Management Plan, and permission has been given in accordance with the criteria of the Mining Management Act 2001.
The Mining Management Act approval is the final step in the mining approvals process after the Minister for Environment granted the Environmental Approval on the advice of the NT Environment Protection Authority.
Core Lithium reached a significant milestone last year with the opening of its Finniss Lithium mine, the first new mine to begin operations in the State in over a decade, with the first exports of a Direct Shipping Ore product from Core Lithium’s Finniss Lithium Project shipping earlier this year.
According to the State Government, the Finniss Lithium Project is generating attention, investment, and expansion in the State’s rapidly expanding critical minerals industry.
“The Territory is becoming a major player in the critical minerals supply chain and we have exciting opportunities for the Territory to become a leading supplier of the critical minerals needed for the renewable energy transition in Australia and the world,” Minister for Mining and Industry Nicole Manison said.
Minister Manison stated that Core Lithium has already proved its capacity to produce and export critical minerals on time, and the currently planned mine will be no different.
The overall value of local spending on the Finniss Lithium project, which employs around 300 people, is $120 million, proving the Top End and the State’s economic advantages.
Other mine approvals in the last three years include Arafura Rare Earths‘ Nolans Project, Core Lithium’s Finniss Project, Nathan River Resources’ Nathan River Project, McArthur River Mine’s Overburden Management Project, KGL’s Jervois Mining project, Vista Gold’s Mt Todd Gold Mine, and TM Gold’s Spring Hill Mine project.
The Government has established a goal of building a $40 billion economy by 2030 to generate more employment, and natural resources will play an important part in meeting this aim.
“This is big news for the Northern Territory economy, local suppliers and local jobs, as we move towards a $40 billion economy by 2030,” Minister Manison said.
Member for Daly commented, ”I welcome today’s announcement and it shows the Northern Territory Labor Government is getting on with the job of delivering to make the Territory a world-class hub for resources and critical minerals.”
