Page 59 - pd299-Nov21-mag-web_neat
P. 59
ploring and there are 6-7 cent months, Scrimgeour is well aware of
companies active.” the need to increase the NT’s critical miner-
Manison said the inter- als prospectivity.
est from larger compa- “Within the new initiatives, we are having
nies had encouraged the a closer look at promoting the NT’s poten-
Government to pursue tial for critical minerals,” he said.
further pre-competitive Manison welcomed Core’s decision, say-
programmes and ensure ing it could be the first step in a new critical
explorers can get on the minerals industry in the Territory.
ground quickly. “[Finniss] will be the first lithium mine in
“We see this unprec- Australia outside of Western Australia. With
edented level of interest lithium exploration still at a relatively early
from the majors in early- stage in the Territory, we are confident that
stage exploration as a further lithium resources can be discovered
vote of confidence in the and developed,” she said.
Territory’s potential for “As part of the expanded Resourcing the
new large-scale mineral Territory programme, we will have dedicat-
discoveries,” she said. ed programmes to identify the Territory’s
“The Territory Govern- potential for critical minerals and promote
ment has also been work- these opportunities to explorers and inves-
ing with the exploration tors.”
and broader mining sector WA and Queensland governments have
to streamline approvals. already moved to establish downstream
This enables companies processing industries in their states and
to get projects under way the Federal Government has established a
sooner when they begin Critical Minerals Facilitation Office to inves-
work in the Territory. Re- tigate ways Australia can participate in the
quirements for mine man- battery and critical minerals supply chain
agement plans have been beyond extraction only.
streamlined which reduc- Manison said the NT Government had
es the time for companies similar ambitions.
to prepare and for govern- “In the longer term, we hope to see the
ment to assess.” establishment of downstream processing
Early-stage explora- of lithium hydroxide to position the Territory
tion is encouraging but as a significant player in the battery miner-
ultimately the success of als supply chain,” she said.
government policies will “There are already plans for significant
be judged by success- downstream processing of critical minerals
ful project development. to advanced chemicals in the Northern Ter-
Manison said the Govern- ritory, with Arafura Resources planning to
The Territory’s critical minerals ment streamlining work would extend to produce rare earth oxide products at its No-
potential is beginning to be development regulations. lans site, and TNG also planning process-
uncovered with Core, Arafura “The Territory Government has been ing at its Mount Peake vanadium-titanium
Resources and TNG leading working to establish a high-level Mineral project. The Territory Government is com-
“ The Territory identifying, assessing and recommending ommendations of the Territory Economic
the way for a new generation of
mitted to seeking further downstream min-
Development Taskforce to accelerate min-
ing development in the Territory,” she said.
eral processing in the Territory.
project developers
“The Taskforce will play a leading role in
“As part of the implementation of the rec-
Reconstruction Commission, a process is
policy, strategy and regulatory options to
Government
underway to assess the feasibility of min-
accelerate significant private investment in
eral processing opportunities in the NT and
mineral projects to facilitate growth of the
has also been working
with the exploration
“The Mineral Development Taskforce
play in devising innovative approaches and
will also be responsible for considering the
options to accelerate private investment
and broader mining mining sector. It will have a critical role to take them to market.
which historically has been a significant Territory’s competitiveness and investment
sector to streamline challenge and barrier to realisation of the environment for downstream value-adding
approvals. This mineral opportunities. to minerals and looking for opportunities
“The Territory Government has also ex- to accelerate private investment. Down-
enables companies to panded the Resourcing the Territory initia- stream processing of minerals is a central
get projects underway tive to allow government to co-fund drilling activity for proposed development of the
near known deposits to assist the industry Middle Arm Sustainable Development Pre-
sooner when they to bring forward the identification of addi- cinct.”
tional resources to support near-term min-
begin work in the – Dominic Piper
ing development.”
Territory. While copper has been the focus in re-
aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT NOVeMBeR 2021 Page 59
