Page 19 - pd301-Feb22-mag-web_Neat1

Exploration manager Jamie Day
explains the exploration strategy
to newly appointed Liontown non-
executive director Jenn Morris

Savannah general manager Bryan Watson has been integral in the restart and fostering the
culture between Panoramic employees and contractors Barminco and Primero
Ottaviano’s analysis of existing opera-
tions had highlighted the problems sur-
rounding dilution, particularly during ramp-
up.
“The issue with open pit lithium mining
is dilution; blasting creates heaving which
creates problems around grade and impuri-
ties,” he said. “Underground mining is se-
lective by nature; you just blast the stopes
and mine the pegmatite. It also helps the
economics. Instead of 30-40 haul trucks
in the open pit, we are talking 10-12 trucks
Tjiwarl elder Kado Muir and over a much shorter haul. It adds up to less
included things like gag clauses and limita- Liontown chairman Tom Goyder emissions, less people and a smaller foot-
tions on Traditional Owners to fully express sign the Kathleen Valley Native print. And, because you are straight into the
their desires. This agreement means we Title agreement high-grade material early on, you are max-
have this ability to not have a company imising value upfront.”
dictate how we use our benefits, how we The combination of strong heritage and
apply them to our community.” environmental impact credentials and lith-
The Tjiwarl Native Title group repre- ium’s role in decarbonisation should also
sents 11 families connected to an area of nificant adjustments to the mine design to see Liontown overcome another major
13,000sq km between Leinster and Wiluna. protect important heritage areas,” Goyder hurdle, the chronic skills shortage in the re-
As part of the agreement, Liontown has said. sources sector.
committed to a development strategy for The most significant change came in “Everyone talks about the employee val-
Kathleen Valley which includes land and mine design itself. After consultation, Lion- ue proposition and we have strong creden-
water management, Aboriginal heritage town dropped plans for a single open pit in tials in that regard,” Ottaviano said. “Lithium
management, cultural awareness and ac- favour of two small open pits and a larger is a future-facing commodity and we are
cess, social opportunities and develop- underground operation to avoid disrupting backing it with our company culture. We
ment, employment and contracting oppor- the Jones Creek sacred site. are not here to tell employees what we are
tunities and compensation. Muir said the Tjiwarl participated fully in going to do, we will tell them what we have
Liontown chairman Tim Goyder said the that process. already done. We’ve shown that with things
agreement sent a strong message “as to “We’ve taken an initial proposal which like the Native Title agreement.”
how resource companies can support, was going to be a massive open pit which In an age when an economic deposit is
respect and protect vital heritage and cul- would disrupt Jones Creek which is a sa- only one step in a project’s journey, Lion-
ture considerations” in resources develop- cred site and destroy a number of other town is fortunate to have defined its path
ments. sacred sites,” he said. “Infrastructure has clearly. Now, as Ottaviano says, it needs to
“We have worked very closely with their been redesigned to stay away from cul- stay on the straight and narrow.
senior negotiators and representatives tural areas and the mine itself has gone – Dominic Piper
throughout the Kathleen Valley feasibility underground. All of that basically is a re-
study process, making a number of sig- flection of the company being responsive.”

aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT FeBRUaRY 2022 Page 19