The NT Independent is providing an update of resource news from across the Northern Territory. Highlights this week include John Wood Group getting the contract for Tamboran’s NTLNG project’s engineering phase, Core Lithium’s spodumene output for June falls, Lithium Plus Minerals hits on high-grade lithium, and Resolution Minerals has finalised drill targets at its Benmara battery metals project.

Wood gets contract to advance grassroots Australia LNG project

Tamboran Resources has awarded John Wood Group (Wood) the contract to undertake the concept select engineering phase for its proposed NTLNG project in Darwin. The phase will evaluate the technical and commercial viability to construct a 6.6 million tonnes per annum liquefied natural gas project, subject to establishing commercial flow rates from Tamboran’s Beetaloo basin assets.

The concept select phase is expected to be completed during the first half of 2024, ahead of the NTLNG project at the Middle Arm Precinct entering pre-front-end engineering and design later next year.

Tamboran has earlier entered a framework agreement with the Clean Energy Fuels Australia (CEFA) group of companies to obtain exclusivity over gas compression, liquefaction and mini-LNG facilities for potential early production from the Beetaloo.

Tamboran’s key assets are a 25 per cent working interest in EP 161 and a 100 per cent working interest in EP 136, EP 143 and EP(A) 197, which are located in the Beetaloo sub-basin.

Core Lithium spodumene output for June falls

Core Lithium Ltd (CXO) has reported spodumene production of 14,685t as of June this year, down from 18,274t recorded for the previous year. CXO said mining eased for three months after December 2022 due to the wet season that filled the pit with water.

Safe access to the pit was achieved in late March, with mining activity commencing shortly afterwards. However, mining performance remained below expected levels during the quarter due in part to further inclement weather in April.

Production guidance for the 12 months ending 30 June 2024 (FY24) is between 80,000 tonnes and 90,000 tonnes (FY23: 18,274 tonnes) of spodumene concentrate at a C1 cost of between A$1,165-A$1,250 per tonne (FY23:A$1,230/t).

CXO owns and operates the Finniss lithium operation on the Cox Peninsula, southwest and 88km by sealed road from the Darwin Port, Northern Territory.

Lithium Plus Minerals hits on high-grade lithium

Lithium Plus Minerals (LPM) has reported new high-grade lithium hits at its Lei prospect in the Northern Territory that confirm an extension of the pegmatite system at Lei. LPM said it is now set to produce its maiden resource before the start of next year and drill planning is currently in place.

Four diamond drill holes were sunk in phase three drilling at the prospect, with successful discoveries logged. One 40-metre-wide intersection was discovered at a grade of 1.64 per cent lithium oxide, and a second 39-metre-wide hit was made at a grade of 1.39 per cent.

“These assay results significantly extend the primary Lei pegmatite a further 200m at depth, with consistent, high-grade spodumene mineralisation confirmed throughout,” LPM executive chairman Dr Bin Guo said.

“Given these strong results, we have commenced planning for resource definition drilling at the Lei Prospect and remain confident in the strong potential to delineate a maiden high-grade lithium resource during 2023.”

Drill targets confirmed at the Benmara battery metals project

Resolution Minerals has finalised drill targeting for two 1,000m deep stratigraphic diamond core drill holes at the Benmara Battery Metals Project in the Northern Territory, with drilling scheduled to start next month and will take two-and-a-half months to complete.

The company said the drilling program is funded through a 10-year Farm-in and joint venture agreement with the BHP Group for the expenditure of up to $4 million in stages over five years for the BHP Group to earn an initial 51 per cent interest.

Recently, $150,000 was awarded to the program costs through the Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations program by the Northern Territory Government.