The NT Independent is providing an update of resource news from across the Northern Territory. Highlights this week include Core Lithium starting excavation at its BP33 project, SunCable’s mega renewable power project back on track, testing shows that Kingsland Minerals’ Leliyn graphite is appropriate for lithium-ion batteries, and Lithium Plus reports 127m mineralised pegmatite intersection at Lei prospect in the NT.

SunCable’s mega renewable power project back on track

SunCable’s AAPowerLink is back on track with its goal to provide reliable, cost-competitive electricity to customers in Darwin and Singapore after Mike Cannon-Brooke’s entity, Grok Ventures, won total control of the project.

The project, which aims to be the world’s largest solar plant, is projected to deliver electricity to Darwin as well as to third-party industrial power consumers near Darwin. In its initial stage, Sun Cable intends to supply a minimum of 900 MW to huge industrial customers including those located in the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct in Darwin. It also plans to deliver 1.75 GW of electricity to Singapore.

The company’s immediate priorities are to progress the required regulatory approvals to advance the AAPowerLink. It will also lodge its submission to the Singaporean Energy Market Authority (EMA) later this month.

Kingsland Minerals’ Leliyn graphite is appropriate for lithium-ion batteries

Kingsland Minerals (KNG) announced successful initial petrographic analysis, demonstrating Leliyn graphite is suitable for lithium-ion batteries after it exhibited components of fine, medium and coarse graphite flake sizes of up to 150 microns.

KNG said the analysis focused on the first two diamond drill hole intercepts, assaying 132 metres of 8.7 per cent total graphite concentrate (TGC) from the surface. This included 94 metres at 10.8 per cent TGC from a depth of 31 metres. Another drillhole assayed 126 metres at 7.6 per cent TGC from a depth of 52 metres, including 53 metres at 11.1 per cent TGC from 117 metres.

KNG aims to use the recent diamond drilling samples, including the bonanza intersection of 206 metres at 10 per cent TGC, for further test work. The company has scheduled a maiden mineral resource estimate for release in the first quarter of next year.

Lithium Plus reports a 127m mineralised pegmatite intersection at Lei prospect

Lithium Plus Minerals (LPM) said it had intersected a 127-metre-thick pegmatite intersection at its Lei prospect, located within the company’s Bynoe project in the NT, following the resumption of infill and extensional drilling last month. A total of seven holes are being fast-tracked ahead of a maiden lithium resource set for release before the end of the year.

“This exceptional intersection is tremendously exciting for Lithium Plus Minerals. It represents one of the largest reported mineralised intersections recorded to date from the Bynoe pegmatite field, with visual inspection showing large spodumene crystals of consistent distribution throughout the core sample,” LPM executive chairman Dr Bin Guo said.

Core Lithium starts excavation at its BP33 project

Box cut excavation has started at Core Lithium’s BP33 underground project, at its Finniss lithium operations in the NT. Core said it will be spending between $45 million and $50 million on early works and an updated feasibility study. The company is eyeing making a final investment decision within the first quarter of 2024.

Core said the box cut would provide portal access from which the decline to the BP33 ore body will be developed as a part of the next phase of capital works.

Company MD and CEO Gareth Manderson said Core has started discussions with several underground mining contractors who have expressed interest in the BP33 project. An updated feasibility study on the Carlton project, which is some 2km from the Finniss processing plant, will be completed by the end of 2024.