CuFe Limited (ASX:CUF), Emmerson Resources Limited (ASX:ERM) and Tennant Minerals Limited (ASX:TMS) are pleased to announce that the strategic Tennant Creek Copper Alliance (‘the Alliance’ or ‘TCCA’), formed between the companies and announced in October 20241, has successfully applied for and been awarded grants totalling $600,000 from the Northern Territory and Federal Governments.
The grants are to be matched by the Alliance member companies and will fund a Feasibility Study (‘the Study’) into the establishment of a multi-user critical and other valuable minerals processing facility, providing a strategic pathway toward the development of each company’s current and future Mineral Resources in the Tennant Creek area.
Key aspects of the grants to the Alliance include:
• Total grant funding of $600,000, comprising equal contributions from:
- The Federal Government, under the Critical Minerals National Productivity Initiative; and,
- The Northern Territory Government, via the Department of Trade, Business and Asian Relations (see
• The TCCA members will match the government contribution and fund the additional costs
• The Study will aim to be completed by June 2026 and will assess:
- The optimal processing plant configuration and capital and operating cost inputs.
- Optimal site location as well as stakeholder engagement considerations.
- Infrastructure needs such as power, water, accommodation, workforce, and transport.
- Final products to be produced and associated market potential over the life of the facility.
- Environmental requirements, including relevant permits and approvals.
- General logistics to support ongoing operations.
- Ownership and governance frameworks, including funding and third-party access models.
• The outcomes of the processing plant Study will provide important inputs into the feasibility assessments of each alliance members individual development projects.
CuFe Executive Director Mark Hancock, Emmerson Managing Director Mike Dunbar, and Tennant Minerals General Manager Chris Ramsay said:
“Since forming the Tennant Creek Copper Alliance, the partners have continued to make strong progress on their respective projects that will underpin the proposed processing plant. CuFe has announced significant increases to its Gecko and Orlando Mineral Resources, Tennant Minerals has reported its maiden Mineral Resource for Bluebird, and Emmerson continues to deliver exciting drilling results from the Hermitage deposit.
In addition to copper, CUF’s Gecko and Orlando resources, and the TMS Bluebird resource, all contain the critical mineral bismuth, as well as the high-value precious metals gold and silver.
Copper, gold and silver have each seen major price increases over the last 12 months. Tennant Creek is also a historic producer of bismuth and remains one of the few areas in Australia hosting commercial deposits of this important mineral, which appears on the critical minerals lists of major Western economies and is currently subject to stockpiling in the United States.
The approval of this grant funding to support the feasibility study on a multi-user critical and other valuable metals production facility represents a strong vote of confidence in the potential economic and social benefits that these projects could deliver to Tennant Creek and the broader Northern Territory. If successfully developed, a shared processing facility would significantly reduce the capital costs and environmental footprints of the projects compared to stand-alone plants, and provide a more efficient, cost-effective pathway
to development for future discoveries”.
Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations, Robyn Cahill OAM
“The Barkly region is home to some of Australia’s largest deposits of critical minerals it is therefore important that we have the right infrastructure in place to support industry and to extract the maximum social and economic benefit for the Territory.
The feasibility study is an important piece of work that will enhance the Northern Territory’s capacity to process critical minerals and attract new investment.
The Northern Territory Government is supporting the future development of supply chain infrastructure to help unlock the economic potential of our local mining sector and support the Territory’s leading role in driving economic growth and unlocking projects of strategic national significance.”
Minister for Mining and Energy, Gerard Maley
“The feasibility study marks another step forward for Tennant Creek and the Northern Territory’s critical minerals future.
This study is about unlocking the next chapter of mining in Tennant Creek by looking at how a common-user processing facility could reduce costs, attract new investment and make smaller and more complex deposits commercially viable.
A shared processing facility has the potential to strengthen the Territory’s mining sector, encourage exploration and help position the Northern Territory as a key player in Australia’s critical minerals supply chain.”
READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT HERE
About us:
Tennant Minerals Limited (ASX:TMS) is a successful exploration and development company with a strong track record of discovery in the Tennant Creek area of the Northern Territory.
Tennant Mineral’s key assets are the Barkly and Babbler Copper-Gold Projects, located approximately 45km east of the major copper-gold mineral field of Tennant Creek. The Company focus is the expansion and delineation of the greenfield Bluebird high-grade copper-gold discovery.
Tennant Minerals is accelerating to grow the discovery through drilling then establish Mineral Resources and drive the project through to development.
To learn more, please visit: https://tennantminerals.com/
Contact details:
For enquiries please contact:
Tennant Minerals Limited
Chris Ramsay
General Manager
[email protected]
+61 8 9481 7833
