Tivan progresses with fluorite mine in WA after critical minerals list addition

Critical minerals company Tivan (ASX: TVN) has announced it will progress with plans to develop a fluorite mine in WA’s Kimberley region.

Fluorite is used to produce fluorine, which the Federal Government added to Australia’s critical minerals list in December 2023.

Tivan stated the Federal Government added fluorine to Australia’s critical minerals list in recognition of its role in the energy transition and lack of production in Australia.

The company, which plans to mine fluorite in the Speewah region of the Kimberley, says fluorine can be utilised for chemical manufacturing and emerging sectors including next-generation lithium-ion batteries, solar cells and semi-conductor manufacturing.

Tivan executive chairman Grant Wilson says he’s delighted to introduce the Speewah fluorite project to Tivan’s shareholders.

“With the emergence of structural demand from next-gen EV batteries, it’s time may well have arrived,” he said.

“In making the decision to progress to a pre-feasibility study the Board recognised the strong synergies that exist with the Speewah vanadium project.

“This includes our extensive progress on long-lead environmental items, our networking with global offtake partners, and our early and inclusive engagement with Traditional Owners.”

Mr Wilson says the inclusion of fluorine on the critical minerals list provided Tivan with “strong tailwinds to advance the Speewah fluorite project, building upon the large body of work previously conducted”.

“The relative simplicity of the Project enables us to target the end of Q2 for PFS delivery, providing Tivan with two major catalysts in the year ahead,” he said.

Tivan says Speewah represents the largest, highest-grade vanadium in titanomagnetite resource in the world and the company acquired the Speewah leases in February 2023.

Fluorite was discovered at Speewah in 1905.

The Federal Government added fluorine to Australia’s critical minerals list in December 2023, providing eligibility for in-country projects for strategic and targeted Government policy, facilitation and financing support for development.