Mining jobs aplenty for Northern Territory workers
Mount Peake vanadium-titanium-iron project.
Two thousand Northern Territory mining jobs in the territory took a step closer to becoming a reality with a Project Facilitation Agreements (PFA) for two mining projects being signed by the NT government.
The territory government signed the agreement with Australian metals company TNG� to develop the TIVAN metals refinery as part of its Mount Peake vanadium-titanium-iron project.
The high-tech refinery is expected to produce very high quality products from the Mount Peake vanadium-titanium-iron deposit, which is situated about 235km north west of Alice Springs.
The mine development and its refinery brings good news to Territorians with an expected mining jobs windfall of some 1700 construction jobs and 600 full time jobs at the titanium mine.
Artist impression of the proposed TIVAN metals refinery in the Northern Territory
What is titanium used for?
Titanium metal is used for alloys with with aluminium, molybdenum, manganese, iron, and other metals. These alloys of titanium are used principally in the aerospace industry, for both airframes and engines, where lightweight strength and ability to withstand extremes of temperature are important.
Chief minister for the Northern Territory Michael Gunner, said the Project Facilitation Agreement was a huge step in creating ongoing employment for hundreds of workers in Central Australia and of course Darwin.
$850 million project
“This is a $850 million project with potential for 500 jobs during construction and more than 200 jobs during operation of the mine, plus more than 1200 jobs during construction and 400 jobs during operation of the refinery,”� he said.
Mount Peake`s is expected�to yield 17,560 tonnes of vanadium pentoxide, 236,000 tonnes of titanium dioxide (pigment) and 637,000 tonnes of iron ore which will be earmarked for export annually.
The PFA signing comes after Mount Peak received a Major Project Status and TNG managing director Paul Burton said it was another milestone as toward its�development.
“This agreement is a further indication of the proactive and positive approach which the Northern Territory Government is adopting to help facilitate the development of this major new Australian resource project,” he said.
“The TIVAN refinery is a value-added downstream process which we expect will bring significant economic benefits to Darwin and the Northern Territory and help to enhance the region`s position as the development hub for Northern Australia.”�
The NT Government also granted Verdant Minerals a Major Project Status and a PFA for its Ammaroo phosphate project.
$750�million Ammaroo phosphate project
Not content with the� Mount Peake mining project, more good news for those looking for mining careers in the NT were elated with the news of the $750�million Ammaroo phosphate project. This additional Northern Territory mining project can be found about 180km south east of Tennant Creek. Again, there’s a jobs boost to the region with some 500 mining/construction and operational positions being available.
Verdant Minerals managing director Chris Tziolis said the Ammaroo project will benefit the region in so many positive ways in both the construction and production over the coming years. “The development of Ammaroo and other fertiliser mineral projects in the Territory could in time enable the value adding to the minerals to produce finished fertiliser products to service demand in both Asia and Australia, which now imports most of its fertiliser needs,”� he said.
Under the PFA, Verdant and the NT Government will progress the project through the approvals process, with an Environmental Impact Statement due later in 2017.
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