Biddle back to chair TNG

Seasoned mining executive Neil Biddle will return to ASX-listed minerals processor TNG as non-executive chair, nine years after leaving the company to join Pilbara Minerals. 

Mr Biddle was the founding managing director of TNG between 1998 and April 2011 and transitioned to non-executive director before moving to the board of lithium success story Pilbara Minerals in 2013.

He replaces outgoing chairman John Elkington who will move to a non-executive director role.

“I can think of no one with greater experience or better qualifications than Neil to lead the Board as we move into this next exciting phase of our growth,” Mr Elkington said of his successor.

Mr Biddle is credited for his role in leading Pilbara Mineral’s acquisition of the Pilgangoora lithium-tantalum project, the company’s flagship.

His resume also includes co-founder of WA gold explorer Bardoc Gold, which was snapped up by St Barbara earlier this year for $157 million.

“Neil’s considerable corporate and strategic experience in the global battery metals sector – particularly in launching Pilbara Minerals on its highly successful growth trajectory – will be of huge value to TNG,” Mr Elkington added.

TNG owns the Mount Peake project in the Northern Territory, which it is working to develop into an integrated vanadium-titanium-iron mining and processing operation.

The company recently acquired the Sandover lithium project, situated 50 kilometres south-east of Mount Peake.

Mr Biddle said he looked forward to working on the projects.

“TNG has a world-class critical minerals asset and the team led by Paul Burton has made significant progress over the past 10 years, working hard to deliver a major new long-life production asset that will change the face of the Company and make a huge contribution to the Australian economy,” he said.

Fellow Pilbara Minerals alumni Ken Brinsden - who was chief executive of the company for six years -   has also recently moved to a new role, joining TSX Venture Exchange-listed explorer Patriot Battery Metals as non-executive chair last week.

Patriot shares have rallied over the past week on the back of recent drill results from its Corvette lithium project in Quebec.

It last changed hands at $C6.96.

TNG shares last traded at 10 cents.