Primero tapped for $53m lithium project

Primero Group has been selected as the preferred engineering, procurement and construction contractor for Adelaide-based Core Lithium’s $53 million Finniss project near Darwin.

Under the proposed contract, Primero will design and construct a 1 million tonnes per annum processing plant and associated infrastructure at the project, with Core targeting first production by the end of this year.

Osborne Park-based Primero was also selected as the front-end engineering design contractor.

Core also selected Adelaide-based Lucas Total Contract Solutions as the preferred mining contractor, and Sydney-based QUBE Holdings as the preferred transport solutions provider.

All of the contract awards are subject to completion of a definitive feasibility study and financing.

Core will add to several lithium projects Primero has undertaken.

In 2017, Primero won a $30 million EPC contract at Tawana Resources' and Alliance Mineral Assets' Bald Hill lithium-tantalum project.

In the same year it was also selected as a subcontractor by RCR Tomlinson, which was awarded a $148 million EPC contracted at Pilbara Minerals’ Pilgangoora lithium project.

Core managing director Stephen Biggins said the three proposed contracts were crucial for the success of the Finniss lithium project, and the company did not make its decision on who should be awarded the work lightly.

“We believe we have selected the best contractors for the respective contracts out a field of worthy contractors,” Mr Biggins said.

“Final award of these contracts will follow the completion and release of the definitive feasibility study and financing of the Finniss Project, which should see Core on-track for first production at Finniss by the end of the year.”

Shares in Primero were down 2.47 per cent to trade at 40 cents each at the close of trade.