Tivan to look at Ord River Hydro to power Speewah

Critical minerals company Tivan has signed a memorandum of understanding with Pacific Hydro to collaborate on opportunities for renewable energy supply to its Speewah Fluorite project in the Kimberley.

The parties will initially focus on evaluation of energy supply from the Ord River hydro power plant, located 85km from the Speewah site.

The hydro plant previously supplied electricity to Rio Tinto’s Argyle diamond mine, until the mine was decommissioned in 2020.

The move plays into the company’s pursuit of an energy supply strategy that optimises renewable electricity supply as part of the energy supply mix for the Speewah project.

Tivan executive chair Grant Wilson said the board was delighted to unveil the renewable energy strategy for the Speewah Project.

“Speewah hosts two world-class critical mineral deposits, at a proximate location to existing transmission infrastructure,” he said.

“This affords a unique opportunity to develop long-life green critical minerals, thereby delivering large-scale sustainable development to the East Kimberley region.

“Our board recognises the cultural and social significance of the Ord River Hyudro and the crucial importance of enhanced engagement with Traditional Owners and community stakeholders through the planning phase.”

Last year, Tivan was among three WA companies to secure land agreements with the Northern Territory government for its energy development precinct.

Located on Darwin’s harbour, the $1.5 billion federal government backed precinct is already home to Santos’s Darwin LNG plant and Inpex’s Ichthys onshore LNG processing facilities.

The precinct is expected to support renewable hydrogen manufacturing and critical minerals processing, while primarily focusing on expanding the NT’s gas industry.

The company changed its name from TNG to Tivan in January 2023, before it acquired 100 per cent of the Speewah project from King River Resources.

Speewah hosts the largest reported vanadium in titanomagnetite resources in Australia, and one of the largest globally.

The acquisition was worth around US$20 million, comprising US$10 million in new Tivan shares and US$10 million in cash over three staged payments.