Early works ramp up at Core Lithium's BP33 Underground Project

Development of the BP33 Underground Project in the Northern Territory is ramping up as early works continue to progress. 

BP33 is the second proposed mine at Core Lithium’s Finniss Lithium Operation. 

The early works are part of a $45-50 million early works and feasibility study being undertaken as the project moves towards a Final Investment Decision in the first quarter of 2024. 

Works on site commenced in August of this year. The early works will deliver a covered box cut that includes tunnel foundations, liner installation and backfill; site access road; stockpiles and ROM pad establishment; contractors’ facilities; temporary services; site drainage; and associated water management infrastructure. 

Excavation of the box cut is now underway, and the final box cut is going to be covered to help manage potential wet season impacts to the mine. A tunnel liner has been custom designed and manufactured in a specialist plant in South Korea, with its delivery to Darwin nearing completion. 

The box cut is a critical part of the mine as it will serve as a portal access to decline to the BP33 ore body – which will be developed as part of the next phase of capital works. 

The feasibility study being carried out, on the other hand, will inform the next phase of capital works and a final investment decision in 2024. 

In addition, a program of geotechnical and resource infill drilling was completed last month, and the mining block model is going to be updated using the results of this work. The works will also form the basis of the case presented for an investment decision. 

Meanwhile, the metallurgical test work program is 45 per cent complete, the backfill test work is well underway, and the regional groundwater model is currently being updated to include recent groundwater data as well as geotechnical logging. 

“It is pleasing to see the progress of the parallel early works and feasibility study workstreams at BP33. We are aiming to make a final investment decision for BP33 in the first quarter of 2024 and are completing these early works so we can be ready to commence decline development promptly. 

“We have also now commenced discussions with a number of underground mining contractors who have expressed interest in the BP33 project. 

“And we are undertaking a systematic exploration program targeting a number of deposits near the Finniss processing facilities,” Core Lithium CEO Gareth Manderson said. 

The early works program is being undertaken by Territory-based contractor Northern Australia Civil (NAC). 

The BP33 Underground Project is located on the Cox Peninsula, about 33 kilometres west of Berry Springs. The project is proposed to include the development of an underground mine and associated site infrastructure, a water supply dam, sediment ponds, a run of mine pad, waste rock landforms, a storage and maintenance area, internal access roads and drainage infrastructure. 

The project is anticipated to employ up to 60 people during the construction phase and around 150 people once operational. 

Source: Core Lithium (1, 2); Australian Mining; Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority