CuFe Ltd, Emmerson Resources Ltd and Tennant Minerals Ltd have secured $600,000 in matched grant funding from the Northern Territory and Federal Governments to progress a feasibility study into a multi-user minerals processing facility in the Tennant Creek region.
The funding, awarded to the Tennant Creek Copper Alliance (TCCA) — formed by the companies and announced in October 2024 — will support a study examining the potential establishment of a critical and other valuable minerals processing plant designed to service multiple users and provide a pathway toward development of the alliance members’ existing and future mineral resources in the area.
Grant funding totals $600,000 and comprises equal contributions from the Federal Government, through the Critical Minerals National Productivity Initiative, and the Northern Territory Government via the Department of Trade, Business and Asian Relations. TCCA members will match the government contribution and meet additional costs required to complete the feasibility study.
Tennant Creek District showing the location of the CuFe, Tennant Minerals and 100% Emmerson’s Projects.
Study scope targets June 2026 completion and multi-user plant options
Due for completion by June 2026, the study will assess plant configuration options and associated capital and operating costs, as well as site selection and stakeholder engagement requirements. It will also consider infrastructure needs — including power, water, accommodation, workforce and transport — along with potential end products, market potential over the facility life, environmental approvals and permitting, and logistics required to support operations. Ownership and governance structures, including funding arrangements and third-party access models, will also be examined.
The alliance said the outcomes are expected to provide key inputs into feasibility assessments for each member’s individual development projects.
In a joint statement, CuFe executive director Mark Hancock, Emmerson managing director Mike Dunbar, and Tennant Minerals general manager Chris Ramsay said: “Since forming the Tennant Creek Copper Alliance, the partners have continued to make strong progress on their respective projects that will underpin the proposed processing plant. CuFe has announced significant increases to its Gecko and Orlando Mineral Resources, Tennant Minerals has reported its maiden Mineral Resource for Bluebird, and Emmerson continues to deliver exciting drilling results from the Hermitage deposit.
“In addition to copper, CUF’s Gecko and Orlando resources, and the TMS Bluebird resource, all contain the critical mineral bismuth, as well as the high-value precious metals gold and silver.
“Copper, gold and silver have each seen major price increases over the last 12 months. Tennant Creek is also a historic producer of bismuth and remains one of the few areas in Australia hosting commercial deposits of this important mineral, which appears on the critical minerals lists of major Western economies and is currently subject to stockpiling in the United States.
“The approval of this grant funding to support the feasibility study on a multi-user critical and other valuable metals production facility represents a strong vote of confidence in the potential economic and social benefits that these projects could deliver to Tennant Creek and the broader Northern Territory. If successfully developed, a shared processing facility would significantly reduce the capital costs and environmental footprints of the projects compared to stand-alone plants, and provide a more efficient, cost-effective pathway to development for future discoveries.”
Northern Territory Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations Robyn Cahill OAM said:
“The Barkly region is home to some of Australia’s largest deposits of critical minerals, it is therefore important that we have the right infrastructure in place to support industry and to extract the maximum social and economic benefit for the Territory.
“The feasibility study is an important piece of work that will enhance the Northern Territory’s capacity to process critical minerals and attract new investment.
“The Northern Territory Government is supporting the future development of supply chain infrastructure to help unlock the economic potential of our local mining sector and support the Territory’s leading role in driving economic growth and unlocking projects of strategic national significance.”
Minister for Mining and Energy Gerard Maley said:
“The feasibility study marks another step forward for Tennant Creek and the Northern Territory’s critical minerals future.
“This study is about unlocking the next chapter of mining in Tennant Creek by looking at how a common-user processing facility could reduce costs, attract new investment and make smaller and more complex deposits commercially viable.
“A shared processing facility has the potential to strengthen the Territory’s mining sector, encourage exploration and help position the Northern Territory as a key player in Australia’s critical minerals supply chain.”