Mining

TNG appoints Clough to work on Mount Peak mine site layout

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By Lorna Nicholas - 
TNG ASX Mount Peake vanadium titanium iron Australian federal government major project status

TNG says federal minister Karen Andrews’ decision recognises the strategic significant of Mount Peake.

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TNG Limited (ASX: TNG) has announced the appointment of engineering and construction company Clough to collaborate on the Mount Peake mine site layout, following its decision last week to relocate the proposed TIVAN downstream plant to the mine site.

It was announced at the end of last month that the proposed TIVAN downstream plant will be located 235km north of Alice Springs at Mount Peak rather than the initial plan, which was to construct it in Darwin’s Middle Arm industrial precinct.

The decision to relocate was made after global engineering and technology company SMS Group and TNG undertook a comprehensive review of various site options.

Australia-based Clough has now been selected to work with TNG’s project development team to generate an optimised plant layout for the integration of the TIVAN processing facility and the beneficiation plant at the mine site.

Clough familiar with Mount Peake

TNG managing director and chief executive officer Paul Burton noted Clough isn’t new to Mount Peake and previously worked on its definitive feasibility study.

Mr Burton said Clough’s familiarity with Mount Peake made it an “ideal partner” to work alongside the company in this phase of the project.

“From a strategic and logistical perspective given the continued global COVID-19 related travel restrictions, it is an advantage to have a locally-based engineering group working on this phase of the Mount Peake project with TNG and SMS.”

German-headquartered SMS Group has assisted TNG on the project’s front end engineering and design (FEED) study and in evaluating viable options for relocating the TIVAN processing plant. However, with COVID restrictions, SMS was unable to supply an Australian team for the co-location design.

Mr Burton said the company anticipates the integrated plant layout will pave the way for further optimisation work that will tie into SMS’ recently completed FEED study.

“These work programs are already underway.”

Mount Peake project

TNG is proposing to produce vanadium, titanium dioxide and iron fines products for global markets from its Mount Peake project.

The company has developed its proprietary TIVAN processing technology to generate high-purity separate products using ore mined and beneficiated at Mount Peake.

Once in operation, Mount Peake is expected to be a top 10 global producer. The project has already secured major project status from both the Northern Territory and federal governments.

Relocating the TIVAN plant to the mine site is expected to offer numerous advantages including an optimised layout with simplified commissioning at one location.

Other benefits include a reduced risk in final permitting processes and the option of using two ports.