Core Lithium has awarded a AU$50 million surface mining contract to NRW Pty Ltd. for open pit mining at the Grants deposit, part of the company’s Finniss lithium operation in the Northern Territory.
The move signals a definitive restart for Finniss after the company’s recent final investment decision (FID), with mobilisation slated to begin immediately.
Under the agreement, NRW will handle all key activities to deliver material to the Grants Run of Mine (ROM) pad. Mining and ore production are expected to roar to life by May.
Core Lithium aims to fast-track its return to the export market. The optimised design of the Grants Pit provides access to approximately 784,000 tonnes of ore, which is projected to yield 134,000 tonnes of SC5 (spodumene concentrate).
Core Lithium Managing Director Paul Brown said: “Grants provides a low-risk, near-term source of ore using existing infrastructure, enabling a rapid and capital-efficient pathway back into production.
“With mobilisation commencing immediately, this contract underpins our restart schedule and near-term cash generation objectives.”
Core Lithium expects ore from the Grants deposit to be processed and hauled during the September quarter of 2026. If milestones are met, the first shipment of spodumene concentrate is targeted for early in the December quarter, with further shipments extending into 2027.
In addition to the award of the surface mining contract, the company is simultaneously de-risking its long-term future. Work has already commenced on the BP33 underground box cut and civil infrastructure.
This dual-track strategy, extracting early value from the Grants open pit while developing the BP33 underground, is designed to support a staged ramp-up, positioning Finniss as a lower-cost, long-life brownfield operation.
With funding and FID now secured, the company expects to finalise further key contracts in the coming months.
