Name of the Project
Tabba Tabba lithium project.

Location
Pilbara, Western Australia.

Project Owner/s
Australian lithium explorer and developer Wildcat Resources.

Project Description
The project is based on a maiden probable ore reserve of 46.3-million tonnes at 1% lithium oxide (Li₂O), with 79% openpit ore (Leia), and 21% from an underground mine (Luke and Leia). The current ore reserves underpin a 17-year mine life

The project will be completed in stages.

Stage 1 comprises a standalone 2.2-million tonnes a year mining and processing operation, based on open-pit ore.

Stage 2 entails the expansion of the operation to 4.5-million tonnes a year through an openpit and underground operation contributing production ore from Year 6.

Targeted steady-state production is estimated at 295 000 t/y of 5.5% Li₂O spodumene concentrate (Stage 1), increasing to 565 000 t/y (Stage 2).

Ore from the mining operation is expected to be processed using a whole-of-ore flotation process, with three-stage crushing, ball mill, deslime and magnetic separation, three-stage flotation, a scavenger circuit and concentrate dewatering.

The project’s Chewy, Han, Hutt and Tabba Tabba deposits do not form part of the PFS study, with metallurgical and processing studies ongoing to incorporate them into the definitive feasibility study.

Potential Job Creation
The PFS expects the project to provide employment for more than 500 people during construction and 600 people during peak production. The project also provides more than $2-billion in royalties and taxes for the state and federal governments, traditional owners and third parties.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The PFS estimates a net present value, at an 8% discount, of A$1.74-billion and an internal rate of return of 26.6%, with a payback from commercial production of 5.2 years.

Capital Expenditure
Stage 1 is estimated at A$443-million. The project is fully funded to the definitive feasibility study and financial investment decision, with $55-million in the bank.

Planned Start/End Date
Not disclosed.

Latest Developments
None stated.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
AMC Consultants (mine design inputs, backfill, geotechnical and ore reserves); BHM Process Consultants (metallurgical testwork and process inputs); CMW Geosciences (tailings storage facility); Infinity Corporate Finance (financial modelling); MineBuild Global (nonprocess infrastructure and services); Nagrom (metallurgical testwork); NewPro Consulting & Engineering Services (process plant engineering, and related capital and operating cost estimates); SLR Consulting Australia, including environmental subconsultants (environment) and approvals advice; and Trepanier (mineral resource estimate and geological interpretation).

Contact Details for Project Information
Wildcat Resources, tel +61 8 6169 1433 or email info@wildcatresources.com.au.