Gold mining has officially resumed in Australia’s northern Barkly region after a 20-year hiatus. Tennant Mines has commenced commercial production at its Nobles project.
The $94 million project is expected to produce an average of 60,000 ounces of gold per annum over the life of the mine and create more than 160 permanent jobs over the next two years as production ramps up.
The start of mine operations follows the acquisition of Tennant Mines by international gold miner Pan African Resources in 2024. “This project will deliver long-term benefits for local communities and the [Northern] territory economy and is the result of strong investment, good planning and a clear vision for the future of mining in the Territory,” said NT Minister for Mines and Energy Gerard Maley.
“The construction of the new processing plant has unlocked Tennant Creek’s rich gold resource,” said Minister for Housing, Local Government and Communities and Member for Barkly Steve Edgington. “It’s a great outcome for our mining industry and a massive win for Barkly.”
The first phase of the Nobles project involves processing the existing resource and then expanding the project into a series of open pit and underground mines, with plans to increase production in the medium term to around 100,000 ounces per annum. The current mine life is forecast to be eight years, with plans to extend it beyond 15 years and beyond in the future.
In the 2023-24 financial year, the Northern Territory had gold production of $1.4 billion and a total mine value of $4.32 billion.
There are currently 18 projects underway in the Northern Territory with a total potential capital expenditure of $6 billion.
Hélène Tarin, Editor-in-Chief of the Asian Bureau, Rough&Polished
