NT's first lithium load ships to China

Fast-tracked in a handful of years, Australian miner Core Lithium is shipping its first export from the Northern Territory's only lithium mine.

The critical mineral is needed for clean energy technology, including electric cars and grid-scale batteries, with North American and European manufacturers vying with China to lock in supplies.

Core Lithium's first export shipment has been loaded on the ship Rossana for departure to Fangcheng, China, for the next stage in the global supply chain.

Watching the loading, NT Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said it was a milestone not only for Core Lithium, but for the renewable energy and critical minerals industries.

The rapidly developed Finniss mine project is the first new mine to start operations in the NT in more than a decade.

The high-grade, open cut mine is the nation's only lithium mine outside Western Australia and, unlike more remote rivals, it is a one-hour drive from Darwin, Australia's nearest port to Asia.

The next milestone for Core is the first spodumene concentrate, expected by June, from the project's new plant.

The so-called direct shipping ore loaded this week for export is crushed but unprocessed rock containing lithium. 

The DSO comes straight out of the mine pit and through a crusher whereas the higher purity spodumene needs to be put through a concentration plant, which is still being built.

Core has an offtake agreement with China's Sichuan Yahua Industrial Group to supply 75,000 tonnes of the lithium concentrate per year for four years, but a deal to directly supply US electric car maker Tesla fell through last year.

The group is one of China's largest battery-grade lithium hydroxide and carbonate producers and has Tesla as a customer.

Core also has a memorandum of understanding with Europe's Transamine Trading for 50,000 tonnes per year of spodumene concentrate from Finniss for five years.

"Core has made good progress during 2022 to transition from a mine developer to lithium producer," CEO Gareth Manderson said.

"In 2023 we will continue this transition and the work required to build a quality operating business."

Unlike rival commodity powerhouse Canada, Australia has not demanded China relinquish holdings in lithium mining.

Ya Hua International Investment and Development Co, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sichuan Yahua, and China's Ganfeng New Energy Technology Development are among Core's top shareholders, according to Morningstar data.