Tivan Limited has inked a Memorandum of Understanding with Aboriginal Investment NT to explore investment and Indigenous participation in the Molyhil Tungsten Project, advancing its critical minerals ambitions in the Northern Territory.
- MoU sets framework for AI NT investment and Aboriginal engagement
- Tivan progressing joint ventures with Sumitomo and ETFS Capital
- Pre-Feasibility Study on track for Q4 2026 completion
- Tivan deepens Indigenous partnerships in Central Australia
- AI NT manages over $600 million supporting Aboriginal economic self-determination
Strategic Indigenous Partnership Established for Molyhil
Tivan Limited (ASX:TVN) has taken a significant step towards embedding Indigenous participation in its Molyhil Tungsten Project by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Aboriginal Investment NT (AI NT). The agreement lays the groundwork for collaborative opportunities including potential direct investment, employment, procurement, and business contracting for Aboriginal Australians in the Northern Territory.
AI NT, a Corporate Commonwealth Entity founded under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act, manages funds exceeding $600 million. Its mission is to empower Aboriginal Territorians with agency and resources to self-determine their social, cultural, and economic futures. This MoU aligns with that vision by facilitating Aboriginal involvement in a critical minerals project located about 220km northeast of Alice Springs.
Advancing Project Development Through Joint Ventures
The MoU complements Tivan’s recent announcements of Key Terms Memorandums of Understanding with Sumitomo Corporation and ETFS Capital to progress the Molyhil Project via an incorporated joint venture. Alongside these commercial partnerships, Tivan is advancing a Pre-Feasibility Study, aiming for completion in Q4 2026, to underpin a Definitive Feasibility Study and a final investment decision.
Potential collaboration with AI NT extends beyond investment to include Aboriginal employment and procurement opportunities throughout the project’s development and operational phases. Tivan will facilitate due diligence by sharing project information, while both parties will explore further resource sector opportunities in the Northern Territory.
Building on Existing Indigenous Engagement in Central Australia
This MoU builds on Tivan’s established relationships with the Central Land Council, which represent Traditional Owners and Native Title Holders. Over the past three years, Tivan has shifted focus from the Mount Peake Project to the Molyhil Tungsten Project, alongside the Sandover Fluorite and Sandover AI Projects, signing multiple Mineral Exploration Deeds with the Council to promote educational, vocational, cultural, and commercial opportunities for Aboriginal communities.
Earlier community development initiatives include funding for remote Central Australian communities, reinforcing Tivan’s commitment to responsible mineral development that respects Aboriginal interests and fosters durable partnerships.
Leadership Voices on Indigenous Economic Participation
AI NT’s Chief Executive Officer Nigel Browne emphasised the importance of embedding investment, employment, and enterprise development outcomes early in the project lifecycle to secure long-term Aboriginal economic participation and self-determination.
Tivan Executive Chairman Grant Wilson highlighted the company’s Territory heritage and expressed pride in pioneering new pathways for inclusion and trust with Aboriginal Australians, positioning the Molyhil Project as a benchmark for responsible resource development.
Bottom Line?
Tivan’s MoU with Aboriginal Investment NT signals a strategic move to integrate Indigenous economic participation into its critical minerals project, but the path to binding agreements and tangible outcomes remains to be navigated over the next year.
Questions in the middle?
- Will AI NT convert this MoU into a direct equity stake in Molyhil?
- How will Tivan balance commercial joint ventures with Indigenous partnership commitments?
- What measurable employment and procurement targets will emerge from this collaboration?