Tivan Awards ECI Contract to Indigenous Firm for Speewah Access Road
Tivan Limited has engaged Indigenous-owned MDM Mining & Civil under an Early Contractor Involvement contract to optimise the access road design for its Speewah Fluorite Project in WA, supporting the ongoing Definitive Feasibility Study.
- ECI contract awarded to Indigenous-owned MDM Mining & Civil
- Access road design aims to reduce impact on Aboriginal communities
- Project is a joint venture with Sumitomo Corporation and JOGMEC
- MDM to review constructability, materials, hydrology, and scheduling
- MDM invited to tender for road construction after DFS completion
Indigenous Contractor Secures Strategic Role in Speewah Access Road
Tivan Limited (ASX:TVN) has awarded an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) contract to MDM Mining & Civil, an Indigenous-owned Kimberley business, to assist in finalising the design of the access road for the Speewah Fluorite Project. The contract marks a significant step in the project's development, focusing on optimising constructability, capital costs, and scheduling ahead of competitive tendering.
MDM Mining & Civil brings extensive experience in earthmoving, mining, and civil construction across Australia, having previously supported Tivan’s drilling programs at Speewah. The company's CEO, Mika McLennon, a Gidja man from the Turkey Creek region, recently hosted the visit of the Federal Minister for Resources, Madeleine King, to the project site, underscoring the partnership's local significance.
Access Road Design Balances Infrastructure and Cultural Sensitivity
The Speewah Fluorite Project's access currently relies on 47km of natural terrain tracks connecting to the Great Northern Highway at Doon Doon, a local Aboriginal community. The proposed 37km access road will feature a new turn-off 5km south of this connection, with alignment carefully planned to minimise impacts on the Woolah Community and culturally significant sites such as Liyama Spring and Liyama Gorge. Tivan secured additional licenses last year to support this realignment.
Engineering firm Lycopodium oversees the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS), including the access road design. Under the ECI contract, MDM will assess key factors such as materials, hydrology, wet season access, logistics, scheduling, commercial structure, and local content opportunities. This input will directly influence the final DFS design and the upcoming competitive tender process, where MDM will also be invited to bid for construction.
Project Advances with Local Partnerships and JV Backing
The Speewah Fluorite Project is progressing through a joint venture with Sumitomo Corporation and the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC), aiming to establish an Australian-first mining and processing operation producing acid grade fluorspar. This contract award to MDM reflects Tivan’s commitment to Indigenous engagement and regional economic development in the East Kimberley.
Executive Chairman Grant Wilson emphasised that the merit-based award to MDM acknowledges their operational capabilities and partnership over the past two years. He highlighted the company’s focus on localisation and Aboriginal inclusion as central to how the project will contribute meaningfully to the region.
Bottom Line?
The ECI contract with MDM signals Tivan’s strategic push to integrate Indigenous expertise and optimise infrastructure ahead of key project milestones.
Questions in the middle?
- How will MDM’s involvement influence the final capital costs of the access road?
- What are the timelines for the Definitive Feasibility Study and subsequent tender outcomes?
- How will Tivan balance infrastructure development with ongoing cultural heritage protections?
