About the Project

Building on Emmaville's Mining History

The Taronga Tin Project, is located near Emmaville, New South Wales, Australia. Emmaville is a historic mining community with over a century of previous mining, including extensive drilling, tunnelling, and alluvial mining.

Taronga aims to build on this history by bringing an open pit tin mine into operation to extract the large volume of tin located in the area.

The Importance of Tin

The Taronga Tin Project has been identified as a State Significant Project because of our proposed capital expenditure. Tin is critical to a future economy focused on decarbonising and electrifying. Tin is not a part of the fossil fuel economy, but rather it will help the world transition to renewables. For this reason Taronga has received funding under the NSW Government's Critical Minerals and High Tech Metals Activation Fund . Tin is a vital component of semiconductors, electric vehicles, and other renewable technologies. It is a crucial element in solder.

With the progression of green technologies and a digital world, consumer electronics, and advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics, more solder is required. It is predicted that by 2030, the world will have a deficit of tin. As of 2019, Australia supplied only 2% of the world's tin supply, despite having 11% of the world's tin resource (Geoscience Australia).

To learn more about tin, visit First Tin.

Taronga specimen of raw tin
Taronga specimen of raw tin.

Where is the Taronga Tin Project Located?

The project site is located in northern New South Wales near Emmaville which boasts a rich mining history dating back to the 19th century.

We acknowledge the Ngarabul people as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which the Taronga Tin Project is located. We recognise their enduring connection to Country and are engaging with First Nations peoples as an integral part of our project planning and development.

Map showing the location of the Taronga Tin Project near Emmaville, NSW

How Big will the Mine Site be?

The proposed mine site would encompass an approximate area of 710ha, some of which would be cleared to allow mining operations whilst up to an additional 1,800ha area (approximately) of Taronga Mines Pty Ltd owned land would be set aside, in perpetuity, for nature conservation.

Download our Scoping Report submitted to the NSW government.

How the Taronga Tin Project Came to Be




Key Steps In The Development Approval Process

A range of exploration activities including drilling, collection of material samples and laboratory testing to determine the resource and most effective mining approach.
As a result of the initial feasibility studies, a preliminary Project design will be developed confirming indicative footprints for mine infrastructure and scale of operations.
A scoping report will be submitted to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) with a request for government assessment requirements.
Preparation of Environmental Impact Statement and Supporting Studies
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will address the government agency assessment requirements and issues raised through engagement with the community.
The exhibition period for the EIS provides the community and interested stakeholders to lodge a submission on the Project. Submissions can object, support or simply provide comment.
All issues and concerns raised in submissions from both government and community are collated and a response document prepared.
The NSW DPE prepares an assessment of the EIS, all submissions received and the response to the submissions.
The application is determined and either approved or refused.
Subject to approval, a range of post-approval documents, including environmental management plans are prepared for approval by NSW DPE. All other licensing and permits are also sought (e.g. Mining Lease, Environment Protection Licence).
Following approval, the Company will raise the capital to commence site establishment including installation of site infrastructure, environmental monitoring and management controls.
Following establishment, Tin mining and processing can commence.

Your Questions Answered About the Taronga Tin Project

Taronga Mines Pty Ltd is a subsidiary of First Tin Plc which is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

In July and November 2024, Metals X Limited (Australia's largest tin producer) invested in an approximate 29.9% of the share capital of First Tin PLC and has nominated two Directors to the First Tin PLC Board. Read More

The proposed Taronga Mine would take two years to construct. The life of the mine is anticipated to be up to 21 years including construction, operations and decommissioning. When the time comes for the mine to be closed, Taronga will rehabilitate the site and decommission the mine.

Taronga is a conventional open cut mine using drill, blast, load and haul. Extracted ore will principally be processed via crushing, grinding and gravity/density separation techniques with minor flotation and magnetic separation used for final dressing of produced tin concentrate.

The proposed Taronga Mine would create over 150 jobs during construction and approximately 140 new full time jobs during operation.

The proposed Taronga Mine is planned to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days per week with shifts structured according to role. To manage Project-related light vehicle traffic on local roads, we would provide a bus service to transport personnel between the mine site and dedicated transport hubs.

The mine camp will be located where there is adequate infrastructure to service a camp and where there is social infrastructure relatively close. Taronga Mines Pty Ltd has been in discussions with Glen Innes Severn Council and is currently investigating a site at Glen Innes Airport. Workers will be bussed to site to reduce traffic on local roads. Opportunities for local businesses will include catering, cleaning and general camp management and maintenance.

The Consent Authority for the mine is the NSW Planning Minister (or delegate). We have been in consultation with Glen Innes Severn Council since acquiring the Project in 2022 and will continue to work with Glen Innes Severn Council over the Project-life. Glen Innes Severn Council would however be the relevant authority for the necessary permits under the Roads Act, Local Government Act and applicable certificates (i.e. construction and occupation). Glen Innes Severn Council will approve the mine accommodation camp and we are currently in conversations with Glen Innes Severn Council about its location.