The Northern Silica Project (NSP) is situated in the Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire near Cape Flattery, Far North Queensland, and in close proximity to the existing operations of Cape Flattery Silica Mines and the Cape Flattery Port.

NSP is one of the world’s largest deposits of high-purity silica sands, with a silicon dioxide (SiO₂) purity of greater than 99% and low iron content of less than 120ppm, a critical criterion for solar panel glass manufacturers. The proposed project is a greenfield open-cut mining operation with onsite processing facilities that will produce a saleable silica sand product.

World-class global material solutions group Sibelco (through Sibelco Asia Pacific Pty Ltd) is Diatreme’s joint venture development partner on its silica projects via the Cape Silica Joint Venture. Sibelco has agreed to provide Diatreme access to Sibelco’s technical and project development expertise, pursue joint product marketing and downstream onshore silica processing opportunities, as well as assistance in securing project finance.

Sibelco has already contributed circa $49 million ($35 million into the Cape Silica Joint Venture and $13.97 million via a strategic placement in Diatreme completed in June 2022), supporting the ongoing development and expansion activities at the NSP.