Core Lithium (ASX:CXO) awarded a surface mining services contract valued at roughly AU$50 million to NRW for open pit mining at the Grants deposit at its Finniss lithium operation in the Northern Territory, according to a Tuesday filing with the Australian bourse.

The contract includes all key activities related to the delivery of material to the Grants Run of Mine under a standard schedule of rates, per the filing. Mobilization will start immediately, and mining and ore production in May.

The Grants pit design provides access to about 784 kilotonnes of ore within the existing open pit and is expected to deliver about 134 kilotonnes of spodumene concentrate product.

Core Lithium has also started the BP33 deposit box cut and civil infrastructure site works as part of efforts to restart operations pathway at Finniss.