PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Lithium developer Core Lithium has been granted environmental approval for the BP33 underground mine, in the Northern Territory.
This was the second environmental approbation that the Territory government granted under its improved regulatory system under the Environment Protection Act.
The Finniss lithium project includes one component, the approved mine. This has been acknowledged by the Australian government and the Northern Territory governments as significant for the economy and holds major project status.
The mine has an investment value of A$33.79 million and will create approximately 60 jobs during construction and 120 to 150 jobs during operation.
Northern Territory Environment Minister Eva LawlerAccording to the Northern Territory Environmental Protection Authority (the Environmental Protection Act), the approval was granted only after the authority had completed a thorough assessment of the potential environmental impacts.
“We will continue to work with Core Lithium on this project to ensure the best outcomes,” Lawler said.
Core stated Tuesday that the company would submit a mining management program to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade. This plan is expected to be approved by mid-2022.
The final step in the BP33 underground approvals is the approval of the mining management plans.
“The grant of environmental approval for the BP33 Underground mine is another exciting milestone achieved by Core in the development of the Finniss lithium project,” said Core MD Stephen Biggins.
“The BP33 Underground mine is the second mine approved at Finniss with mining at Grants commencing in late 2021. BP33 is a higher-grade orebody than Grants with recent deep drilling supporting the interpretation that BP33 mineralisation is improving with depth.”
The construction of Finniss in the Northern Territory began late last year. The first production of lithium concentrate was scheduled for the fourth-quarter of this year.
The Stage 1 Finniss project, comprising an openpit operation and underground operation, will require an initial capital investment of A$89-million to support yearly lithium production of 175 000 t/y from a one-million-tonne-a-year plant.