Commonwealth Environmental Approval Received Yangibana
Perth, April 14, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Hastings Technology Metals Limited (
ASX:HAS) (5AM:FRA) is pleased to advise that Mr Gregory Manning, delegate of the Hon. Sussan Ley MP, Australian Minister for the Environment, has granted the Commonwealth Environmental permit for the Yangibana Rare Earths Project.
- Commonwealth Environmental approvals in place for mining Rare Earths at the Yangibana Rare Earths Project.
- The Commonwealth Approvals are in place to construct and operate an open pit rare earths mine, processing facility and associated support infrastructure, approximately 270 km east-northeast of Carnarvon, Western Australia.
- Commonwealth Government environmental assessment process completed pursuant to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) under sections 130(1) and 133(1).
Receipt of the Commonwealth Environmental Permit (EPBC reference 2016/7845) was granted under section 130(1) and 133(1) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
The permit is subject to conditions in Annexure A of the Approval, which has been published on the Department of Environment and Energy website. The conditions require validation of the groundwater model during the construction phase, an ecohydrological model and the development of a groundwater dependent ecosystem monitoring program.
The Yangibana Project includes the development of five open pit mines, groundwater abstraction, on-site processing of ore, tailings storage facilities, and supporting infrastructure such as access and haul roads, accommodation facilities, administration buildings and an airstrip.
Executive Chairman, Charles Lew commented: "We have now received all material approvals (i.e. land tenure, Native Title Agreement, State and Commonwealth Environmental Permits) required for the development of the Yangibana Rare Earths Project. This environmental permit complements the State approval received in August 2019. Both approvals demonstrate confidence by State and Commonwealth governments that the Project can be implemented in an environmentally sound manner."
The rigorous environmental assessment process for the Yangibana Rare Earths Project has lasted over four years and has been conducted with full transparency through Commonwealth and State environmental statutes ensuring both an environmentally and legally robust set of approvals. Hastings, its environmental consultants, and other third parties, have contributed to a significant library of environmental science addressing key environmental factors relating to the Project identified by Hastings, government and via public consultation. Hastings acknowledges the dedicated evidence based environmental assessment undertaken by both the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Energy and the Western Australian Office of the Environmental Protection Authority and other State agencies.
The immediate focus of the Company is the continuing improvement of the economics of the Yangibana Project by progressing a number of mining, metallurgical and process design and research initiatives that expand on the studies completed as part of the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) released in November 2017. All work streams are geared to ensure the Project is capable of being financed and brought into production within the current rare earth pricing environment.
About Hastings Technology Metals Ltd
Hastings Technology Metals Ltd (ASX:HAS) (FRA:5AM) is advancing its Yangibana Rare Earths Project in the Upper Gascoyne Region of Western Australia towards production. The proposed beneficiation and hydro metallurgy processing plant will treat rare earths deposits, predominantly monazite, hosting high neodymium and praseodymium contents to produce a mixed rare earths carbonate that will be further refined into individual rare earth oxides at processing plants overseas.
Neodymium and praseodymium are vital components in the manufacture of permanent magnets which is used in a wide and expanding range of advanced and high-tech products including electric vehicles, wind turbines, robotics, medical applications and others. Hastings aims to become the next significant producer of neodymium and praseodymium outside of China.
Hastings holds 100% interest in the most significant deposits within the overall project, and 70% interest in additional deposits that will be developed at a later date, all held under Mining Leases. Numerous prospects have been identified warranting detailed exploration to further extend the life of the project.
Brockman Project
The Brockman deposit, near Halls Creek in Western Australia, contains JORC Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources, estimated using the guidelines of JORC Code (2012 Edition).
The Company is also progressing a Mining Lease application over the Brockman Rare Earths and Rare Metals Project.
Hastings aims to capitalise on the strong demand for critical rare earths created by the expanding demand for new technology products.
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