Mine Permitting Applications For Yangibana Project Lodged
Sydney, April 3, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Hastings Technology Metals Limited (
ASX:HAS) ("Hastings" or "the Company") is pleased to advise that it has lodged the EIA for its Yangibana Nd-Pr Rare Earths project with the EPA. A Referral Submission was also lodged with the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Energy. Under the Commonwealth and State Approval system, the EPA is the reviewing agency acting on behalf of WA and the Commonwealth.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) lodged with Western Australia (WA) Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)
- Referable Submission lodged with Commonwealth Department of Environment and Energy
- Preliminary Mine Development Proposal (MDP) lodged with WA Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP)
- Commencement of iterative reviews of the applications with EPA and DMP to map out approval timelines
A preliminary MDP has been lodged with the DMP. Further studies emanating from the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) are required to be lodged at a later time to complete the MDP for final assessment. The DFS is scheduled for completion during Q3 2017. The lodgement of the preliminary MDP is to enable the MDP to be fast tracked, pending further outstanding reports that will flow from the DFS.
An iterative review process has commenced with the EPA and DMP that will identify any areas of additional information, if required, for the relevant permitting approvals to be granted. The review process will also clarify the timeline for the approval processes.
The Yangibana Nd-Pr Rare Earths project is in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia. The Company plans to construct a processing plant to produce a Mixed Rare Earths Carbonate product, through the process of mining, beneficiation and hydrometallurgy. On completion of the Permitting, the start-up construction phase is expected to create up to 500 jobs directly and indirectly in and around the Gascoyne region.
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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