Update - Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Study
Perth, Oct 22, 2013 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Australian based iron ore development company, Kogi Iron Limited (
ASX:KFE) ("Kogi Iron" or the "Company") is pleased to report on the progress of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ("ESIA") being conducted by Greenwater Environmental Services Limited ("Greenwater") for its 100% owned Agbaja Iron Ore Project ("Agbaja Project").
The ESIA work was contracted by Kogi Iron's 100% owned Nigerian subsidiary, KCM Mining Limited, and commenced in January 2013. The Company advises that the ESIA is progressing well and is on track for completion by the end of December 2013. The ESIA is assessing the environmental and social impact of the proposed mining activity at the Agbaja Project and is a key component of the Scoping Study evaluating the viability of a 5 million tonne per annum iron ore operation.
Greenwater is an environmental consulting group with a specialist team that is experienced in environmental and social impact assessment studies in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Greenwater submitted the terms of reference, and obtained approval from the Federal Ministry of Environment prior to commencing the ESIA early this year.
Initial site verification was carried out in conjunction with all stakeholders and base line data collection for the dry and wet seasons is now complete. All samples collected have been analysed at Nigerian laboratories accredited by the Federal Ministry of Environment.
Kogi Iron's Nigerian-based Executive Director, Kevin Joseph said: "The ESIA includes baseline studies associated with groundwater, surface water, soil quality and sediment loads. Greenwater's work also includes vegetation, habitat, wildlife studies and the collection of air quality, noise measurements and meteorological data.
The work with the local community included land use, and socio-economic, health and cultural assessments. The final report will assess the impact of the proposed mining at the Agbaja Project and will consider mitigation measures and a decommissioning plan. Kogi Iron's Nigerian team has supported the work of Greenwater at Agbaja, including meteorological data collection".
Mr Joseph added: "Once the ESIA is finalised it will be submitted to the Federal Ministry of Environment where there will be a mandatory 21 day public exposure period, followed by a period of public review. Approval of the ESIA is anticipated at the completion of this process."
About Macro Metals Limited
Macro Metals Limited is an ASX-listed company (ASX:M4M) with the intent to build a cast steel plant on the Agbaja Plateau in Kogi State, Nigeria. The project will utilise company leased iron ore deposits and will supply a cast steel feedstock to steel manufacturing and product fabricators in Nigeria and overseas.
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