JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources has given the go-ahead for the transfer of mining rights over a 49,9% stake in the Tshipi Kalahari Manganese project to ASX-listed Jupiter Mines.

In August, Jupiter shareholders approved the proposed acquisition of the interest in the Tshipi project in return for the issue of A$245-million in shares to the owner of the 49,9% stake, a consortium of investors, which included Brian Gilbertson’s Pallinghurst Resources.

The transfer of the mining right was the last regulatory approval pending the decision to start construction of the Tshipi manganese mine, where production was expected to start in 2012.

A feasibility study for the project has indicated a production potential of between 2,2-million and 2,3-million tons a year of run-of-mine ore.

A black economic-empowerment consortium, Ntsimbintle, held the remaining 50,1% interest in the project.