Photo by: Bloombeg
PERTH (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed Metro Mining might face a complicated environmental approvals process at its Bauxite Hills mine, in Queensland.
The miner said on Monday that the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (DEHP) had verbally advised the company that they would require a full environmental-impact statement (EIS) for the project, despite already having received a detailed site specific environment authority application.
The company had questioned the validity of the DEHP’s request for the heightened level of environmental scrutiny, pointing out that the Bauxite Hills project did not trigger any of the legislated specific criteria that would require an EIS.
The company further said it had not previously been advised of the need for an EIS, despite being in negotiations with the DEHP since 2014.
“While we have not received formal advice from the department, if that is, in fact, their final position, Metro will seek a formal interdepartmental review through the established process,” the company said in a statement.
Metro added that the company was reviewing its alternative timing strategy for the project.
A February feasibility study estimated that the Bauxite Hills mine would deliver some two-million tonnes a year of direct shipping ore (DSO) product, over a mine life of 21 years.
The DSO operation was expected to require a capital investment of only A$27.4-million and would deliver an internal rate of return of 88% and a net present value after tax of A$197-million.