ASX-listed Atomic Eagle reports that it has received approval for the environmental- and social-impact assessment (ESIA) from the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) and a “no objection” approval of the resettlement action plan (RAP) from the office of the vice president: resettlement division, for its Muntanga uranium project.

In a media statement, the company says that, together, these approvals represent the key environmental and social permits required for the eventual start of construction of the project.

The company notes that the receipt of the ESIA and the RAP approvals represents a major derisking milestone for the Muntanga uranium project.

The company says these approvals confirm that the project’s environmental and social impacts have been assessed and accepted by regulators; that a compliant resettlement and livelihood restoration framework is in place and in line with International Finance Corporation Performance Standards; and that the project can progress toward development, subject to standard implementation steps.

“Securing both the ESIA and RAP approvals marks a major step forward for the Muntanga project, significantly derisking the pathway towards eventual development,” says CEO Phil Hoskins.

He adds that the approvals are also a strong endorsement by key government agencies reflecting strong regulatory alignment and stakeholder engagement, further reinforcing Zambia’s support for responsible uranium development and its attractiveness as a mining jurisdiction.

With key permits in place, he says Muntanga is now positioned as a development-ready asset – an increasingly rare and strategically valuable profile in a uranium market where few projects can deliver new supply into the expected structural deficit.

“While we are pleased to have cleared these permitting milestones, our focus remains on growing the resource base to support a larger, more valuable operation at Muntanga.”

Importantly, Atomic Eagle notes that these approvals have been secured without altering the company’s core strategy, which remains focused on growing the resource base and defining a larger-scale mining operation before any development decision is considered.

The company emphasises that, notwithstanding the achievement of key permitting milestones, Muntanga remains in a resource growth and optimisation phase.

The strategy is clearly defined – expand the mineral resource base through the ongoing drilling programme; incorporate additional existing resources not currently included in the feasibility study; re-optimise project scale and configuration; position the project for a materially larger and more robust development scenario.

Atomic Eagle says this approach reflects the company’s view that the project economics at Muntanga have the potential to improve substantially at scale and that maximising this scale is the key driver of long-term shareholder value.

Additionally, with the ESIA and RAP approvals now secured, Atomic Eagle says the project benefits from significantly reduced permitting risk.

This provides the company with a clear regulatory pathway to development, when appropriate; flexibility in timing development decisions; and the ability to focus on optimisation and scale, rather than permitting dependencies.

The company notes that advancing to construction is not the current priority, and that development timing will be aligned with project scale and optimisation outcomes, market conditions and completion of future technical work.

Atomic Eagle explains that ESIA approval is subject to a comprehensive set of environmental and social management commitments.

This includes implementation of a comprehensive Environmental and Social Management Plan; ongoing environmental monitoring and reporting to ZEMA; radiation safety, water management and pollution control measures; biodiversity protection and land rehabilitation; and implementation of radiation protection, tailings management and environmental monitoring programmes in accordance with ZEMA and Radiation Protection Authority requirements.

Meanwhile, the RAP incorporates internationally aligned resettlement and livelihood restoration principles, including full replacement cost compensation framework; a detailed household census and asset register; structured resettlement planning and housing replacement; a comprehensive livelihood restoration programme with multi-year support; and a formal grievance redress mechanism.

Atomic Eagle explains that the RAP is valid for 18 months from the date of approval. If the company has not begun RAP implementation prior to the 18-month term, a new RAP approval will be required.

The company expects that, subject to satisfaction of various procedural matters, including allocation of funding towards the RAP, it will receive an implementation clearance letter for the RAP.