PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has approved a significant amendment to the Earl Grey lithium project, allowing for the construction of a solar plant and changes to the tailings waste disposal methods.

Earl Grey is an opencut lithium mine at the abandoned Mt Holland mine site, about 105 km southeast of Southern Cross.

The opencut operation is expected to produce between three-million and five-million tonnes a year of lithium ore, with the pit to be developed over multiple stages over a 40-year mine life.

A joint venture between lithium major SQM and ASX-listed Wesfarmers, Covalent Lithium, in 2019 received approval to clear up to 386 ha of native vegetation for a mine pit, waste rock dump, integrated waste landform, processing plant, airstrip, accommodation village, water supply pipeline and associated infrastructure.

The newly approved amendment will incorporate a solar plant, variation to the air strip, co-disposal of inert refinery waste generated from the Kwinana lithium refinery, change in the tailings waste disposal methodology from dry to wet tailings and modification to existing exclusion areas for significant flora and fauna. The changes result in the additional clearing of 56 ha of native vegetation.

The EPA has recommended that the proposal be implemented subject to the implementation of a flora and vegetation environmental management plan, the provision of offsets and specifications for rehabilitation, and the development and implementation of a fauna management plan.

EPA chairperson Professor Matthew Tonts said the Authority noted the importance of lithium as a critical mineral for future renewable power generation.

“The proposed amendment includes critical infrastructure and renewable energy sources. The EPA considered the amendment could go ahead with both environmental protection, and restoration during and after mining, a key part of the decision.”

The EPA’s report and recommendations will be subject to a three-week appeal period, closing on November 1.