PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Western Australian Minister of Environment has determined that recommendations made by the state’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) around the Mardie salt and potash project, should be amended.
The EPA in July this year approved ASX-listed BCI Mineral’s plans to develop the Mardie project, making 19 recommendations, including conditions for the construction and operation of the project.
The A$913-million project is expected to produce 5.35-million tonnes a year of salt and140 000 t/y sulphate of potash, over a projected mine life of at least 60 years.
BCI on Thursday told shareholders that in responding to appeals to the EPA assessment, Environment Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson had varied the EPA’s recommended conditions to better reflect the intended outcome of the EPA’s assessment and to improve transparency and confidence in the research offset conditions.
“The Ministerial determination on the appeals is another important and positive step in the four years of Mardie environmental studies, surveys and approvals,” said BCI MD Alwyn Vorster.
“BCI made provisions for the additional approval conditions in the Mardie financial models and management plans, and the appeals determination provides additional confidence that Mardie will receive primary approval in 2021.”
The Ministerial determination on the appeals was not a final decision on the Mardie project.