PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Western Australian Department of Mines, Energy and Safety has approved ASX-listed GWR’s mining proposal, clearing permits, mine closure and project management plan for its C4 Stage 1 iron-ore project.
The C4 project is 1.4 km long and contains a combined direct shipping ore (DSO) hematite mineral resource estimate of 21.6-million tonnes at 60.7% iron.
The Stage 1 project targets a 500 m strike length of outcropping high DSO hematite mineralisation within the larger deposit.
GWR said on Friday that the federal government’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Water had also reviewed plans for the C4 Stage 1 project and had determined that it would not require further assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
The eventual exploitation of the C4 deposit will effectively open up GWR’s entire 131-million-tonne Wiluna West project for exploitation.
“These approvals represent a significant milestone for the company and pave the way for the commencement of commercial iron-ore production at the Wiluna West iron-ore project,” said GWR chairperson Gary Lyons.
“Current strong iron-ore prices provide a unique opportunity for the company and the Wiluna West iron-ore project, an exceptional DSO iron-ore development project, which will produce a high-grade, low-impurity iron-ore.”
GWR has been engaging with the Port of Geraldton and its current users for port access, and will continue to investigate opportunities to gain access to the Port of Esperance. Discussions are also ongoing with nearby mines for access to site services.