Anson Resources (ASX:ASN) has received a conditional use permit (CUP) from the Green River City Planning & Zoning Commission for drilling on the area of its proposed Utah Sample Demonstration Plant (USDP).
The CUP application for exploration permits was lodged in December 2023 for the USDP at the company’s Green River Lithium Project in the Paradox Basin in south-eastern Utah, US.
Anson says approval is an important step in its plans to develop the Green River Project in parallel with its lead project, the nearby Paradox Lithium Project.
The grant of the CUP follows the Green River City Council’s approval of the re-zoning of Anson’s privately owned ground at the Green River Project for exploration drilling and mineral processing.
The CUP will allow Anson to conduct exploration drilling adjacent to the proposed USDP. The aim will be utilising the brine from the drilled well directly into the lithium extraction process at the demonstration plant to replicate as closely as possible the operating conditions of the company’s proposed future full-scale production plant.
This will include the temperature of the brine and make-up of the brine, including the lithium grade.
Anson is of the view that this information will contribute to the further de-risking of the project by helping to provide greater certainty on the attributes of the Project’s lithium brines for potential offtake partners.
Anson started construction of the USDP in November 2023. Progress has been achieved in recent weeks with the construction of fencing surrounding the plant site, preparation of a drilling pad, along with connection of grid power and other utilities.
Equipment from the Anson’s Lithium Innovation Centre (LIC) has been replicated and will be installed in the USDP. With the CUP now in place, applications for the planned drilling program have been made to the Utah Division of Oil and Gas (UDOGM) and are progressing through the approval stages.
The CUP also allows for a planned Visitor Centre to progress at the Green River site. The company plans to use Visitor Centre and the USDP for meetings with potential offtake partners, OEMs, Cathode Active Materials producers, and potential funders of the planned full-scale production plant.
Write to Adam Orlando at Mining.com.au
Images: Anson
