Besra Gold (ASX:BEZ) has received key local government approval for proposed test/pilot gold mining and processing at its Jugan Project in the Bau Goldfield corridor of Malaysia.
The company reports the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) of Sarawak has approved an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the planned mining and processing testwork.
The EIA, combined with supporting documentation regarding mine rehabilitation and pilot plant specification details, will now be lodged with the Land and Survey Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development for approval to begin mining activities within ML01/2013/1D.
Until formal approval is received from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development, Besra reports it will continue with preliminary activities under an Early Commencement Works approval granted in December 2022.
This includes ‘sterilisation drilling’ to ensure the proposed pilot plant infrastructure will not sterilise access to potential commercial mineralisation. In the meantime, the company reports the design of the pilot processing plant is largely complete, with procurement items sourced.
Besra also says arrangements are being advanced to engage civil engineering and fabrication contractors to ensure the build and commissioning of the operation meet the December 2023 schedule.
Additionally, the company says there are no exceptional conditions attached to the EIA approval, noting it was granted with general terms and conditions including quarterly reporting of environmental monitoring.
Besra says EIA approval is a long-lead-time item that is crucial for the construction and operation of the proposed test/pilot plant processing facility and associated mine pit. Initially, the plant will have a nominal throughput capacity of 50 tonnes per day, which can be expanded to 400 tonnes per day.
The plant will have a nominal throughput capacity of 50 tonnes per day, which can be expanded to 400 tonnes per day
The company reports this throughput range will ensure valid commercial scalability of the processing results, which will be incorporated into the final feasibility study for Jugan.
Besra Gold is an ASX-listed gold miner focused on exploring and developing the Bau Goldfield in East Malaysia. The company currently holds a 92% interest in the Bau Gold Project, which contains multiple brownfield exploration projects including Pejiru, Jugan Hill, Sirenggok, Bekajang, Taiton, and Say Seng.
Write to Harry Mulholland at Mining.com.au
Images: Besra Gold Inc
