Image Resources (ASX:IMA) is set to begin construction at the Atlas Mineral Sands Project in Perth, Western Australia after receiving a range of approvals.
Yesterday the company received final approval for the Atlas Project development from the Australian Government, as required under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, alongside approvals of the offset environmental management plan from the environment protection authority (EPA).
Approval was also received for the Banksia Woodlands Rehabilitation Environmental Management Plan from the EPA.
CEO Patrick Mutz says receiving these approvals serves as the trigger for mobilising contractors and equipment to Atlas, starting next week.
“Early construction works on the Atlas mining camp is more than 50% complete and deconstruction of the relevant sections of the Boonanarring wet concentration plant for relocation to Atlas is well underway,” Mutz says.
“We look forward to the delivery of another rapid, streamlined, and efficient construction and commissioning effort.”
The groundwater operating strategy (GOS), which is required for DWER’s approval for a 5C water abstraction licence and mine dewatering licence, is the only approval required for Atlas to proceed to full mine development.
Image Resources says the approval of the GOS does not prevent the company starting on-ground construction of the processing plant and related infrastructure, nor the removal of mine topsoil and overburden anova the water table.
The company expects approval of the GOS to be received in the coming weeks.
Image Resources, which has a market capitalisation of $76 million, is a mineral sands-focused mining company that owns assets in Western Australia. The company’s assets include Yandanooka, Atlas, Bidaminna, McCalls, and Boonanarring.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Image Resources
