Great Western Mining Corporation PLC (AIM:GWMO) said it has started work on the construction of its processing mill joint venture in Nevada, though it has resubmitted its application for approval after recommendations from the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (NDEP).
Changes requested by NDEP were reasonable and will be easily manageable, said the statement, which added approval is required for the operating phase but not for the construction.
As a result, work on the mill can "confidently move forward" while awaiting operating approval.
Ground conditions at the mill site are now good and surface work started last week in preparation for laying concrete, scheduled for the end of this month, subject to weather conditions.
Exploration, meanwhile, will focus on the Olympic Gold project where a rig is being set up for shallow drilling of the OMCO Mine prospect.
Drilling in 2022 intercepted the OMCO Mine vein for the first time and an extension is now believed to have been established.
Great Western added it has also been granted an £83,000 tax credit for geological work carried out in the years 2020 and 2021.
Brian Hall, chairman, commented: "We are pleased to have started work on the mill site and to have secured a drill rig for shallow drilling at the OMCO Mine prospect, a priority for the company.
“With the net proceeds from the recent placing, no debt and a tax credit received, we are well-placed to progress our production project and our exploration objectives this spring."