Astron Corporation Ltd (ASX:ATR) has obtained all necessary approvals for project start-up at its Niafarang Project in Senegal.
Niafarang is a high-grade coastal mineral sands deposit that will be extracted using simple dredge mining and gravity processing methods.
Start-up will begin as soon as the locally appointed government resettlement committee implements the approved resettlement plan with local land owners.
Stage I of the project will initiate the Niafarang strike in low-impact areas of an elevated dunal formation.
Building a presence in Senegal
Astron as begun shipping equipment to the project site and started local procurement.
The mining licence was granted in mid-2017 and is known as a small mining licence (SML), which was a strategic step in showcasing Astron’s commitment to the local people, regulators and protection agencies.
These efforts will expand the company’s ability to further explore and accelerate opportunities in Senegal.
Environmental approvals were part of the SML grant and concerns regarding marine erosion and sea level change were addressed as part of the approval process and project plan.
Several prospective areas identified
Mine planning and feasibility work is ongoing and includes:
An update to ore reserves to comply with JORC 2012, which will include mine production grades as well as approximate zircon, rutile and ilmenite specifications;
Mining equipment and output;
Mine start-up date and first shipment of heavy minerals to China for processing; and
Final product sales for zircon, rutile and ilmenite.
Astron has several large areas identified for future exploration within the local region of Casamance in Senegal.
These areas will be determined through a detailed assessment to ensure low environmentally sensitive areas are prioritised.