West Wits Mining Ltd (ASX:WWI) has confirmed that the South African mining regulator, DMR, has accepted the scoping report for Witwatersrand Basin Project’s (WBP) Mining Right application, which further advances WWI’s strategic transformation into a junior miner.
The company also confirmed the withdrawal of all objections to its Mt Cecelia Exploration License Application in the Eastern Pilbara, paving the way for granting of the license and subsequent implementation of an exploration program in the highly prospective Paterson Province.
Map of WBP’s prospecting right area and initial targets under the mining right application
West Wits executive chairman Michael Quinert said: “The notification of formal acceptance of the WBP’s Scoping Report by the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) completes a critical phase of the Mining Right Application and moves the company closer to full-scale mine development on the existing 3.65Moz gold JORC Resource.
“The company is also pleased to report the remaining objection to Mt Cecelia Project’s Exploration License application has been withdrawn, removing a significant hurdle to granting.
“Mt Cecelia’s tenement area is situated within the highly prospective Paterson Province of Western Australia. The company anticipates announcing an exploration plan for the project in coming months.”
WBP - Mining Right Application
The DMR has formally accepted WWI’s Scoping Report, which achieves a significant milestone in the Mining Right application process and moves the WBP closer to mine development.
The DMR was satisfied the submitted Plan of Study for Environmental Impact Assessment and Scoping Report complies with EIA regulations, enabling Management to complete the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) which is the final stage of the Mining Right submission process.
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The compilation of the EIAR is well advanced, in anticipation of the DMR’s acceptance of its Scoping Report the company has already completed the majority of the independent specialist studies with the remaining few studies expected to be finalised by the end of April 2019.
The EIA public review process is scheduled to take place for a 30-day period from mid-April 2019 which will enable the EIAR to be completed for submission to the DMR before the end of May 2019.
On submission of the EIAR, the DMR has 107 days to provide a recommendation on the granting of an environmental authorisation to the Minister for determination.
Mt Cecelia – Exploration License Application
The remaining objection to West Wits’ Exploration License (EL) application covering the Mt Cecelia tenement in the Paterson Province of Western Australia has been withdrawn from the department after an agreement was reached with the native title party.
The withdrawal of the objection removes a significant hurdle, allowing the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) to complete the EL granting process.
The recent exploration licence applications by Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) and announcements concerning its’ Winu Project in the Paterson Province region, about 70 kilometres east of Mt Cecelia, indicates the potential prospectivity of the area.
Mt Cecelia and neighboring East Kimberley tenements