Element 25 Ltd (ASX:E25) has signed the final Native Title Agreement required for the grant of M52/1074 and development of the Butcherbird Manganese Project in Western Australia.
The agreement with the Karlka Nyiyaparli Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC (KNAC) recognises the Nyiyaparli People as traditional owners of the land and KNAC as the registered native title body corporate in relation to the land.
It also provides a mutually beneficial relationship by providing opportunities for KNAC and the Nyiyaparli People to participate in the project including future royalties.
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Element 25 executive director Justin Brown said: “The signing of the native title agreement with KNAC, together with the previous Native Title Agreement with the Ngarlawangga People who hold Native title over the western portion of E25’s lease application area, gives the company certainty in relation to the development of the Butcherbird Manganese Project.
“We look forward to building a strong relationship with both the Nyiyaparli and Ngarlawangga People as this long-life project comes to fruition.”
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The Butcherbird high purity manganese deposit is a world-class resource with current JORC-compliant resources in excess of 262 million tonnes of manganese ore.
Element 25 has completed a positive scoping study with respect to developing the deposit to produce high purity manganese sulphate for lithium-ion battery cathodes as well as electrolytic manganese metal for specialty steels.
The company now aims to progress as quickly as possible towards the grant of M52/1074 which will be another important milestone for the company.
A PFS is being completed and is expected to confirm the commercial potential of the project.