Tietto Minerals Ltd (ASX:TIE) has engaged environmental specialists RPMGlobal to advance work on baseline Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) studies at Abujar-Gludehi (AG) deposit of the Abujar Gold Project in Cote d’lvoire, West Africa.
RPMGlobal’s principal social specialist Luke Stephens will lead the development of work within the 2.2 million-ounce Abujar project.
Ivorian environmental consultancy Envitech SARL has also begun baseline ESIA field studies, which are a required key component needed for the grant of a mining licence in Cote d’Ivoire.
The ESIA will identify the potential social and environmental impacts of developing Abujar as well as outline any proposed mitigation measures.
Once the ESIA is completed later this year the company will submit it to the Ivorian Environment Minister for review and approval as a necessary step for the issuance of the mining licence.
Advancing towards mining licence
Managing director Caigen Wang said: “The appointment of these key EASG consultants is part of our strategy to advance work on project studies necessary for the grant of a mining licence and ultimately, the development of a mining operation at Abujar.
“Our ESG team will undertake the project baseline studies to be used to compile the environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) required to obtain environmental approval from the Ivoirian Environment minister.
“The ESG program will run in parallel with technical studies while drilling continues on-site as we target delivery of an updated resource in Q3 2020.
“This updated mineral resource and results from a metallurgical test-work program also underway will underpin a PFS scheduled for Q1 2021.”
Envitech team in the field
Tietto’s 50,000-metre drilling program continues at Abujar using its fleet of company-owned drill rigs ahead of an updated mineral resource in Q3 2020 and a pre-feasibility study (PFS) in Q1 2021.
The goal of the drilling is to increase the resource inventory of existing deposits as well as identifying new prospects within the Abujar project’s 70-kilometre-long gold corridor.
Tietto expects to report more drilling results in coming weeks, including from new prospects along strike extensions of the AG deposit and the APG deposit.