Core Lithium Ltd (ASX:CXO) has received approval from the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (NTEPA) to extend the environmental impact assessment (EIA) to match an updated 7-year extension of mine life at Grants operation within the Finniss Lithium Project.
The NTEPA has considered the company’s notification of alteration to extend the operation of the Grants open pit mine and the proposed 1 million tonnes per annum dense media separation (DMS) process plant to seven years and determined that the environmental significance of the altered proposal is unchanged.
“Significant step forward”
Core managing director Stephen Biggins said: “We have taken another significant step forward as we advance the first lithium project in the NT towards development.
“This outcome reflects the alignment of goals between NT Government and Core - for the Territory to become an environmentally sustainable, high-quality supplier of lithium to the growing global electric vehicle and renewable energy storage market and to play a critical role in supporting the world's response to reducing emissions and managing climate change risk.”
Core aims to complete offtake arrangements and have the Finniss Lithium Project construction-ready in 2020 ahead of sourcing debt and equity to achieve financial close.
Notice of alteration decision
Core applied for the extension to enable subsequent processing of spodumene pegmatite from the nearby BP33 and Carlton deposits at the proposed processing facility at Grants.
The extension was assessed against the NT EPA’s environmental factors and objectives to reconsider the environmental significance of the altered proposal.
The Notice of Intent (NOI) for BP33 and subsequent approvals for future developments at Finniss will be assessed under the EP Act and Environment Protection Regulations 2020 which commenced on June 28, 2020.
The statement of reasons will be made available on the NTEPA website.