VRX Silica Ltd (ASX:VRX) has submitted its referral to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for environmental approval of the 100%-owned Arrowsmith North Silica Sand Project in Western Australia.
This referral incorporates pre-referral feedback received from the EPA in December 2020 and concludes that Arrowsmith North can be developed without significant residual impacts on the environment given the implementation of mitigation measures and the company’s proposed mining and rehabilitation methodology.
The EPA’s environmental impact assessment will be conducted as an accredited assessment that will see it also assess the proposal on behalf of the Federal Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment.
“Significant milestone for development”
VRX managing director Bruce Maluish said: “This is a significant milestone for the development of Arrowsmith North and our goal to become a leading supplier of high-quality silica sand to the global market.
“VRX has developed a unique and progressive mining and rehabilitation method specifically for Arrowsmith North and our other silica sand projects to minimise the environmental impact of our activities.
“Thorough planning will allow us to deliver our silica sand projects sustainably and efficiently, with a very low carbon footprint.”
Vegetation direct transfer method
VRX’s Vegetation Direct Transfer (VDT) method lends itself to rapid and extensive regeneration of affected areas based on continuous rehabilitation as silica sand mining progresses.
Root structures in the loose sand at Arrowsmith North are relatively shallow at 200-300 millimetres in depth.
The VDT method removes a 400-millimetre deep sod, with the topsoil containing the vast majority of native flora and invertebrate fauna preserved and near-surface humus and its microbial contents remaining intact.
A video of the company’s proposed VDT method can be viewed here: https://vrxsilica.com.au/miningandrehabilitationmethodology/
Mining and rehabilitation plans
The company will use no chemicals and produce no dust while processing the mined silica sand, with efficient attritioning beneficiating the sand to glass-quality product for export.
VRX will also recycle a substantial proportion of water used in processing, with preliminary engineering work targeting an up to 95% recycling rate and further investigations underway to recycle even more water.
Water will be sourced from the deeper Yarragadee North aquifer and all mining will be conducted well above the surficial water table.
VRX project locations.
Socio-economic outlook
The Arrowsmith North processing plant will ultimately be powered by a hybrid wind, solar and gas power system to minimise emissions.
VRX has already conducted Aboriginal heritage and ethnographic surveys with no significant sites recorded in the proposed mining area and the project will offer employment and contract opportunities to local Indigenous groups.
The company also intends to support the local ranger program.
Shares are up more than 8% to 33 cents and have risen from 25.5 cents at the market close on March 9 while the company's market cap is approximately $138.8 million.