ioneer Ltd (ASX:INR) (FRA:4G1) (OTCMKTS:GSCCF) has been issued a Class II air quality permit for its Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project in Nevada, following a detailed review of the project by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection Bureau of Air Pollution Control.
Rhyolite Ridge will comprise a quarry, an overburden storage facility, the first sulphuric acid plant permitted in the State of Nevada, an ore processing facility responsible for boric acid and lithium carbonate production, and a spent ore storage facility.
Investors responded positively to the news, with shares as much as 12.73% higher to A$0.310 cents.
State-of-the-art controls
The project’s acid plant features MECS® /SNC Lavalin designed heat recovery technology, which means the plant will generate all of the electricity and heat needed for normal operations.
This means the operation will be energy-independent and using co-generated zero-carbon power.
It features state-of-the-art controls that limit emissions to among the lowest in the world for this type of plant.
Fossil fuels will not be used to generate electricity during normal operations and will not draw power from the electricity grid.
Committed to responsible production
ioneer managing director Bernard Rowe said: "Our commitment to responsible production is at the core of our operation.
“The issuance of the Class II Air Quality Permit represents a significant milestone for the Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project and supports our detailed plans for a processing plant with low emissions and minimal hazardous air pollutants.
“We are grateful for the efforts of NDEP, our consultants and ioneer employees to achieve this milestone.
“After regulatory review and public comment period, we are pleased that Rhyolite Ridge is the first project with sulphuric acid production to receive a Class II Air Quality permit in Nevada.
“As the most advanced lithium development project in the US, we are committed to ensuring Rhyolite Ridge is a sustainable, environmentally sensitive operation that also delivers significant positive economic impact in the state of Nevada.
“This important step allows us to continue to develop the Project and work toward construction.”