BCI Minerals Ltd (ASX:BCI) (OTCMKTS:BIRNF) has received a positive Environment Protection Authority (EPA) recommendation for its Mardie Salt & Potash Project in Western Australia.
EPA has recommended to WA’s Minister for the Environment that the project may be implemented as proposed in the Environmental Review Document (ERD) subject to certain conditions.
After receiving recommendations, the Minister will now consult with other WA Government Departments before making a final decision.
Environmental approval is one of the few remaining milestones on the road to BCI’s Final Investment Decision (FID).
Meeting Government expectations
BCI’S managing director Alwyn Vorster said: “This positive environmental assessment represents four years of collaboration with the EPA and evidences our systematic approach to approvals and our willingness to engage with stakeholders.
“Mardie’s comprehensive environmental management plans will ensure the environmental values will be appropriately managed and protected.
“We are confident that the Mardie ERD with associated EPA conditions are aligned with environmental best practice and will meet the expectations of the WA Government.”
EPA recommendations
Recommendations made by the EPA includes 19 proposed conditions to be adhered to in the construction and operation of the Mardie Project, which are consistent with BCI’s designs, costings and implementation plans.
The company is ready to make minor modifications to drainage design to improve management of surface water flow, if needed, and will also contribute funds to the WA Government’s Pilbara Environmental Offset Fund and other research and management programs.
These changes will not have a material impact on the design and economic assumptions supporting the project development.
According to the company, the EPA recommendations are based on Mardie’s definitive feasibility study (DFS) announced on July 1, 2020.
Newly acquired tenements
As per BCI’s optimised feasibility study (OFS), additional project areas on the newly acquired tenements will be subject to further environmental assessment and approvals over the next 12-15 months and these additional areas will not require construction access until late in 2022.
These areas are considerably smaller than the original DFS footprint and mostly in an area infested by Mesquite weed, which means the assessment process is expected to be relatively less complex.
About the company
BCI Minerals is an Australia-based company developing a salt and potash business supported by iron ore royalty earnings.
The company is rapidly advancing its 100%-owned Mardie Salt & Potash Project, a potential tier 1 project on the West Pilbara coast in the centre of Australia's key salt production region.
It aims to produce 5.35 million tonnes per annum of high-purity salt (having more than 99.5% NaCl) and 140,000 tonnes per annum of sulphate of potash (SOP) through solar evaporation of seawater.