Perpetual Resources Ltd (ASX:PEC) has completed all the desktop studies, field surveys and impact assessments to support the environmental permitting submissions for its Beharra silica sands project in WA.
Positively, the final set of detailed studies have confirmed there are no significant environmental constraints tied to the silica sands asset.
A thorough review of the environmental approvals strategy is now underway with Perpetual’s consultant team.
Relevant government agencies have also been consulted in the hopes of optimising the approvals pathway.
Perpetual is now in the final stages of preparing for environmental approvals, and it’ll keep the market informed of its progress.
Permitting a large-scale, long-life project
Perpetual managing director Robert Benussi said the Beharra Project is one of WA’s leading silica sand projects and could help set up a new export industry in the state.
“We see Beharra as a key participant in the clean energy supply chain, with an ambition to suppling the fast-growing PV-solar cell cover glass market, an essential element in the required supply chain to decarbonise the world,” Benussi explained.
“In line with this strategy, it is pleasing to note no significant environmental constraints have been identified that would increase the development complexity of our Beharra project, a statement supported by rigorous independent environmental studies that have now been completed.
“We look forward to updating shareholders shortly on the next steps toward full environmental permitting of this unique, large-scale, long-life project.”
Studies underway
Outlined below are all the key environmental approval-related workstreams for which Perpetual has secured reports.
Promisingly, the company says all studies to date support the thesis that Beharra carries “a benign environmental risk and footprint”:
- flora and vegetation: level two field surveys completed and final reports received;
- terrestrial fauna: level two field surveys completed and final reports received;
- greenhouse gas: assessment confirming emissions are within target ranges received;
- noise: favourable acoustic assessment completed with final report received;
- dust/air quality: air quality assessment report confirms compliance with adopted air quality criteria;
- heritage: Aboriginal heritage site avoidance survey completed with no isolated artefacts or previously unrecorded heritage sites recorded during the survey;
- short-range endemic (SRE) invertebrate fauna: level one study completed with final report received;
- subterranean fauna: desktop assessment completed with final report received;
- hydrogeology: water resource confirmed and conceptual hydrogeology model completed, preliminary desktop model and report received; and
- hydrology: surface hydrology assessment completed with final report received.
Moving ahead, Perpetual is bringing together all the final documentation to support its permit applications.
This work is on the home run, and shareholders will be updated once the final submission takes place later this month.