VRX Silica Receives EPA ESD Approval
THE DRILL SERGEANT: VRX Silica (ASX: VRX) has received approval from the Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia (EPA) for the Environmental Scoping Document (ESD) for proposed mining activities at the company’ 100 per cent-owned Arrowsmith North silica sand project in Western Australia.
VRX Silica labelled the EPA approval of the ESD as an important milestone in the environmental approvals process for Arrowsmith North being a precursor to the Environmental Review Document (ERD) that is required under the EPA’s public environmental review process.
The ESD approval provides VRX with an indicative timetable for full assessment acceptance by the EPA, with a final report for Ministerial environmental approval scheduled for December 2022.
The company indicated the indicative timetable enables it to plan and schedule key development activities for Arrowsmith North including financing, capital investment (in particular, for long-lead items) and construction.
“EPA approval of our Environmental Scoping Document is the culmination of many months of hard work by both VRX and the EPA and we look forward to continued collaboration as we progress the development of the Arrowsmith North silica sand project,” VRX Silica managing director Bruce Maluish said in the company’s ASX announcement.
“The ESD provides the scope of studies required for the next stage of the approvals process, the Environmental Review Document, the draft of which is well advanced, and gives us clarity on the pathway forward to full approval and development of Arrowsmith North.
“Arrowsmith North is the first of our three high-quality, world-scale projects and the most advanced pure silica sand development opportunity in Western Australia.
“I am confident the lessons from this approvals process will assist VRX as we progress approvals and development of the Arrowsmith Central and Muchea silica sand projects.
“Based on the indicative timetable now available to the company, VRX expects to begin Arrowsmith North’s six-month construction period in January 2023.”
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Email: info@vrxsilica.com.au
Web: www.vrxsilica.com.au