Australian Vanadium Ltd (ASX:AVL, OTCQB:ATVVF) has received the Western Australia Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval for the Gabanintha Vanadium Project, which now forms part of the Australian Vanadium Project in the state's Mid-West.
Western Australian Minister for Environment Reece Whitby MLA has approved AVL’s proposal, giving the mine’s site, concentrator, processing plant and other key infrastructure including the bore field and camp the green light.
The company is advancing an Optimised Feasibility Study (OFS) to incorporate the Gabanintha Vanadium Project into the company’s Australian Vanadium Project to develop a larger consolidated project with improved economics.
“Major milestone”
“This approval marks a major milestone for the company, advancing the project towards construction and production while strengthening our confidence in securing the remaining approvals needed to move forward with the consolidated Australian Vanadium Project,” Australian Vanadium CEO Graham Arvidson said.
“We are grateful to the Government of Western Australia and Minister Whitby for their support in this critical approval for the project.
“We also reaffirm our commitment to building positive long-term relationships with all of our community stakeholders.”
AVL proposes to develop an open cut vanadium mine and concentrator at Gabanintha and a vanadium oxide processing plant at Tenindewa, inland from the port city of Geraldton in Western Australia.
This strategy would enable AVL to produce a vanadium concentrate at the Gabanintha mine site and produce high-purity vanadium oxides and an iron concentrate coproduct at the Tenindewa plant for export through Geraldton port.
The company intends to align with the Australian Government’s ‘Future Made in Australia’ plan to support Australia’s transition to a net zero economy, while also increasing manufacturing on Australian shores.
AVL shares have been as much as 11.54% higher to $0.0145 with more than 18 million changing hands by 12:30pm Sydney time.