Eclipse Metals Ltd (ASX:EPM) has completed the scoping phase reports of social and environmental impact assessments for its Ivigtût Project in southwestern Greenland, with the assistance of Danish consultancy, COWI.
The company has submitted the reports to Greenland’s Mineral Licence and Safety Authority (MLSA) to progress the Ivigtût Project.
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The scoping phase of the environmental and social impact assessments aims to identify potential environmental, social, and socioeconomic issues related to the project.
This study is essential to the pre-consultation and early involvement of the various stakeholders in the Ivigtût Project.
Data for each of the studies will be collected through published literary reviews, sampling and fieldwork, surveying, local knowledge, data entry, analysis and reporting.
The results and findings of these studies will be used to form part of the final assessments, which are required as part of the application to the MLSA for a mining licence in Greenland.
“A new chapter in the licencing timeline”
Eclipse executive chairman Carl Popal said the company was thrilled to have completed this stage of the process and excited to be one step closer to applying for a mining licence for the Ivigtût and Gronnedal prospects.
Popal added: “Moving forward with the SIA and EIA submission means that Eclipse has entered a new chapter in the licencing timeline for Ivigtût with a goal of becoming a producer of polymetallic, REE, and industrial minerals in a tier one jurisdiction.
“Despite global financial uncertainty, Eclipse is well positioned to take advantage of building on the highly demanded critical metals, REE and industrial mineral opportunities within Greenland.
“There is a level of overlap between the University of Delaware’s economic regional redevelopment study and aspects of our Social Impact Assessment, and we are enthusiastic that academic collaboration with the University of Delaware will be of assistance throughout these studies, going forward.”
EIA and SIA
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will focus on pollution, impacts to flora and fauna, local use, and determining the chemical composition and acid generating potential of ore, waste rock, tailings, and other products, including process chemicals.
Ecological toxicity tests will also be carried out as part of the environmental scoping study.
The Social Impact Assessment (SIA) will run in parallel with the EIA and will present and analyse information about the social, economic, and health conditions in Greenland.
It will construct a baseline of socio-economic data, including monitoring changes in communities that may be affected by the project components.
As part of the study, Eclipse will interact with affected residents and communities during data collection to exchange information on project activities and allow stakeholders to provide feedback about relevant issues to include in the baseline.