Infinity Lithium Corporation Ltd (ASX:INF) continues to work towards submitting a direct mining licence application for the San José Lithium Project in Spain despite a ruling from the Contentious Administrative Court (CAC) in Cáceres confirming cancellation of the Investigation Permit Valdeflorez (PIV).
The company said the CAC decision was not unexpected and had provided clarity on the appropriate pathway to lodging a mining licence.
Effectively Infinity Lithium planned for this scenario and wholly-owned subsidiary Extremadura New Energies is now advancing submissions for the lodgement of a direct Exploitation Concession in line with its agreements with local and regional government.
Permitting on course
The company said its permitting strategy remained on course with the Exploitation Concession permitting process initiated following invitation from regional and local authorities.
This process is already underway with the lodgement of the initial document in early October 2022.
The regional government will provide its feedback on that document in the form of an Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Document early in the new year.
“Now defined pathway”
Infinity Lithium Corporation managing director Ryan Parkin said, “The company has worked with regional and local authorities towards preparing a permitting pathway which considers any outcome with regards to this decision.
"We look forward to progressing the lodgement of the Exploitation Concession Application through this now defined pathway in line with the support shown by relevant local and regional stakeholders.”
Infinity is well funded for lodgement of the Exploitation Concession application and advancing through permitting and feasibility studies.
Regional and local support
The company said it would continue to engage with local and regional stakeholders to deliver the benefits of San José to the locality of Cáceres.
In support of these efforts, the Regional Government of Extremadura has ratified the Lithium Decree Law for integrated lithium projects to be classified as projects of regional interest and subsequently benefit from reduced administrative timeframes.
“All steps taken are valid”
Extremadura New Energies’ CEO Ramón Jiménez noted, “This decision has provided us clarity on the pathway to apply directly for the Exploitation Concession through our Exploration Permit application as has been acknowledged by Regional Government of Extremadura under the Mining Law with the technical and economic viability of the San José deposit demonstrated.
"All steps taken up to this moment are valid and maintain our expected execution timeline on track.”
Infinity maintains that the proposed research activities conducted in the assessment of the project in the area of the PIV did not constitute extraction or exploitation of raw materials, and therefore were actions not affected by limitations in the General Urban Development Plan of Cáceres.
In effect, the Court’s judgement has determined investigative activities such as drilling and pitting are not considered extractive activities under the Mining Law but are considered as extractive activities for municipal urban planning purposes.
Underground extraction
Subsequent to cancellation of the PIV, the company announced the redesigned project and underground mineral exploitation with the delivery of a positive scoping study following a decision to move to underground extraction of lithium after direct engagement with local and regional stakeholders and government.
The process of submitting a direct Exploitation Concession application was initiated in advance of the Court’s decision with the lodgement of the ‘Initial Document’ to the Dirección General de Industria, Energía y Minas (General Directorate of Industry, Energy and Mines) and Dirección General de Sostenibilidad (General Directorate of Sustainability) in Extremadura.
The purpose of the Initial Document is to request that the environmental body formulate the Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Document (ESIA) in advance of the commencement of the ordinary EIA procedure.
The ESIA will provide the basis on the direct Exploitation Concession application.
Committed to redesigned project
Infinity says it is committed to the redesigned project which incorporated the underground extraction of lithium and development of a fully integrated industrial lithium conversion plant.
The company will continue to collaborate with local and regional stakeholders and government following the initiation and submission of preliminary documentation to advance the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Mining Licence Application (MLA).