The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has granted Alkane Resources’ wholly-owned subsidiary, Australian Zirconia Limited (AZL), an Environment Protection Licence for the Dubbo Zirconia Project (DZP).
Image credit: Alkane Resources’ youtube page
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEqXppaW4dY&feature=youtu.be)
It means that the company has now received all the required approvals for the project to proceed, including approval from the NSW Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) and approval from the NSW Department of Industry, Division of Resources and Energy for the granting of the necessary mining lease.
Commenting on the significant milestone for the project, Minister for Industry, Resources and Energy, Anthony Roberts, said the Environmental Protection License was the final hurdle facing Alkane Resources before it begins developing the project.
“The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has granted an Environmental Protection License to Alkane Resources after the company had already been granted a Mining Lease last December after it had met a rigorous government approval process,” the Minister said.
He said that more than $1 billion will be invested in the project and about $50 million spent in the Dubbo region each year.
“The Dubbo Zirconia project will provide enormous benefits locally, to the State and indeed Australia,” Mr Roberts added.
The Dubbo Zirconia Project is located 25 kilometres south of the large regional centre of Dubbo in the Central West Region of New South Wales.
According to the company, the mine is expected to process 1,000,000 tonnes of ore throughput per year over a period of 70 years or more.
The DZP will produce a strategic and alternative supply of zirconium (hafnium), niobium (tantalum), yttrium and rare earth elements to the global market.
