Centaurus Metals has received technical approval for its Mining Lease Application – PAE for its Jaguar Nickel Sulphide Project from the Brazilian National Mining Agency (ANM).
The approval is a crucial step towards the formal issuance of the mining lease, pending the LI from the Environmental Agency.
ANM's endorsement of the Plan of Economic Assessment (PAE) confirms that Centaurus Metals has met all technical requirements for the mining lease and can implement the project.
The next and final stage before the mining lease can be granted is the issuance of the LI by the Pará State Environmental Agency (SEMAS).
Additionally, the project also has an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Preliminary Licence (LP) in place from the Pará State Environmental Committee.
The formal issue and gazettal of the LP are now awaiting the completion of internal processes at the environmental agency.
Centaurus Metals has submitted all necessary documentation to SEMAS for this purpose.
The company's development timetable remains on track, with this approval coming just before the completion of the Definitive Feasibility Study.
Approved PAE and LP are based on a projected production rate of 20,000 tonnes per annum of nickel-in-sulphate at the Jaguar site.
The EIA, which was finalised in early January 2023 following the November 2022 JORC Mineral Resource Estimate, incorporates extensive environmental and social data collected over 18 months.
Upon approval of the LI, Centaurus Metals will possess all necessary environmental clearances to commence construction at the Jaguar Nickel Sulphide Project site and secure the formal mining lease.
The company expects the LI to be secured in the second half of 2024.
Centaurus Metals managing director Darren Gordon said: “To have secured approval of the LP just on 12 months from lodging the final EIA is a testament not just to the hard work undertaken by our Brazilian approvals team but also to the strength of the Brazilian approvals system – which supports the development of mining projects that have been extensively studied from an environmental perspective and have strong environmental management systems and controls either in place or planned.”
