Perth, Australia – 30 August 2024 | Northern Minerals Limited (ASX: NTU) ("Northern Minerals" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that it has received approval under Section 45C (1)(a) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) for strategic amendments to its Browns Range Project in the East Kimberley region. This approval, which has been granted by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Delegate, enables the Company to implement critical infrastructure improvements while maintaining its commitments to environmental stewardship and community engagement.
Highlights:
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Expansion for Renewable Energy: The EPA approval includes a 60-hectare expansion of the project footprint to incorporate renewable energy infrastructure, including wind turbines and a solar farm. These additions are vital for significantly reducing the project's greenhouse gas emissions and aligning with Northern Minerals' existing sustainability objectives.
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Project Flexibility: This approval allows for further modifications, such as the realignment of access roads, improved drainage infrastructure, and the installation of additional groundwater bores at the site. These enhancements are designed to increase the long-term sustainability and operational efficiency of the Browns Range Project.
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Environmental Stewardship: The approved amendments are consistent with the existing Ministerial Statement (Ministerial Statement 986) and do not require any further changes to any original conditions. Section 45C of the EP Act permits minor changes to an approved project that do not result in significant environmental risk, reflecting Northern Minerals' dedication to minimising environmental impact while optimising project operations.
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Community Collaboration: Northern Minerals has worked closely with the Ringer Soak community and the Jaru and Tjurabalan traditional owners of the land to align the access road with the community’s preferences, further reducing potential risks and environmental impacts. This collaboration underscores the Company’s ongoing commitment to respecting and incorporating local stakeholders' views in its project developments.
Angela Glover, Chief Operating Officer of Northern Minerals, stated: "This EPA approval is an important step forward for Northern Minerals as we progress the Browns Range Project towards its full potential. The integration of renewable energy infrastructure and the enhancements to our development strategy not only align with our commitment to sustainability but also strengthens our operational capabilities. We are grateful for the continued support of the local communities, and we remain dedicated to delivering a project that benefits both the environment and our stakeholders."
Shane Hartwig
Managing Director
+61 (0)8 9481 2344
info@northernminerals.com.au
About Environmental Protection Authority (EPA):
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is the independent environmental assessment body in Western Australia. It provides recommendations and advice to the Minister for Environment on the environmental acceptability of development proposals. The EPA’s assessment process is guided by the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act), which ensures that environmental impacts are thoroughly evaluated and managed. Section 45C of the EP Act allows for minor amendments to approved projects, provided these changes do not significantly increase environmental risk.
For more information: https://www.epa.wa.gov.au/
About us:
About Northern Minerals:
Northern Minerals Limited (ASX: NTU) (Northern Minerals or the Company) owns 100% of the Browns Range Heavy Rare Earth (HRE) Project in northern Western Australia, tenements uniquely rich in the heavy rare earth elements dysprosium (Dy) and terbium (Tb).
Dysprosium and terbium are critical in the production of dysprosium neodymium iron-boron (DyNdFeB) magnets used in clean energy, defence and high technology solutions. Dysprosium and terbium are prized because their unique properties improve the durability of magnets by increasing their resistance to demagnetisation.
The Project's flagship deposit is Wolverine, which is thought to be the highest-grade dysprosium and terbium orebody in Australia. The Company is preparing to bring Wolverine into production with the objective of providing a reliable alternative source of dysprosium and terbium to production sourced from China. Northern Minerals is one of only a few companies outside of China to have produced these heavy rare earth elements.
To further its strategic objective, Northern Minerals is undertaking a Definitive Feasibility Study for a commercial scale mining and process plant at Browns Range to process Wolverine ore.
Apart from Wolverine, Northern Minerals has several additional deposits and prospects within the Browns Range Project that contain dysprosium and other heavy rare earth elements, hosted in xenotime mineralisation.
For more information: northernminerals.com.au
Contact details:
Jane Morgan
Jane Morgan Management
Investor & Media Relations
jm@janemorganmanagement.com.au