AMN - TANZANIA: Ngualla Environmental Certificate granted

Peak Resources has received the Environmental Certificate for the Ngualla rare earth project in Tanzania. Granting of the certificate by the Minister of State of the Vice President’s Office represents the completion of a major step in the permitting of the project as it is a pre-requisite for the granting of a mining licence.

The Environmental Certificate marks successful completion of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Report. Tanzania’s environmental regulators, the National Environment Management Council (NEMC), set the guidelines and requirements of the study that is behind the EIS Report and which was led by Tanzanian environmental consulting specialists Align Environment and Risk, and Paulsam Geoengineering Co Ltd.

The study included multi-disciplined wet and dry season environmental and social baseline studies and extensive stakeholder consultation as well as a site visit and a review board meeting with NEMC.

Strong support for the development of the Ngualla rare earth project was received at a local village, district, regional and national level during the stakeholder meetings. The project area has no human habitation, farming, grazing or reserves.

The BFS remains on track for completion within the coming weeks. The Environmental Certificate and a feasibility study are key documents required for an application for a mining licence, which the company aims to finalise during the second quarter of 2017.

During a recent meeting the Tanzanian Minister of Energy and Minerals expressed strong support for the Ngualla project and encouraged the company to move forward as soon as possible with a mining licence application.

Peak’s Managing Director Darren Townsend said, “The issuance of the Environmental Certificate for Ngualla is a major milestone in the permitting of the project. With the BFS also now nearing completion this will pave the way for a mining licence application.”

www.peakresources.com.au

News courtesy of International Mining