HIGHLIGHTS
Previously submitted documentation (refer to ASX Announcement 12 February 2024) has been assessed by the Mines Department, resulting in the formal notification to Extremadura New Energies that it has accepted and recognised the viability of the San José lithium deposit as an exploitable lithium resource. The formal notification stated, “according to the Report of the General Directorate of Industry, Energy and Mines, it is demonstrated the existence of a lithium deposit in the 2 mining squares applied for as direct exploitation concession, being technically and economically viable its exploitation with the application of the current exploitation technologies and metallurgical processes”.
The Company can now submit the necessary documentation to progress the ECA for its lithium extraction and processing project in Cáceres.
The positive confirmation of the first stage of the ECA submission is a matter of administrative process and facilitates the progression to the next in the permitting process. The Company has already finalised the ECA project documentation and will advance to the next stage of the submission through the prompt lodgement of these documents. The Project ECA submissions have incorporated consultations with local and regional stakeholders and departments within both the Local and Regional Governments, through the Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Document received in May last year (refer to ASX Announcement 9 May 2023).
The ECA lodgement was also facilitated by the receipt of a favourable Urban Compatibility Report from the Cáceres Local government in November 2023 (refer ASX Announcement 15 November 2023).
Ramón Jiménez, CEO of Extremadura New Energies commented, “We are pleased to receive this positive confirmation of the lithium resource and subsequent notification from the Mines Department allowing us to progress the permitting of San José. The Project will now go through the ordinary procedure of assessment by the technicians of the Junta de Extremadura as we present what will be a very important project for the future of the region, and one which has been designed to incorporate the feedback we have received from the local community with respect to environmental and economic considerations”.
The direct ECA has been submitted using the Exploration Permit Extremadura S.E. (‘PESE’) as agreed with the Regional Government and coincides with recent agreements to secure land required for the project (refer ASX Announcements 14 March 2024 and 19 July 2023).
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