South Boulder Mines (ASX:STB) has appointed Perth-based consultant MBS Environmental to finalise the social and environmental impact assessment work for its Colluli Potash Project in Eritrea.
MBS will work closely with the broader Colluli study team and the in-country South Boulder team to ensure all relevant aspects of the project are considered as part of the study.
It has experience in African projects and the development of social and environmental impact assessments which comply with the equator principles – the standard to which the Colluli impact assessment will be completed.
“MBS has vast experience in compiling the level of study required for Colluli and their appointment further demonstrates our commitment to undertaking thorough studies and assessments to ensure this project is financially and technically robust,” South Boulder managing director Paul Donaldson said.
He added its appointment was a key step in the company’s revised development strategy for Colluli.
Colluli
South Boulder recently appointed Saskatchewan Research Council and Global Potash Solutions consultant, Don Larmour, on the process design to confirm that the combination of three types of potassium-bearing salts at Colluli can be processed to produce potash.
The results are considered pivotal because this approach has the potential to deliver a significant boost to Colluli’s economics, including a considerably lower strip ratio and therefore reduced costs.
It could also result in the production of the superior potash product potassium sulphate, which carries a $300-a-tonne premium to the more common potash product, potassium chloride.
The company is conducting economic assessments and project planning for Colluli and has resumed mining studies.
Pre-feasibility-level analysis conducted last year had supported its revised approach of processing all the three salt types at the same time.
Colluli is located in the Danakil Depression region of Eritrea, and is just 65 kilometres from the coast comprising around 400 square kilometres. It is positioned favourably relative to the key growth markets for potassium fertiliser.
The JORC/NI43-101 Resource for Colluli stands at 1.08 billion tonnes at 18% KCl for 194 million tonnes of contained potash.
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