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Greeenland Minerals progresses Environmental Impact Assessment for Kvanefjeld Rare Earth Project

Last updated: 13:25 20 Jan 2020 AEDT, First published: 12:28 20 Jan 2020 AEDT

Additional work programs and updated EIA expected to be finalised by late March 2020
Additional work programs and updated EIA expected to be finalised by late March 2020

Greenland Minerals Ltd (ASX:GGG) is progressing towards finalising the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Kvanefjeld Rare Earth Project in southern Greenland.

The EIA was reviewed through August to September 2019 with structured feedback received from Greenland’s Environmental Agency for Mineral Resource Activities in October.

The EAMRA feedback separated environmental issues into two categories:

  • Type 1 - those where EAMRA require more information before the EIA can be accepted for public consultation; and
  • Type 2 - which can be answered after the process of formal public consultation has been completed and finalised before exploitation plans are approved.

Set for completion this quarter 

Managing director Dr John Mair said, “We’re appreciative of a series of well‐structured meetings with Greenland’s EAMRA through late‐2019 that has provided a clear understanding of where additional work can provide further rigour and confidence to the EIA for Kvanefjeld.

“Additional work by independent specialist consultants is progressing well, and on schedule for completion in Q1, 2020.

“Guidance from EAMRA will help to ensure that key areas within the EIA have been addressed to a level that will provide a high degree of confidence to Greenland stakeholders.”

Greenland Minerals has since conducted a series of constructive meetings through November and early December through phone conference with EAMRA and their advisors to discuss Type 1 issues as well as the approach to finalising the EIA for public consultation.

Scope of work for additional studies have been reviewed and additional work programs have since been commissioned.

The company is confident that Type 1 issues can be effectively addressed.

Consultant engaged

Most of the additional work is related to tailings storage facilities, more detailed modelling of scenarios for embankment failure, more detailed review of seismic conditions to validate long-term stability of tailings structures and a request to investigate the viability of an alternative “dry closure” option for the planned tailings facility.

Independent specialist consultant Klohn Crippen Berger (KCB) has been engaged to perform the additional tailings studies, which will build on existing tailings studies conducted by AMEC Foster Wheeler (now Wood Group).

KCB is a new consultant to contribute to the project and will provide an external assessment of existing environmental designs.

The work on the tailings related Type 1 issues is expected to be completed by February 2020.

Design firm Arcadis to clarify outcomes 

Design and consultancy firm Arcadis has been retained by GML to conduct some additional work and further clarify the outcomes of existing studies.

The additional studies will add further detail to the EIA and will be another important step in developing the EIA to the highest standards possible.

Through this rigorous approach, Greenland Minerals is looking to provide confidence to Greenland stakeholders that the environmental impact of the Kvanefjeld Project has been investigated vigorously.

The new studies are building upon previous assessments and not addressing any gap or a new environmentally critical issue.

All additional studies are scheduled to be completed in Q1, 2020, and the company anticipates that an updated EIA incorporating the additional studies will be available for the Greenland Government in late March.

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