VRX Silica (ASX: VRX) has received confirmation that the terms of its proposed Mining Project Agreement covering the areas of the Arrowsmith North and Arrowsmith Central Silica Sand projects have been approved by the Working Group for the Southern Yamatji People, Native Title claimants over the project areas.
HIGHLIGHTS:
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Southern Yamatji People Working Group approve terms of Native Title Mining Project Agreement for Arrowsmith Silica Sand Projects.
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Clears pathway for grant of Mining Leases for Arrowsmith North and Arrowsmith Central.
Delays caused by the COVID-19 crisis, particularly regulations prohibiting movement in and out of Aboriginal communities and restrictions on public gatherings significantly hampered progress and presented unique challenges for completing the negotiation process. However, the company worked constructively with the Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) and the Southern Yamatji Working Group to reach consensus.
With the terms of the Agreement having now been accepted, the Agreement must now be formally signed by all 12 individual Native Title Applicants along with a separate State Deed between those individuals, the Company and the State. Once fully executed, these documents will be lodged with the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) to finalise the grant of Mining Leases and associated Miscellaneous Licenses for Arrowsmith North and Arrowsmith Central.
VRX’s Managing Director Bruce Maluish said, “We are delighted to have reached consensus with the native title claimants on the terms of the mining project agreement, which clears the pathway for grant of Mining Leases for both Arrowsmith projects. We look forward to working with the Southern Yamatji People.”
“This is yet another step forward for VRX and its stated aim of becoming a global supplier of high-quality silica sand.”
