PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Gold miner Resolute Mining has inked two heritage agreements with the Queensland government over its Ravenswood expansion project.
ASX-listed Resolute said on Wednesday that the agreements were an important component of the approvals required to start mining at the Buck Reef West openpit, which is a crucial component to the Ravenswood expansion project.
The agreements were reached after negotiations between Resolute’s subsidiary Carpentaria Gold, the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection and the Department of Education and Training.
“The heritage agreements allow us to move ahead with final approvals for the Buck Reef West mine, which is an integral part of our production plans,” said MD and CEO John Welborn.
“The regular progress we are achieving with the required approvals is a demonstration of the support we are receiving from the Queensland government and local agencies. The Ravenswood expansion project’s prescribed project status has streamlined administrative decisions and allowed for improved communication between the various stakeholders,” he added.
Welborn said that the company would continue to work with the various Queensland government agencies to ensure the remaining approvals to start mining at Buck Reef West were received on a timely basis, and to deliver the success of the expansion project.
Resolute has already received approval to restart operations at the Sarsfield openpit mine, and following regulatory approval for the Buck Reef West operation, is hoping to expand the Ravenswood mill capacity to five-million tonnes a year during 2018.