PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Mauritania government has approved the environmental and social impact assessment of the Tiris uranium project, being developed by dual listed Aura Energy.
“For a uranium project, one of the most important steps in its path to development is the environmental approval step,” Aura Energy executive chairperson Peter Reeve said on Thursday.
“Achieving this milestone for Aura’s Tiris uranium project on schedule and with the strong support of the Mauritania government is another solid step forward for Aura to production and cash flow. This step is pivotal as the main project precursor to pursuing production offtake and project financing arrangements.”
As part of its environmental requirements, Aura will have to establish a radiation monitoring system under the supervision and control of the National Radiation Protection, Nuclear Safety and Security Authority. It was also recommended that a quarterly report be submitted on the state of implementation of the environmental and social management plan.
A scoping study into Tiris found that a one-million-tonne-a-year operation could be developed at a capital cost of $45-million, delivering 11-million pounds of uranium over an initial 15-year mine life.