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Murchison Metals Limited advises that the Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia has recommended approval of the proposed Jack Hills Expansion Project at the Jack Hills iron ore mine in the State’s mid-west region.
The EPA determined that the proposed mine expansion to increase production at the Jack Hills mine, 380km north east of Geraldton, from the current 1.8 million tonnes per annum to over 20 Mtpa of high quality iron ore concentrates, could be managed to meet the EPA’s objectives, subject to various conditions. The EPA’s recommendation follows the determination in April 2011 by the Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities that the JHEP is “not a controlled action” under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, and that further assessment is not required under the EPBC Act. The EPA’s recommendation will now be subject to a 14 day appeals period before being considered by the WA Minister for Environment. Murchison holds a 50% interest in Crosslands Resources Ltd, the owner and developer of the Jack Hills project. The other 50% of Crosslands is owned by Mitsubishi Development Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation, Japan’s largest general trading company. Full details of the EPA’s recommendation on the JHEP can be found at www.epa.wa.gov.au. |
