Agrimin Ltd., Nedlands, Western Australia, announced on Sept. 23 that the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science, and Innovation (JTSI) will act as the lead agency for the Mackay Potash Project. JTSI is Western Australia government’s lead agency for major resource proposals and will provide project facilitation assistance to the project.
“Lead Agency Status highlights the strategic importance of the Mackay Potash Project and reinforces the W.A. government’s conviction in supporting a new sulfate of potash (SOP) industry,” said Mark Savich, Agrimin CEO. “Development of the Mackay Potash Project will underpin significant investment in regional infrastructure extending from Lake Mackay to Wyndham Port, as well as create long-term job opportunities for several of W.A.’s most remote communities.”
Agrimin said the majority of the final approvals required for the project are managed by the government, emphasizing the importance of Lead Agency Status and the streamlining of the approvals process. Agrimin is currently advancing the approvals and project financing phase of the project with a Final Investment Decision (FID) targeted for mid-2022.
The company said the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) remains the critical path item to reaching an FID. All environmental studies designed to support the EIA have been completed, and the Environmental Review Document (ERD) was recently submitted to the W.A. Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for its review. EPA’s acceptance of the ERD and the public review period are the next key steps in the EIA timeline.
Agrimin said the project remains on track for Ministerial Approval in mid-2022.