Subiaco, Western Australia-based sulfate of potash (SOP) junior Australian Potash Ltd. (APC) this week reported its Environmental Review Document (ERD) for its Lake Wells sulfate of potash (SOP) project, located some 500 km northeast of Kalgoorlie, in Western Australia’s northeastern Goldfields, has been accepted for final assessment by Western Australia’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
Ministerial consent is required for all of the SOP projects being proposed or developed in Western Australia, with the minister taking into consideration the advice given by the EPA in its report, APC said.
Following the EPA acceptance of the ERD for Lake Wells, the agency has provided a target timeframe for the progression of the assessment, with the Ministerial Statement of Consent anticipated in September this year.
“Importantly for the company, there is now a timetable for the balance of the assessment process, which targets Ministerial Consent to proceed with the development in Q3 2020,” said APC Managing Director and CEO Matt Shackleton.
The SOP developer is targeting an initial output of 150,000 mt/y of SOP from Lake Wells, and already has total offtake agreements secured for 70,000 mt/y (GM April 17, p. 29).