Kingston Resources Limited (ASX: KSN) has passed another key milestone in its strategy to return its flagship Misima Gold Projectin PNG to production after lodging an Environmental Inception Report (EIR) for the Project with the PNG Government’s Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA) for initial review.
This marks the commencement of the process for securing environmental approval for the Misima Gold Project.
The PNG Environment Act 2000 requires a developer to submit an EIR outlining the key environmental and social issues associated with the proposed project and the intended scope of investigations to address these in the subsequent Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Managing Director, Andrew Corbett, said the company will formally present the EIR to CEPA shortly to seek its feedback and finalise the scope for the EIS. The PNG environmental approval process involves:
- Registration of a notification of intent;
- Submission of the Environmental Inception Report (EIR);
- Submission of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS); An EIS public engagement campaign;
- An EIS independent peer review; Ministerial ‘approval-in-principle’ under Environment Act 2000; and;
- Granting of the Environment Permit.
The Environment Permit must be granted before a Mining Licence (ML) can be issued under the PNG Mining Act 1992.
Mr Corbett said Kingston Resources looks forward to working closely with the CEPA and the local Misiman people as it works through this important new phase in the project’s advancement.
He said the previous mining activities and period since the closure of the Placer mine offer a unique opportunity to investigate the nature, extent and duration of previous impacts and their recovery, to better predict potential impacts as a result of recommencing mining operations, and to optimise management and mitigation measures.
The EIS will present the results of these investigations. The fact that mining and associated activities were previously approved and conducted provides a clear roadmap for Kingston to follow for the environmental approvals process.
Coffey has been appointed as the lead consultant on the EIR/EIS program. Coffey has been involved with Misima since 1982, has a long history of successfully operating in PNG, and maintains an office in Port Moresby.
Regular environmental baseline water and sediment sampling is continuing to inform the EIS and baseline investigations will expand as the EIS process progresses.
We are very excited to be taking the first steps down the environmental approvals pathway for our Misima Gold Project,” Mr Corbett said.
“Our initial engagement with CEPA has been very constructive, with the quality of the work we have presented benefiting from the operating history of the site and extensive data available to the company.
“Work on the Environmental Impact Statement will now commence and run alongside ongoing mining studies, including the Pre-Feasibility Study which remains on track for completion this quarter.”
