Horizonte Minerals Plc (LON:HZM) has submitted a mine plan for the Araguaia nickel project in Brazil to the National Mining Agency (Agência Nacional de Mineração).
The Agency has already approved Horizonte's final exploration reports, covering the mineral reserves for the planned 28-year mine life at Araguaia.
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The new submission contains the economic plan for developing Araguaia.
Approval of the plan, together with approval of the mine construction licence from the State Environmental Authority (SEMAS) will grant Horizonte the principal mining and environmental permits to commence construction of Araguaia.
"In addition to the Mine Construction Permit filed last month, the submission of the Mine Plan marks another important permitting milestone for the Araguaia Project as both advance us towards receipt of the principal permits necessary to commence mine construction,” said Horizonte chief executive Jeremy Martin.
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“We are pleased that ANM has approved the final exploration reports for all of the mineral reserves to cover Araguaia's initial 28-year mine life, a strong endorsement by Brazil's National Mining Agency. The permitting steps for developing a new mine in Brazil follow a stage gate process and the approval of the final exploration reports have now allowed us to progress to the Mine Plan stage."
"The Mine Plan submission, as part of Araguaia's ongoing Feasibility Study, marks an important shift taking the Project from the exploration stage into the mining development phase and therefore further de-risking the Project."