Widgie Nickel Limited’s proposed low-cost lithium mining operation, Faraday, has been conditionally approved by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS).
Mining operations will commence at the Faraday lithium deposit in accordance with the plans submitted on 8 May 2023 for the proposed project.
Widgie Nickel Managing Director Steve Norregaard said: “Widgie has met a further key project milestone for the Faraday Project and within 12 months of first stepping on the ground we now have a shovel ready mining project.
“The Widgie team’s lithium aspirations are nearing reality. The team and its consultants have done an amazing job in getting the fast-tracked Faraday development to this point. Achieving the ambitious timeframe for such an important milestone demonstrates the company’s resolve and desire to realise value for shareholders,” said Norregaard.
Conditions specified by the DMIRS include that Widgie Nickle must complete a flora survey within the disturbance envelope before any mining or construction activity can take place.
Widgie Nickel said Botanica Pty Ltd has been employed to carry out this survey.
The second condition put forth by the DMIRS specifies that the company must receive clearance for the purposes of mining as prescribed under the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2021.
A survey will be conducted by the the Marlinyu Ghoorlie people and consultant anthropologist Terra Rosa in the middle of August 2023.
The Faraday Lithium deposit is located on Mining Lease M15/102, four kilometres west north-west of Widgiemooltha in Western Australia.
The deposit is within the company’s Mt Edwards Project which is central to a world-class lithium corridor and spans more than 100 kilometres.
The area is rich in lithium and includes three major resources: Dome North, Bald Hill and Mt Marion.
