Wrap Text
Key Water Use Licence Granted for Prieska Copper-Zinc Project
Orion Minerals Limited
Incorporated in the Commonwealth of Australia
Australian Company Number 098 939 274
ASX share code: ORN
JSE share code: ORN
ISIN: AU000000ORN1
(“Orion” or “the Company”)
Key Water Use Licence Granted for Prieska Copper-Zinc Project
Another key permitting milestone for advanced base metal development project
Licence granted in terms of the National Water Act, Act 36 of 1998.
Valid for 20 years.
Approves de-watering of 8.5 million cubic metres of water from the historical workings at Prieska.
Also approves the designs and use of the Tailings Storage Facility and other water storage dams.
Orion Minerals Limited (ASX/JSE: ORN) (Orion or Company) is pleased to announce that its operating subsidiary,
Prieska Copper Zinc Mine (Pty) Ltd, has been granted a 20-year Water Use Licence by the National Department
of Water and Sanitation, marking the achievement of another key permitting milestone for its development-ready
Prieska Copper-Zinc Project in South Africa’s Northern Cape Province.
The Licence has been granted in terms of the National Water Act, Act 36 of 1998 for a period of 20 years and
includes permission for mine de-watering to proceed, as well as wet tailings and wastewater storage and
management and the use of water for mixing with mine waste for void back-filling.
The Licence conditions make provision for further improvements to how water pumped out of the mine is disposed
of, allowing the prospect of artificial recharge into groundwater aquifers to be considered, as well as maximising
the re-use of the discharged water by farmers in the surrounding area, as was described in the updated Bankable
Feasibility Study (refer ASX release 26 May 2020).
Orion’s Managing Director and CEO, Errol Smart, commented:
“The grant of the Water Use Licence for the Prieska Copper-Zinc Project is a major milestone for the Company and
removes the largest remaining regulatory hurdle before the construction of the mine can commence. Many of
the banks and potential strategic partners that we have been dealing with have flagged the outstanding licence
as a major concern that could potentially hold up an investment decision.
“We are pleased that this key outstanding approval has now been received, clearing the way for construction
and development of our planned new state-of-the-art base metal operation to commence at Prieska.”
For and on behalf of the Board.
Errol Smart
Managing Director and CEO
6 August 2020
ENQUIRIES
Investors Media JSE Sponsor
Errol Smart – Managing Director & CEO Nicholas Read Monique Martinez
Denis Waddell – Chairman Read Corporate, Australia Merchantec Capital
T: +61 (0) 3 8080 7170 T: +61 (0) 419 929 046 T: +27 (0) 11 325 6363
E: info@orionminerals.com.au E: nicholas@readcorporate.com.au E: monique@merchantec.co.za
Disclaimer
This release may include forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements may include, among other things,
statements regarding targets, estimates and assumptions in respect of metal production and prices, operating costs and results,
capital expenditures, mineral reserves and mineral resources and anticipated grades and recovery rates, and are or may be
based on assumptions and estimates related to future technical, economic, market, political, social and other conditions.
These forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and beliefs concerning future events. Forward-
looking statements inherently involve subjective judgement and analysis and are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and
other factors, many of which are outside the control of Orion. Actual results and developments may vary materially from those
expressed in this release. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-
looking statements. Orion makes no undertaking to subsequently update or revise the forward-looking statements made in this
release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release. All information in respect of Exploration Results and
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• disclaim any obligations or undertaking to release any updates or revisions to the information to reflect any change in
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implied in any forward-looking statement; and
• disclaim all responsibility and liability for these forward-looking statements (including, without limitation, liability for
negligence).
Date: 06-08-2020 09:27:00
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