I would tend to disagree with that statement, I suggest the...

I would tend to disagree with that statement, I suggest the licence may have been converted to a retention licence to avoid the costs and reporting required for a full blown mining licence, I'm sure the mining licence would have covered LCT's.
A mining licence is valid for 21 years, all the red tape in approvals has been done such as EPA, other Gov Dept's, heritage surveys and native title, so could be worth its weight in gold especially how the goal posts change in this era.
Nagrom did build a TA plant for PLS for around $8m, could not get it up to speed during commissioning late 2015 so was written off early 2016 for $12.14m impairment, PLS decided far better economics processing the TA with the Li at Pilgangoora so handed the project back to Nagrom who I think along with the facilitators of the deal are going to do extremely well looking at all the shares and options handed out for the project .
So I think having a mining licence on the tenements will fast track the process if they get to production or a taken out by the big players in the region with processing facilities already established, and I think more will be built and expanded including downstream.
Cheers BK 14