@next2us - for someone who doesn't want to get into the HIO v MGT, you seem to be poking the bear fairly hard.
You say "water is water, you need approval to use it".
If I understand you right, you are saying MGT is negotiating rights to water, and therefore does not yet have water rights.
You seem to acknowledge that HIO is unlikely to have much troubles getting access to water.
Therefore, neither HIO nor MGT have approved access to water. Both have identified a water source and will probably get access to that water.
@Mas37 In respect to seeking partners, any company can do that at any stage. It can be done at drilling pre resource, post resource for PFS, to complete BFS, post CFS for construction. It is up to each company when they think that time is right for them - not what stage the project is at.
Can we leave it at both companies have their merits and their hurdles to get over before production. They are different resources and its hard to compare apples and oranges - they are both fruit, but have different characteristics (perhaps even Granny Smith v's Red Delicious - both apples, but taste different). Both companies have de-risked their projects in different ways and if either gets into production, it will benefit the other.
(20min delay)