Good news! I think it's almost there with the EIA. The bigger...

Good news!  I think it's almost there with the EIA.  The bigger issue for me was always the plant hitting nameplate.  Hopefully, we can get a signature and solid progress on the plant soon.  

Here is a little bit of a timeline on the EIA.  I had a vague memory of a mention of 'stakeholders' somewhere but couldn't remember where.  There is a mention of it in April 2023 and is usually standard procedure with such projects (assuming this is the same local stakeholders that can raise complains).  Not sure how long such things go for but it's definitely a positive that it's now concluded without issue.  The primary delays seem to show up around July 2023, when 'hydrological' issues started to pop up in the updates and likely set things back.  Dec/Jan 2023 had an important update 'with final updated hydrogeological data observations provided to the Mining Secretary’s department'.   This might have been dependent upon the resource expansion drilling for data points but I'm speculating here.  Anyhow, it really feels like it's not long to go now on the permits IMO.  


Dec 2022
'The Company submitted its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for an additional 10,000tpa lithium carbonate production operation to the department of the Salta Province Secretary of Mining, who is currently processing the report. Argosy and Puna Mining senior executives held meetings with Salta government officials, including Governor Saenz and Production Minister de los Rios whilst in Salta, and Mining Secretary Sassarini and her executive team during their visit to Sydney, to ensure effective  finalisation of the Company’s EIA approval process. The Company is also maintaining regular communication with these regulatory authorities seeking to expedite official approval receipt, and based on recent progress, the Company remains confident of a positive outcome and is targeting formal approval receipt during the current quarter. '

Apr 2023
'The Company is awaiting regulatory approval from the Salta Province’s Secretary of Mining department for its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for an additional 10,000tpa lithium carbonate production operation, who is currently processing the report. The Mining Secretary and her executive team (pictured above) recently conducted a site visit. Puna Mining senior executives held meetings with Salta government officials, including Governor Saenz and Mining Secretary Sassarini, to ensure effective finalisation of the Company’s EIA approval process. The Company is maintaining regular communication with these regulatory authorities seeking to expedite official approval receipt. As part of the regulatory process, the Company is now conducting notification meetings with stakeholders with a view to finalising the process and obtaining formal approval notice from the Mining Secretary. These works were slightly delayed, however formal approval receipt is targeted during the current quarter.'

July 2023
'The 10,000tpa operation regulatory approval process is ongoing, however the Company is fully engaged with the Salta regulatory authority to expedite official approval receipt. The commitment of both parties to achieve this is reflected by the continued engagement to resolve the limited outstanding items, being clarification of hydrogeological queries related to the EIA submission, with a view to finalising and obtaining formal approval notice from the Mining Secretary. The Company is maintaining regular and direct communication with the key regulatory authority officials and is mindful of the constraints encountered that have prolonged this process. However, it has not considerably impacted the project strategy, and in a period of increasing lithium market intensity and interest, this has resulted in improved strategic and long-term outcomes for the Company.'

Sep 2023
'The Company continued engagement with key Salta government officials and regulatory authorities to expedite the 10,000tpa operation EIA regulatory approval process. The Company is awaiting notification on the hydrogeological observations provided in relation to the EIA submission, with a view to finalising and obtaining formal approval notice from the Mining Secretary as a matter of priority. '

Nov 2023
'The Company continued its engagement with key Salta government officials and regulatory authorities to expedite the 10,000tpa operation EIA regulatory approval process. The Company’s Puna Mining senior executives are in regular dialogue with Production Minister Mr Martin de los Rios, Mining Secretary Ms Romina Sassarini, and their staff, pressing for a timeframe to finalise this process, noting the Salta Mining Court has processed and approved our EIA submission, with final official approval from the Mining Secretary awaited.'

Dec 2023
'The Company has made significant progress toward finalising the EIA process, with final updated hydrogeological data observations provided to the Mining Secretary’s department. Following this and recent dialogue with the Mining Secretary and key Salta government officials, official approval from the Mining Secretary is expected.'

Jan 2024
'The Company made significant progress toward finalising the EIA process, with final updated hydrogeological data observations provided to the Mining Secretary’s department. In addition, following recent dialogue with the Mining Secretary and key Salta government officials, the regulatory process is expected to be finalised during Q1-CY2024, with official approval from the Mining Secretary expected. '

Feb 2024
'The Company is progressing towards finalising the EIA process during the current quarter, following regular and positive correspondence with the Mining Secretary and key Salta government officials. '

Mar 2024
'The Company has conducted extensive works on this EIA process to prove the long-term sustainability of our project, including extensive local community/stakeholder engagement and comprehensive hydrogeological analysis.'