prw in the press, page-2

Good pick up Oilyman. Next month is going to be huge for Proto with all that's going on.

The link to article on their website:
http://www.protoresources.com.au/sites/default/files/20101222%20-%20Hobart%20Mercury.pdf

Also text below:

A SYDNEY-based mining
company is compiling a list of
out-of-work Tasmanians in the
hope it may be able to offer
them work by the end of next
year when it starts construction
on a new nickel mine
project near Beaconsfield.
With Proto Resources still
preparing to gain all of the
necessary approvals next
year for its open-cut nickel
project, chairman Andrew
Mortimer has admitted he is
ready to face community and
environmental opposition
towards the project that is
expected to mine for at least
half a century, and is just
across the Tamar River from
Gunn's controversial Bell Bay
pulp mill.
The company hopes to be
granted a licence for its nickel
mine project at Barnes Hill
near Beaconsfield by next
month and, pending all environmental
and planning approvals,
start construction by
the beginning of 2012.
As well as mining at least 12
million tonnes of ore over the
50-year life of the mine, Mr
Mortimer also plans to process
all of the product on site
employing more than 100 fulltime
workers.
He is also planning to move
all of the company's administration
to the Barnes Hill
mine.
With the turmoil surrounding
the North-East timber
industry downturn, job losses
at the North-West pulp mills
and vegetable processor
McCain. Mr Mortimer said he
hoped to "pick-up" a lot of
those workers and had already
started making a list of
out-of-work people who have
contacted his office.
It is a bold vision from a
man who was blinded by a
tragic accident in his teenage
years.
Thinking his love of geology
was over because he could no
longer see, Mr Mortimer embarked
on a law career but the
desire to hunt for buried
treasure never faded.
And now he thinks he may
have found that treasure
chest in Tasmania.
Mr Mortimer said he was
convinced he could regain the
trust of Tasmanians already
sceptical about major industrial
developments, particularly
mining projects.
"We haven't just jumped off
the boat for a quick trip, we'd
like to be here for a very long
time," Mr Mortimer said.
"We understand we will
have to jump through hoops
to convince the Tasmanian
community, it is quite understandable
for people to be
wary and not want us, that is
fine and reasonable ... but we
are happy to listen and adapt
where possible and we are
going to be ploughing a lot of
money into this project to
ensure we get it right."
He hopes to return the disturbed
and messy site back in
better condition than it was
left when what was considered
one of the world's oldest iron
ore chromite mines was
bought by Proto from Allegiance