ASX-listed Aura Energy has received the last outstanding material permit to allow the construction and operation of the Tiris uranium project from the Mauritanian government.
The company says the authorisation to develop, mine and produce uranium oxide concentrate (UOC) was issued by the National Authority for Radiation Protection, Safety and Nuclear Security – L'Autorité Nationale de Radioprotection de Sûreté et de Sécurité Nucléaire (ARSN) – on July 12.
The company notes that this is a significant step towards achieving a final investment decision by the first quarter of 2025.
Approvals for the export of uranium will be granted as part of a routine export monitoring programme and in accordance with international safeguards for monitoring the movement of radioactive materials.
There are no limits on the volumes of future uranium production, which will allow significant flexibility for the operation, including the potential for future expansion of production rate beyond two-million pounds a year of triuranium octoxide (U308).
Production rates are currently being investigated on the back of the significant 55% increase in mineral resources to 91.3-million pounds U308 announced last month.
The company has contracted a major international company specialising in the transportation of radioactive materials for the future seaborne transportation of UOC produced from Tiris to international converters.
In a strong show of support for the company and the development of Tiris, Aura says the Mauritanian government, by order of Prime Minister Mohamed Ould Bilal, has formed an inter-Ministerial committee to facilitate and support the development of Tiris and the uranium mining industry in Mauritania.
The committee will be headed by ARSN and will be a central point of contact for all ministries to facilitate and support the rapid development of the future Tiris uranium mine.
Progress at Tiris is developing rapidly. The authorisation to develop, mine and produce UOC follows the start of funding activities and multiple project development activities announced earlier this month.
This includes the appointment of an owners team to develop the project, mine plan optimisation and project expansion studies, consulting firm Lycopodium undertaking project optimisation and cost review, water resource development, and an environment and social governance framework development.
“We are very pleased with the very high levels of support and confidence shown by the
Mauritanian government towards Aura and the development of a long term globally significant uranium mining industry in Mauritania, commencing with Tiris.
“The final approval and formation of the inter-ministerial committee are important steps as we rapidly progress towards a final investment decision and developing a uranium mine at Tiris in the near term,” says Aura MD and CEO Andrew Grove.