Coda Minerals has taken another step in the development of its Elizabeth Creek copper-cobalt project in South Australia, officially starting the project’s environmental approvals process.
The company has submitted a preliminary impact assessment (PIA) to the South Australian Department of Energy and Mining (SA DEM), which formally begins the scoping process required before a mining lease can be granted.
The scoping process, which is a new and non-mandatory procedure introduced by the SA DEM, is designed to streamline the environmental approvals process by identifying potential environmental and social impacts early on.
The SA DEM said the scoping process is the initial step for a proposed mining operation to identify potential issues and help proponents prepare for their tenement application.
As part of the process, Coda will work closely with various government departments to address any concerns and prepare for the next steps towards obtaining the necessary approvals.
“We benefit from being located in an exceptional mining jurisdiction in South Australia with clear approvals processes and low sovereign risk,” Coda chief executive officer Chris Stevens said.
“This is an important formal step towards the grant of a mining lease and, ultimately, operations and production from the Elizabeth Creek project.”
Stevens said the scoping process was advantageous, noting that it allows the company to engage early with key stakeholders, understand environmental and social impacts, and potentially leverage existing baseline studies from earlier mining activities in the area.
“Coda has chosen to be among the first major proposed mining projects to undertake the scoping process in South Australia for several reasons,” Stevens said.
“We wish to engage early with key stakeholders both in and outside of government; understand our environmental and social impact and be responsible participants within the industry.”
Coda anticipates the process to be relatively streamlined due to Elizabeth Creek’s remote location and the area’s extensive mining history.
The PIA submission is expected to lead to a final scoping report that will serve as the foundation for the environmental impact assessment required for the project’s mining lease application.
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