International iron ore company Centaurus Metals Limited announced that it has taken another important step towards securing the main environmental approvals required for the development of its flagship Jambreiro Iron Ore Project, located in the State of Minas Gerais in south east Brazil, following a very positive Public Hearing with key stakeholders and the local community.
The Public Hearing, which was held in the city of Sao Joao Evangelista, local government centre of the host municipality for the Jambreiro Project, represents a major step in the environmental approval process, putting the Company on track to achieve approval for the Preliminary Licence for the Project in October 2012, in line with its development timetable.
The Public Hearing has given the local community and stakeholders a strong understanding of the Project including its potential environmental impacts, as well as its social and economic benefits. It also provided the community with a forum to voice any specific concerns about the Project.
The Public Hearing was attended by over 400 people from all over the region, including representatives of the State Environment Agency, the State's Public Prosecution Office, the local mayor and counselors, as well as Non Government Organizations.
Matters discussed at the Public Hearing included surface water depletion, employment opportunities and the post mining growth of the local community. All questions raised from the floor were addressed by Centaurus' General Manager Environment, Mr Bruno Scarpelli, who provided detailed responses based on the information in the Company's EIA RIMA document, which was lodged in March 2012.
Mr Scarpelli said the outcome of the Public Hearing was very positive, reflecting the significant number of meetings already held over the last 12 months with local communities to present and discuss the Jambreiro Project. The strong consultation process has provided local stakeholders a significant level of confidence in Centaurus' intentions and commitment to sustainable development in the region.
Mr Scarpelli said that "One important aspect of the Jambreiro Project is the Company's commitment to prioritize sourcing its workforce from local communities, including a proposed training program for up to 900 people and a program to prioritize local service providers. We have already begun to put both programs in place, which has helped to raise our profile in the local community and educated key stakeholders about the Jambreiro Project and the significant opportunities the development will bring."
Now that the Public Hearing has been held, the environmental agency SUPRAM is able to formally raise any additional matters they wish the Company to address. The completion of sound and well supported responses to these queries will put SUPRAM in a position where it can approve the EIA RIMA and issue the Preliminary Licence for the Project, enabling the Company to then lodge the Installation Licence application.
Mr Darren Gordon MD of Centaurus said that the highly successful Public Hearing represented a major step forward for the approvals process in Brazil, clearing the way for final discussions with SUPRAM to achieve timely approval of the EIA RIMA document lodged earlier in March 2012.
He added that "Subject to addressing any residual issues raised by SUPRAM, we remain on track to achieve approval for the Preliminary Licence in October this year. That will be an important milestone that will enable us to lodge the Installation Licence, complete the project financing package and commence some off-site fabrication of the beneficiation plant."
Source - Centaurus Metals Limited
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