Australia

West Wits Mining clarifying matters raised in WBP Mining Right application

West Wits Mining Limited (ASX:WWI) has been asked to clarify a number of matters in relation to its mining right application for the Witwatersrand Basin Project (WBP) in South Africa.

The company said that the matters raised by the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) were not major and were likely to be resolved within a short timeframe.

Clarification sought

WWI received correspondence from the DMR on October 30 requesting clarification on specific points in relation to the Mine Works Program as well as consultation with certain interested and affected parties.

This correspondence stipulated a deadline of December 2, 2019, for the companys response to the queries.

Formal response underway

Management immediately engaged relevant parties and it is expected a formal response will be provided to the DMR this week, more than two weeks before the deadline.

After review with specialists and consultants on the matters raised by the DMR, the company is confident the items can be adequately addressed.

West Wits chairman Michael Quinert said, “Whilst the company has been frustrated by delays to the mining right application process the board has been encouraged by the ongoing positive engagement and feedback from the DMR in respect to the companys application.

“Advice received from leading specialists in South African mining law on the DMRs recent correspondence provided a high degree of comfort that the application is still on track albeit outside the stipulated timeframe.”

Request to remove open pits

One matter worth noting was the DMRs request for the company to remove two proposed open-pit areas from the Mine Works Program, Roodepoort Main Pit and Rugby Club Main Reef Pit.

Following the DMRs visit to the proposed mining area in September, the DMR raised concerns about the proximity of communities and housing developments to the two open-pits.

WWI reviewed the DMRs request and assessed the impact to not be material to the overall resource and project with the projects value centred on the underground mine targets.

The company will remove the two open-pits from the Mine Works Program which will assist the DMR to progress West Wits mining right application.

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