SANDSPRING Resources Ltd, a Canadian junior Mining Company in the gold mining sector has received its Environmental Permit for the development, construction and operation of a large-scale mine at its Toroparu Gold Property in Region 7 (Cuyuni/Mazaruni). The permit was handed over by the Guyana Environmental Protection Agency.
Under the Mineral Agreement between Sandspring and the Government of Guyana, signed in November of 2011, issuance of the Environmental Permit satisfies one of the two conditions for the Company to acquire its large scale Mining License.
The remaining condition is the demonstration to the Government of Guyana by the company of the feasibility of a mining operation at Toroparu.
Sandspring Resources Ltd has said that it is currently advancing the multi-million ounce Toroparu Gold-Copper Deposit in the Upper Puruni River toward potential large-scale gold and copper production in 2015.
Officials of Sandspring said that the receipt of the Environmental Permit marked the culmination of an extensive multi-year baseline data collection.
This was followed by collaboration between governmental agencies and interested parties with Sandspring and a team from its environmental contractor, Ground Structures Engineering Consultants, of Georgetown, Guyana.
Rich Munson, CEO, stated: “We are very pleased to receive the Environmental Permit, which approves processing options ranging from 3.5 million tons up to 20.0 million tons of ore per year at Toroparu. All environmental aspects of the permit application were developed in accordance with international environmental standards and took into account the ecological effects of the biodiversity that are unique to Guyana and the Toroparu area. This milestone is another significant step in de-risking the project and is clear evidence of the Government of Guyana’s continuing support of responsible mineral development”.