Dual-listed Southern Palladium has submitted the environmental-impact assessment (EIA) report for its 70%-owned Bengwenyama platinum group metal project, located on the eastern limb of the Bushveld Complex in South Africa, to the country’s Department of Mineral Resource and Energy (DMRE), which is in the process of being split from the energy portfolio and renamed the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources.

Southern Palladium MD Johan Odendaal explains that, in alignment with regulatory requirements and the company’s dedication to environmental stewardship, a scoping study was completed on February 14.

Subsequently, an extensive EIA process was carried out in full compliance with the EIA regulations.

“These studies ensure that our project adheres to legal standards and best practices, reflecting our commitment to sustainable and responsible mining,” he says.

He notes that the EIA studies, along with the consultation process, were finalised and the report submitted on July 10, adding that the company received an acknowledgment letter from the DMRE on July 22.

Southern Palladium says the letter acts as an acknowledgement by the DMRE that the core parameters of the EIA submission have been met correctly by the company and that the detailed review can begin for issuance of environmental authorisation.

In turn, the environmental authorisation permit will form part of Southern Palladium's forthcoming mining right application (MRA), following the completion of a prefeasibility study. 

“We remain confident that the MRA process will be successfully concluded by the end of the first quarter of 2025, with the formal granting of the mining right by the DMRE expected shortly thereafter.

“This will position Southern Palladium to advance the Bengwenyama project, delivering significant value to our stakeholders and contributing to the economic development of the region,” says Odendaal.

The company says additional permit applications are also in progress. These include a waste management licence (WML) application and a water-use licence (WUL) application, which will be submitted for water uses associated with the Bengwenyama project.

The EIA submission, along with the WML and WUL submissions, form part of the comprehensive review process for Southern Palladium’s MRA. The WML and WUL applications are scheduled to be completed and submitted by December.