Submission of EIA

RNS Number : 6033X

Bluejay Mining PLC

30 April 2019

 

Bluejay Mining plc / EPIC: JAY / Market: AIM / Sector: Mining

30 April 2019

Bluejay Mining plc ('Bluejay' or the 'Company')

Permitting Update - Submission of Environmental Impact Assessment

Bluejay Mining plc, the AIM and FSE listed company with projects in Greenland and Finland, is pleased to announce the submission of the Environmental Impact Assessment ('EIA') for its Dundas Ilmenite Project ('Dundas' or 'the Project') in Greenland, the world's highest-grade mineral sands ilmenite project.  

Overview:

·  Submission today of the completed EIA for Dundas to The Ministry of Nature and Environment, Government of Greenland

·    No major environmental obstacles or larger impacts found by the EIA

·    EIA is a key component of the application documentation for a full mining licence

The EIA, which was presented to the to The Ministry of Nature and Environment, Government of Greenland today Tuesday 30^th April 2019, was prepared by respected international consultants Orbicon A/S ('Orbicon'), one of the most experienced environmental service providers with respect to mining and permitting related studies for mining operations in Greenland.

The EIA allows the authorities to understand the impact of exploitation of the ilmenite-bearing sand within the licence area as well as the broader region and forms a critical cornerstone in the application for an exploitation permit.

The submitted EIA concerns onshore mining, processing and infrastructure. It was completed based upon the development scenario as outlined in the optimised Pre-Feasibility Study ('PFS'), which anticipates yearly production of 440,000 tonnes of ilmenite concentrate from the Project.

The major conclusion drawn from the EIA report is that there are no material or unmanageable environmental impacts arising from the development of the Project.

The EIA presented three years of extensive environmental surveys and baseline studies that were agreed on and updated by the authorities during the course of the optimised PFS.  The terms of reference for the study were agreed between the Company, stakeholders and the relevant Greenlandic authorities, represented by the Ministry of Mineral Resources & Labour, Ministry of Nature and Environment and its advisors, the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, the Danish Centre for Environment & Energy at Aarhus University.

Under normal conditions, an EIA only requires two-years of sample collection and baseline survey.  However, due to the limited existing understanding of the biodiversity in this environment, and in order to consider the natural variation year on year, both the Company and regulators agreed best practice would be to undertake a three-year review, adding an extra year to the overall environmental assessment timeline.

Additionally, although the current mining scenario contemplates an onshore operation only, both onshore and offshore environments have been investigated and reported.

The environmental field work for the EIA, carried out both onshore and offshore, included extensive studies of the biodiversity of the mining area.  The land activities included mapping of plant communities and breeding bird colonies.  In addition, extensive off shore aerial surveys during the spring thaw and winter freeze were conducted.  These focused-on monitoring migrating white whale, narwhale and walrus along the coast as well as more distal sea.  Additionally, the seafloor was subject to extensive studies including sampling of mussels and other organisms as well as underwater video footage.

To determine the natural background level of metals and other elements in organisms in the development area, samples of plants, lichens, sea weed, and fish were collected, which will form a reference for future monitoring when mining commences.

An archaeological survey over the licence area was also completed during the 2018 season; the result is also included in the final EIA report.  This survey was undertaken by the Greenland National Museum & Archives.

All the collected information has subsequently been analysed, compiled and concluded in the EIA, with technical results and data being documented in eight technical background reports.  

Senior Consultant Flemming Pagh Jensen from Orbicon responsible for the EIA said: 

"There have been no major issues identified at Dundas through this environmental assessment is very positive for the Dundas project.

"Since the processing of the resource does not require the addition of chemicals, the risk of polluting the sensitive Arctic environment is very small.  A potential concern has been that underwater shipping noise would disturb migrating whales near the Project port in spring and autumn. However, this issue has been mitigated by reducing the speed of vessels close to the port in the shoulder periods."

"Orbicon who has conducted an exhaustive multi-year study was pleased to be one of the many high-quality consultants to the Project and looks forward to continued involvement as the Project advances through permitting to development."

Bluejay CEO Roderick McIllree said:

"We are delighted to have completed and submitted the EIA.  The conclusions drawn from this study indicate a low environmental impact, which is an important step forward in permitting the Dundas Ilmenite Project."

"We would like to thank Orbicon who have carried out a very extensive and detailed programme with the results once again highlighting the feasibility of simple and low-impact mining and processing at Dundas."

Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure

Certain information contained in this announcement would have been deemed inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 until the release of this announcement.

**ENDS**

For further information please visit www.titanium.gl or contact:

Roderick McIllree	Bluejay Mining plc	[phone]
Ewan Leggat	SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP	[phone]
Soltan Tagiev	SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP	[phone]
Andrew Chubb	Hannam & Partners Advisory Ltd.	[phone]
Ingo Hofmaier	Hannam & Partners Advisory Ltd.	[phone]
Hugo de Salis	St Brides Partners Ltd	[phone]
Cosima Akerman	St Brides Partners Ltd	[phone]

Notes

Bluejay is dual listed on the London AIM market and Frankfurt Stock Exchange and primarily focussed on advancing the Dundas Ilmenite Project in Greenland into production in the near term.  Dundas has been proven to be the highest-grade mineral sand ilmenite project globally, with a JORC Compliant Resource of 101 million tonnes at 7.1% ilmenite and an Exploration Target over the Iterlak Delta of between 20 million tonnes and 60 million tonnes at between 6% and 10% ilmenite (in-situ).

The Company's strategy is focused on securing an offtake partner and commencing commercial production at Dundas in the near term in order to create a company capable of self-funding exploration on current projects and future acquisitions.

Bluejay holds two additional projects in Greenland - the 2,586 sq km Disko-Nuussuaq ('Disko') Magmatic Massive Sulphide ('MMS') nickel-copper-platinum project ('Ni-Cu-PGM'), which  has shown its potential to host mineralisation similar to the world's largest nickel/copper sulphide mine Norilsk-Talnakh, and the 107sq km Kangerluarsuk Sed-Ex lead-zinc-silver project ('Kangerluarsuk'), where historical work has recovered grades of 41% zinc, 9.3% lead and 596 g/t silver and identified four large-scale drill ready targets.

The Company also has a 100% interest in a portfolio of copper, zinc and nickel projects in Finland.  This multi-commodity portfolio has been restructured to be cost-sustainable whilst determining the best plan for future development.

 

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