(Alliance News) - Alien Metals Ltd on Tuesday said that its subsidiary, Iron Ore Co of Australia, has signed heritage agreements with the Karlka Nyiyaparli Aboriginal Corp RNTBC for two exploration licences, as well as one miscellaneous licence.
Alien Metals is an Australia-focused minerals exploration and development company, currently developing a near-term, direct shipping, iron ore operation at the Hancock project in Pilbara, Western Australia.
According to Alien Metals, Iron Ore has signed heritage agreements for the exploration licences E 47/4817 and E 47/5001, while the miscellaneous application is for L 47/1063.
The first two licences fall under the Nyiyaparli native title determination, which spans the Hancock Project and associated tenements.
The Nyiyaparli People are the Traditional Owners of 36,684 square kilometres of land and waters in the east Pilbara region, including the Newman township. The determination area covers 40,000 square kilometres of Nyiyaparli traditional country, and encompasses Newman, the Aboriginal communities of Jigalong and Parnpajinya, several pastoral leases, and of course, significant mining operations.
The determination area also includes places of particular significance to the Nyiyaparli People, including ceremonial sites, songlines, permanent pools, and natural resources.
Accordingly, the heritage agreements provide for the grant of the licences without objection by native title parties, and also include the withdrawal of existing objections.
On Tuesday, Alien Metals stressed that these deals were a "critical step" in engaging with Nyiyaparli Traditional Owners, adding that they reflect the "constructive relationship" the company has built with Karlka Nyiyaparli Aboriginal Corporation - or KNAC - as it continues negotiations on a separate mining agreement.
Meanwhile, the miscellaneous licence allows Alien Metals to construct essential infrastructure for road access from the Great Northern Highway to the proposed mine site.
Chief Executive Officer Troy Whittaker said: ""The company and its board would like to thank the Karlka Nyiyaparli Aboriginal Corporation and its Board of Nyiyaparli Directors for their support in reaching this significant milestone regarding the relevant licences. We are delighted to have signed the HPAs as they will further advance the approvals pathway and in the long-term, it will assist in the company de-risking the project execution for the Hancock Project."
Alien Metals shares were trading 2.1% lower at 0.19 pence each in London on Tuesday morning.
By Holly Beveridge, Alliance News reporter
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