(Alliance News) - Harvest Minerals Ltd on Monday said it has secured an environmental permit from the Brazil government for its Arapua fertiliser project.
The permit from Brazil's environmental department, Superintendencia Regional de Regularizacao Ambiental, allows Harvest to mine and process up to 400,000 tonnes per year.
Harvest has also been given permission to scale up its run-of-mine storage areas.
The company now awaits a full mining permit from government department Agencia Nacional de Mineracao. Harvest's trial mining licence is valid until the second quarter of 2021.
Executive Chair Brian McMaster said: "As a producer of an organic product, we are very aware of environmental considerations. Sustainability is a key consideration for Harvest and we aim to have minimal environmental impact. Our production facilities don't use any water nor produce any waste. Additionally, we are looking at other initiatives to minimise our environmental footprint going forward.
"In addition to the environmental considerations, it is important that the permit allows us to produce at a rate above current name plate capacity and also that SUPRAM has consented to the run-of-mine and storage area expansions. As we announced recently, we are increasing production areas in anticipation of next year and beyond and having the environmental consent to move forward is very important."
Harvest shares were 6.1% higher at 4.56 pence each in London on Monday morning.
By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com
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Harvest Mi (di) (HMI)