The State Government has approved the Donald Rare Earth and Mineral Sands Project work plan – marking the final major regulatory approval required to allow the construction and operation of phase one of the Donald project to proceed.

The Donald mine is located between Minyip and Donald, about 15 kilometres east of Minyip, off Minyip-Rich Avon Road, on the mining licence area MIN5532.

The Donald Project will produce heavy mineral concentrate and rare earth element concentrate.

The Donald Project, trading as Donald Mineral Sands, DMS, is a joint venture between Astron Corporation and United States critical minerals company Energy Fuels Inc.

Resources Victoria’s Earth Resources Regulator, part of the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, DEECA, issued the approval today, Wednesday.

Phase one of the project has a lifespan of 42 years.

DMS will now progress to its financial investment decision.

The work plan details the mining methods and sequencing across the 1143-hectare work plan, within the overall 2778-hectare MIN5532 mining licence area; processing operations and facilities layout; environmental management strategies, including for dust, noise, water, and rehabilitation; detailed soil and landform management protocols surface and groundwater management approaches; community engagement commitments; and progressive rehabilitation method.

Managing director Tiger Brown said DMS was pleased received the work plan approval.

“It is the result of years of  planning, environmental assessment, and community engagement,” he said.

Mr Brown said the work plan approval represented the final major regulatory approval for the project to proceed.

“It enables the finalisation of critical activities, including arrangements for debt and equity financing, before a capital development submission is made to the Astron Board and the board of the Donald Project Joint Venture,” he said.

Mr Brown said DMS was committed to responsible mining practices and progressive rehabilitation, according to an approved mine rehabilitation plan.

“We are committed to responsible environmental practice in the development and operation of the Donald Project - and excited for the regional  growth, benefits, and opportunities it will generate over the decades,” he said.

“We will maintain ongoing open engagement with the community.”

Mr Brown said DMS would establish a Donald Project Environmental Review Committee, ERC, which would meet periodically to review the project’s environmental performance.

DMS will also invite representatives from Barengi Gadjin Land Council, the community, local and State Government to join the ERC.

Mineral sand deposits were first discovered at the site in the 1980s, and includes critical minerals like zirconium and titanium, along with rare earth elements such as neodymium and praseodymium.

More to come.