Major Breakthrough: VRX Attains Approval on Native Title Agreement Terms for Arrowsmith Projects

Summary

• VRX has reached consensus with Southern Yamatji People Working Group on the terms of Native Title Mining Project Agreement for Arrowsmith Projects.
• While the process had been delayed due to Covid-19, VRX managed to get together and approve the agreement terms as soon as restrictions lifted on gatherings.
• The agreement will now be officially signed by all 12 individual Native Title Applicants, together with a separate State Deed.
• The approval of Native Title Agreement terms has cleared the pathway for grant of Mining Leases for Arrowsmith Projects.

Australian silica sand explorer, VRX Silica Limited (ASX:VRX) has attained a significant milestone, reaching consensus with Southern Yamatji People Working Group on the terms of Native Title Mining Project Agreement for Arrowsmith Silica Sand Projects.

Southern Yamatji People are the Native Title claimants over the areas of the Arrowsmith North and Arrowsmith Central Silica Sand Projects.

Following the key update, VRX settled day’s trading at $0.105, up 5% on 15 July 2020.

VRX notified that COVID-19-driven regulations prohibiting movement in and out of Aboriginal communities and constraints on public gatherings substantially obstructed progress, presenting unique challenges for finalising the negotiation process. However, the Company constructively worked with Southern Yamatji Working Group and Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation to reach the agreement.

Situated 270km north of Perth, the Arrowsmith Projects are well located adjacent to the Brand Highway and the Geraldton-Eneabba Railway, with a rail connection direct to Geraldton Port.

VRX has already released bankable feasibility studies for both the Arrowsmith Projects, with each of them demonstrating exceptional financial metrics.

In January this year, VRX also signed a Native Title Mining Project Agreement with Whadjuk People Native Title Claim Applicants and SWALSC (South West Aboriginal Land & Sea Council Aboriginal Corporation) for its advanced Muchea Project.

Further Details of Arrowsmith Projects’ Native Title Agreement

The negotiated terms of the Native Title Agreement outline a set of shared long-term objectives for the concerned parties and an array of measures created to attain those goals over the term of the Agreement. These objectives include:

• the management and preservation of Aboriginal heritage within the areas of the mining leases in accordance with an agreed heritage protocol,
• the promotion of awareness of the Southern Yamatji People’s traditional customs and laws and encouragement of cross-cultural exchange between the members of the Southern Yamatji People and VRX and its personnel and contractors,
• assuring the environmental impact of approved mining operations is managed according to relevant statutory obligations,
• boosting contracting and employment opportunities for Southern Yamatji People contractors connected to agreed mining operations,
• the provision of decided initial and ongoing compensation to the Southern Yamatji People for the effects on native title arising from:
  • the grant of the miscellaneous licences and mining leases within the native title claim area,
  • the conduct of mining operations, and
  • the issue of endorsed project approvals.

Way Forward

As the terms of Agreement have been accepted, the Agreement will now be officially signed by all 12 individual Native Title Applicants, together with a separate State Deed between the Company, those individuals and the State.

Once fully executed, these documents will be lodged with DMIRS (Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety) to conclude the grant of Mining Leases and associated Miscellaneous Licenses for Arrowsmith Central and Arrowsmith North.

Besides, the Company continues to work constructively with Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation to finalise the formal execution of the Agreement as soon as reasonably possible given coronavirus restrictions in place.

The approval of Native Title Agreement terms has cleared the pathway for grant of Mining Leases for Arrowsmith Projects, which comprise five granted exploration licences and two mining lease applications pending. VRX observes the approval as another step forward towards its stated aim of becoming an international supplier of high-grade silica sand.

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