Alba Mineral Resources plc has received permission to increase the dewatering rate in the lower Llechfraith workings of its Clogau-St David’s gold mine, north Wales.
EXPLORATION
Industry regulator Natural Resources Wales approved the company’s application for variations to its existing discharge and abstraction permits.
The rates will increase in early January from 100 to 250 cubic metres a day with dewatering expected to complete by the middle of the month.
Alba said it had substantially completed safety and access works on level 3 and towards level 4.
Completion of dewatering level 4 will allow access for a risk assessment, any further safety works required and initial exploration surveys.
The company’s airborne geophysical survey over Alba’s regional gold targets of Hafod Owen, Gwynfynydd and Castle Carndochan has been deferred to January due to weather conditions.
Executive chairman George Frangeskides added: “We are delighted to have now received the revised permits which will allow us to complete the dewatering of the Lower Llechfraith workings.
“I would like to acknowledge the co-operation of the NRW permitting teams in helping us to achieve this outcome before the year’s end.
“We look forward to completing the dewatering as soon as possible in January and then finally setting foot on level 4, the first time this key gold target will have been accessible to anyone for decades.”