Horizonte Minerals plc has been awarded the construction licence package to develop the power line for its 100% owned Araguaia Ferronickel project in Brazil.
The approved package includes the preliminary licence (Licença Prévia), the construction licence (Licença de Instalação), and the related fauna and flora licences.
These were granted by the Pará State Environmental Agency, Secretaria de Meio Ambiente e Sustentabilidade (‘SEMAS’).
Horizonte added that the licence package permitted the implementation of a 120km, 230KV power line, and respective
substation.
The power line will connect Araguaia to the national power grid and will cover the full power requirement for the project at nameplate capacity.
“Araguaia is already fully permitted to start construction,” said Horizonte chief executive Jeremy Martin.
“The award of the power licence package is a critical step in our path to production, and further de-risks the project by securing the full power requirement for commercial operation.
“The power supply will be hydro-electric which is a key factor in the ability to produce a low CO2 per tonne of product, in line with other Brazilian ferronickel producers, placing Araguaia in the lowest half of carbon emitters globally for nickel production.”
Horizonte Minerals plc is a nickel development company focused in Brazil.
The company is developing the Araguaia project, as the next major ferronickel mine in Brazil, and the Vermelho nickel-cobalt project which is also 100% owned.
Horizonte aims to supply nickel and cobalt to the electric vehicle battery market.