EPA Recommends Arrowsmith North Development Proposal
ASX Announcement
9 January 2025
EPA Recommends Arrowsmith North
Development Proposal
Highlights:
EPA Publishes and Releases Assessment
Report for Arrowsmith North
Report recommends Arrowsmith North
development proposal be implemented
subject to conditions
Conditions have been accepted by VRX
Significant step in the environmental
approvals process for Arrowsmith North
Publication triggers three week review period
before consideration by the Minister for
Environment
VRX Silica Limited (VRX or Company) is pleased to announce
that the Environmental Protection Authority of Western
Australia (EPA) has published its Assessment Report (Report)
and conditions for approval (Conditions) for the Arrowsmith
North Silica Sand Project (Arrowsmith North) on the EPA
website.
In the Report the EPA recommends that the Arrowsmith North
development proposal may be implemented subject to the
Conditions. The Conditions have been accepted by VRX
following consultation with the EPA.
This is another significant step for Arrowsmith North as it
completes the asessment of the project by the EPA and
finalises the EPA’s recommendation to the Minister for
Environment. It follows the Company’s announcement to ASX
on 18 November 2024 that the EPA had accepted and
published VRX’s Response to Submissions for Arrowsmith
North (RtS).
Publication of the Report triggers a three-week review period.
Following this period and resolution of any appeals by an
independent appeals convenor, the Minister for Environment
will consider approval of the Arrowsmith North development
proposal under Part IV of the Environmental Protection Act.
ASX: VRX
Capital Structure
Shares on Issue:
744 million
Unlisted Options:
91 million
Corporate Directory
Paul Boyatzis
Non-Executive Chairman
Bruce Maluish
Managing Director
Peter Pawlowitsch
Non-Executive Director
David Welch
Non-Executive Director
Ian Hobson
Company Secretary
Silica Sand Projects
Arrowsmith Silica Sand
Projects, 270km north of
Perth, WA.
Muchea Silica Sand
Project, 50km north of
Perth, WA.
Boyatup Silica Sand
Project, 100km east of
Esperance, WA.
Geothermal Energy
Dandaragan Geothermal
Energy Permit, 145km
north of Perth, WA
The Company is actively
assessing other silica sand
and downstream
processing projects in
Australia.
VRX Managing Director Bruce Maluish said: “Publication by the EPA of its Assessment Report
for VRX’s Arrowsmith North Silica Sand Project finalises the assessment process with the
EPA. This is a signficant milestone for the company, with the EPA recommending that the
Arrowsmith North development proposal be implemented subject to conditions accepted by
VRX following consultation with the EPA.
“It is the culmination of determined persistence by VRX and its consultants for the Arrowsmith
North permitting process over a long period of time. The company is now on the cusp of
opening up a new industry in the Midwest region of Western Australia, with employment and
other long-term benefits flowing to the State.”
“Following a statutory three-week review period and resolution of any appeals, the proposal
will be considered for approval by the Minister of Environment.”
The Report and Conditions were reviewed by decision-making Government agencies involved
in the assessment of the Arrowsmith North project prior to being published on the EPA
website.
The Conditions are a summary of standard requirements for mining operations and
commitments made by the Company in the RtS to ensure the best rehabilitation and mine
closure procedures are undertaken and monitored and outcomes are reported.
The published EPA Report on assessment including Conditions is available at:
https://www.epa.wa.gov.au/proposals/arrowsmith-north-silica-sand-project1
This announcement has been approved for release by Bruce Maluish, Managing Director.
Further Information:
Bruce Maluish
Managing Director
brucem@vrxsilica.com.au
1
Peter Klinger
Cannings Purple
pklinger@canningspurple.com.au
The documents and appendices can be found under “4. EPA Report on assessment”.
2
About VRX Silica Limited
VRX Silica Limited (ASX: VRX) is the most advanced pureplay silica sand company listed on the
ASX, developing its 100% owned silica sand projects at Arrowsmith (North, Brand and Central),
Muchea and Boyatup in Western Australia.
Silica sand is the most used commodity on
the planet after air and water. It is the main
ingredient in all types of glassmaking,
including specialty solar panel and hightech glass, and foundry casting. It is a
finite resource that is running out, with the
Asia-Pacific region experiencing an evergrowing supply shortfall that is driving up
prices.
Arrowsmith is located 270km north of
Perth. Arrowsmith North boasts a minimum
25-year mine life capable of producing
more than 2Mt tonnes per year of highgrade (99.7% SiO2)* silica sand for export
to the foundry, container glass and flat
glass markets in Asia, with permitting well
advanced, and will lead production.
Muchea, located 50km north of Perth, is an
ultra-high-grade (99.9% SiO2)* silica sand
project capable of producing sand required
for ultra-clear glass for solar panels and
other high-tech glass applications.
Boyatup, located 100km east of Esperance,
is under
development and capable of producing
sand for the glass market.
*Information relating to grades are extracted from releases to ASX on 28 August 2019 and 11 November 2022
(Arrowsmith North) and 18 October 2019 (Muchea). The company is not aware of any new information or data that
materially affects this information.
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