Terramin celebrated a major project milestone recently when the Algerian mining regulator issued the project a mining permit after the company satisfied all Algerian regulatory, financial and environmental requirements.
That means it can move Tala Hamza toward development.
Under the terms of the mining permit Terramin can mine and process 2 million tonnes per annum instead of the 1.3Mtpa suggested in a 2018 definitive feasibility study.
Terramin executive chairman Bruce Sheng said the company was "exceptionally delighted" to have received the mining permit for Tala Hamza, given the permit was a critical factor in project development and an important achievement towards project implementation.
"Having this mining permit finalised and issued by the Algerian mining regulator has been an enormous accomplishment for the entire team at Terramin including our board, management and all staff who have been associated with this major world-class project," he said.
"I would like to personally thank all those involved."
Sheng said the Tala Hamza district was heavily mineralised and there were a number of under-explored zinc targets nearby with high exploration potential.
"Terramin is enthusiastic about the next phase in its development of Tala Hamza and looks forward to an exciting and prosperous future for the company," he said.
Terramin had its mining lease and miscellaneous purposes license proposal to restart the historical Bird in Hand mine in the Adelaide Hills knocked back by SA mining minister Tom Koutsantonis in February, due to concerns it would affect surrounding wineries and potentially impact groundwater.
Terramin wanted to mine the gold deposit for a five-year period and process the ore at Strathalbyn, in a project that could have created 140 jobs and contributed $221 million to state coffers, the company claimed.
An official proclamation by SA governor Frances Adamson later made the site exempt from future mining applications.
At the time Terramin expressed bemusement with the proclamation.
"These actions by the SA government are contrary to the recommendation in an assessment report prepared by the Department for Energy and Mining which indicated that DEM supported the granting of the mining licenses in respect of the mine," it said.
