Canyon Resources: Minim Martap Bauxite Project ESIA on track for submission in May

Canyon Resources, focused on the development of the 100% owned Minim-Martap Bauxite Project, a direct shipping ore (DSO) project development opportunity in central Cameroon has announced that the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the bauxite project is progressing well and is planned for submission in May 2021 to the Cameroon Ministry of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development (MINEPDED).

The ESIA is a vital component of a mining permit application process and is being undertaken in line with the ESIA Terms of Reference submitted on 16^th April 2020 and accepted by the MINEPDED, and it aligns with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards and other key international standards, frameworks and guidelines.

The scope of the ESIA comprises each of the three exploration tenements at the Project (Minim Martap, Makan and Ngaoundal), the haul route between the mine and the inland rail facility at Makor, the rail line between Makor and Douala, infrastructure at the port of Douala, and the transhipment route and buoy location.

Health, Safety, Environment and Communities (HSEC) management firm ESS (Environmental and Social Sustainability) is managing the development of the ESIA on behalf of Canyon and is being supported by national consultancy Rainbow Environment Consult and international consultancy Golder.

Canyon acknowledges that environmental and social management requires a long-term engagement, and the impact of COVID-19 has obliged a phased approach to address the ESIA program. As is usual for a project of this magnitude, further targeted studies and management planning will be undertaken as part of mitigation measures that the ESIA identifies.

Public consultations, the terminal step of the ESIA process before the submission is planned for April involving all stakeholders potentially affected by the Project. This crucial step delivers the platform for local communities and other stakeholders to provide feedback and contribute to the development of culturally and socially appropriate management measures identified as part of the ESIA.

James Durrant, Director of Projects, stated: “Securing support for the Project from local and regional stakeholders is a key driver for Canyon and a critical element in the pursuit of a mining permit for Minim Martap. Throughout the ESIA process, engagement with local communities has been positive and the ESIA has provided a clear understanding of the biophysical background to the Project, providing Canyon with the means to proactively mitigate and control impacts and make our project of even greater benefit to the communities.”