Lundin Mining Gets Environmental Impact Assessment Approval for Candelaria

Lundin Mining (TSX:LUN) has received approval for its environmental impact assessment (EIA) for extensions at its Candelaria mine in Chile. The EIA approval allows the company to begin construction at the project.
As quoted in the press release:

The Candelaria 2030 project includes a number of enhancements to the current operation, the most important one being the construction of the new Los Diques tailings facility. The EIA was submitted to the authorities in September 2013 and this approval represents a key milestone towards successfully extending the mine life of the Candelaria operation.
The approval of the EIA is a major step towards allowing the Company to begin construction of the new Los Diques tailings management facility. This approval enables immediate commencement of the early works infrastructure relocation program for Los Diques, and the Company may now advance normal course construction permitting for the major civil works. The Los Diques dam civil works are expected to commence in 2016 once sectorial permits are in place and portions of the road, power and other existing infrastructure are relocated. An extension of the current tailings storage facility is being advanced concurrently to align with the commissioning of Los Diques, which is expected to occur in 2018.

Lundin president and CEO, Paul Conibear, said:

We are very pleased to announce the receipt of the EIA approval at Candelaria. This announcement is the culmination of a comprehensive process and we wish to acknowledge the extensive efforts of, and support from the Chilean authorities, our employees and the local communities who worked together to achieve this important milestone.

Click here to read the full press release.