VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Euro Manganese Inc. (TSX-V and ASX: EMN; OTCQX: EUMNF; Frankfurt: E06) (the “Company” or “EMN”) is pleased to announce the completion of the land rezoning processes for the Chvaletice Manganese Project (the “Project”), and an update on the Project’s Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (“ESIA”) approval process.
Highlights
- Rezoning of all tailings land and commercial plant land required for the Project is now complete, demonstrating continued support from local communities and municipal authorities.
- Noise abatement work has been completed to the satisfaction of the relevant authority and the amended ESIA has been resubmitted to the Czech Ministry of Environment (“MoE” or the “Ministry”) for continuation of the ESIA approval process.
Completion of Land Rezoning for the Project
The Municipality of Chvaletice (“Chvaletice”), which lies just to the west of the Project and on which a portion the Project’s tailings and commercial plant site are located, has formally approved the rezoning of tailings land for mining use and certain areas within the commercial plant site that were required to be reclassified for heavy industrial use. Together with the rezoning of the Village of Trnavka’s (“Trnavka”) tailings land for mining use, announced on March 23, 2022, the rezoning requirements for the Project are now complete.
Approval for the land-use plan change from both Chvaletice and Trnavka required intensive community consultation which has been ongoing for several years. The valuable local input received was factored into the Project’s planning and design. The rezoning demonstrates continued support from local communities and municipal authorities.
Update on ESIA Permitting Process
The Company has now resubmitted the amended ESIA to the MoE, which allows the ESIA approval process to continue. The Company anticipates the issuance of a positive decision on the revised ESIA within the next three months.
As previously reported, the Ministry received comments from 14 relevant authorities on the ESIA, which was initially submitted in December 2022. All but one of the authorities approved the relevant studies. The Ministry returned the ESIA to the Company to address comments from that authority, related to noise abatement. While the Project’s anticipated noise levels are within legislative limits for an industrial project, the cumulative effect when combined with neighbouring operations’ existing noise emissions marginally exceeded permitted noise levels at the measurement points, located at the closest residential areas. The Company has completed necessary work to achieve the reduction in modelled noise level emissions and has addressed the authority’s comments to their satisfaction.
Dr. Matthew James, President & CEO of Euro Manganese, commented:
“The completion of the rezoning process for both the land on which the tailings reside and for the commercial plant is another milestone in the steady progress of the Project. We are grateful for the continued support of our neighbouring communities, Chvaletice and Trnavka. Our team has worked hard to ensure that local community residents are well-informed, and that meaningful opportunities are created for them to participate in the evaluation and planning of the Chvaletice Manganese Project. Our goal remains to build long-term, respectful, and collaborative relationships, while ensuring that the Project fits seamlessly into the environmental, social, and economic fabric of the region.
We fully respect the robustness of the ESIA process and are committed to minimising project impacts to the surrounding communities. With the noise abatement work completed to the satisfaction of the remaining authority, I look forward to the approval of the ESIA.”
About Euro Manganese
Euro Manganese is a battery materials company focused on becoming a leading producer of high-purity manganese for the electric vehicle industry. The Company is advancing development of the Chvaletice Manganese Project in the Czech Republic and exploring an early-stage opportunity to produce battery-grade manganese products in Bécancour, Québec.
The Chvaletice Project is a unique waste-to-value recycling and remediation opportunity involving reprocessing old tailings from a decommissioned mine. It is also the only sizable resource of manganese in the European Union, strategically positioning the Company to provide battery supply chains with critical raw materials to support the global shift to a circular, low-carbon economy.
Euro Manganese is dual listed on the TSXV and the ASX, and is also traded on the OTCQX.
Authorized for release by the CEO of Euro Manganese Inc.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) or the ASX accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Inquiries
Dr. Matthew James
President & CEO
mjames@mn25.ca
Louise Burgess
Senior Director, Investor Relations & Communications
+1 (604) 312-7546
lburgess@mn25.ca
Company Address: #709 -700 West Pender St., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6C 1G8
Website: www.mn25.ca
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this news release constitute “forward-looking statements” or “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company, its Chvaletice Project, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may”, “would”, “could”, “will”, “intend”, “expect”, “believe”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “scheduled”, “forecast”, “predict” and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved.
Such forward-looking information or statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s intentions regarding the development and advancement of the Chvaletice Project in the Czech Republic, continuing support from local communities, the Company’s ability to receive the ESIA approval and in the timeframes expected, and to successfully conclude subsequent permitting steps.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements and, even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company.
All forward-looking statements are made based on the Company’s current beliefs including various assumptions made by the Company, including that: the Company can achieve its goals; that the political and community environment in which the Company operates in will continue to support the development and operation of the Chvaletice Project; and assumptions related to the factors set out herein. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: risks and uncertainties related to the ability to obtain, amend, or maintain necessary licenses, or permits; unexpected delays receiving a decision on the ESIA; risks related to acquisition of surface rights; the availability of acceptable financing for developing and advancing the Chvaletice Project; changes in laws or regulations; and regulation by various governmental agencies. For a further discussion of risks relevant to the Company, see “Risk Factors” in the Company’s annual information form for the year ended September 30, 2022, available on the Company’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.
Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release.
