The ERD is the most detailed level environmental assessment currently available under state and federal legislation.
Located 150 kilometres north-east of Perth in WA’s Wheatbelt region, the Caravel project is planned to operate for 25+ years, producing 65,000 tonnes of copper-in-concentrate and 900t of molybdenum-in-concentrate per annum.
Caravel is progressing the proposed project at a time when copper prices are rising, with the critical metal set to be a key component of the clean energy future.
Its versatility is also leading to growing adoption in the construction, electronics, transportation and AI sectors.
Managing director Don Hyma said the lodgement with the EPA represents the culmination of over four years of extensive field work, investigations and scientific modelling.
This work has generated a comprehensive draft document detailing project impacts in the context of the cultivated farming environment of the Wheatbelt region.
“The achievement of this milestone puts the project on a clearly defined assessment schedule that should see ministerial approval and the grant of mining tenure by Q4 2025, paving the way for project development,” Mr Hyma said.
“The submission also cements the position of the Caravel copper project as one of the most advanced new long-life copper developments in Australia – against the backdrop of an extremely favourable outlook for the copper market.”
“The Caravel team recognises the project will be developed alongside existing farming operations and within close proximity to regional towns.”
“The company continues to work with stakeholders as the final design emerges for public comment in late 2024.”
The project proposal involves the development of a large, long-life copper mine, processing plant and associated infrastructure on freehold tenements.
Most of the project will be developed on cleared farmland, with areas of interspersed vegetation that range from degraded or salt-affected regrowth to pockets of remnant native vegetation.
Caravel has designed the project to ensure that all high-value remnant native vegetation is preserved and potentially enhanced.
Notably, the project is also designed to be connected to the state electrical grid and to utilise power generated by renewable sources to reduce both the capital and carbon intensity of the produced copper metal.
