Environmental Approval Delays Could Stall Medallion’s Sulphide Production Strategy
Medallion Metals has advanced its Ravensthorpe Gold Project to the final stage of environmental assessment under the EPBC Act, with a decision expected by December 2025. This milestone is crucial for progressing its sulphide production strategy alongside ongoing state permits and a proposed acquisition.
- Ravensthorpe Gold Project reaches final EPBC Act assessment stage
- Environmental decision anticipated in December 2025
- EPBC approval critical for sulphide production strategy
- State-level permitting progressing for Ravensthorpe and Forrestania
- Proposed Forrestania acquisition remains conditional
Environmental Approval Milestone
Medallion Metals Limited has announced a significant regulatory advancement for its Ravensthorpe Gold Project (RGP), moving into the final stage of assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). This federal environmental approval process, administered by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, is a critical hurdle for the company’s sulphide production ambitions.
The project, identified as 2024/10045, has completed a 20-business day public comment period with no objections raised, allowing Medallion to submit all additional required information. Under statutory timelines, a determination on the proposed action is expected by December 2025, assuming no further requests for information.
Strategic Importance of EPBC Approval
Securing approval under the EPBC Act is the primary environmental clearance needed to advance the development of RGP in conjunction with processing activities planned at Forrestania. While state-level permits in Western Australia are progressing well for both sites, the federal approval will largely dictate the project’s development timeline.
Medallion’s broader sulphide production strategy hinges on this milestone, which will enable the company to move forward with its plans to expand operations and increase output. The company’s Managing Director, Paul Bennett, has emphasized the importance of this step in unlocking value and operational scale.
Pending Forrestania Acquisition and Future Steps
Alongside the permitting progress, Medallion is pursuing the acquisition of the Forrestania project, a move that would complement and enhance its production capabilities. However, this transaction remains subject to multiple conditions precedent and is not guaranteed to complete.
Following the EPBC decision, Medallion will still need to secure secondary approvals under Western Australian legislation before full development can proceed. These regulatory layers underscore the complexity and length of the permitting process in the mining sector, particularly for projects with environmental sensitivities.
Investors and industry watchers will be closely monitoring the December EPBC decision as a bellwether for Medallion’s growth trajectory and the feasibility of its sulphide production strategy.
Bottom Line?
The December EPBC decision will be a pivotal moment for Medallion Metals’ growth and project timelines.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the EPBC Act approval come through without additional information requests?
- How will the outcome of the Forrestania acquisition impact Medallion’s production plans?
- What are the potential risks or delays from secondary state-level approvals?
