Ioneer said the issuance of the Class II Air Quality Permit, issued by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection Bureau (NDEP) of Air Pollution Control, follows a detailed review of the project.
Rhyolite Ridge will comprise a quarry, an overburden storage facility, the first sulphuric acid plant permitted in Nevada, an ore processing facility responsible for boric acid and lithium carbonate production, and a spent ore storage facility. 3
The company noted that the use of MECS /SNC Lavalin designed heat recovery technology at the acid plant means the plant will generate all of the electricity and heat needed for normal operations.
"Our commitment to responsible production is at the core of our operation. The issuance of the Class II Air Quality Permit represents a significant milestone for the Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project and supports our detailed plans for a processing plant with low emissions and minimal hazardous air pollutants," said ioneer's Managing Director, Bernard Rowe.
" We are grateful for the efforts of NDEP, our consultants and ioneer employees to achieve this milestone… As the most advanced lithium development project in the US, we are committed to ensuring Rhyolite Ridge is a sustainable, environmentally sensitive operation."