Brazil Potash has obtained, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Potássio do Brasil, all of the necessary permits and licenses required for construction of its Autazes Potash Project which will produce potash — an essential fertilizer for the food security in Brazil and the world.
The Project is located in the municipality of Autazes, Amazonas, on low density former cattle farmland and its construction will not impact any primary growth rain forest. A total of 21 Installation Licenses, Specific Environmental Licenses, and Authorizations for the Capture, Collection, and Transport of Wild Fauna were issued by the Institute of Environmental Protection of Amazonas (IPAAM). These licenses allow for the construction of the Project including the sinking of two mine shafts, and construction of the processing plant, river barge port and ~13 km road connecting the processing plant to the port.
Based on the issuance of some earlier Installation Licenses, preliminary construction has already started including the drilling of two wells, both for collecting drinking water, each at a depth of about 130 m. These works were completed in the vicinity of the village of Urucurituba, in Autazes, and this work benefited the local community through the contraction of accommodation services and food service providers.
Brazil Potash is ensuring strict compliance with all environmental criteria established in the licensing documents for the Autazes Potash Project. As construction progresses, management expects opportunities will emerge for the communities of Autazes and the region. The procedures for hiring personnel for civil construction have already been initiated, and direct and indirect jobs are being boosted through a network of service providers and suppliers who register for free on the Potássio do Brasil website.
Management believes that the construction of the Autazes Potash Project will contribute to regional and national development and, mainly, to food security in Brazil and the world. “This crucial achievement allows us to move forward in the construction of the large-scale project, which has already started with initial activities on site, but will last an average of four years to be fully ready for operation. We are finalizing the planning of necessary tasks, such as the relocation of wildlife, archaeological surveys, and the suppression of vegetation in an appropriate and environmentally responsible way. These preparatory efforts are essential to lay the groundwork for the start of civil works by the end of this year. Until then, we are preparing for large-scale construction activities on several fronts, representing a significant advancement in the development schedule of our Project. We believe that the Project will create increased benefits for the communities in the region”, highlighted Adriano Espeschit, President of Potássio do Brasil.
Upon completion of construction of the Project, and subject to government inspection to ensure that the Project was built in compliance with strict safety standards and Brazilian legislation, Potássio do Brasil expects to obtain the required Operating License and the Mining Concession. The Project is estimated to have an extraction and operational period to mine potash ore for at least 23 years.