AbraSilver Resource Corp. announced the completion of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for its silver and gold Diablillos project, located in Salta. The conclusion of this assessment marks a crucial step towards the development phase of the project, which is expected to achieve positive outcomes in water use, environmental impact, and socio-economic benefits.
By Panorama Minero
The EIA is one of the key permitting requirements for the development of the project. It includes exhaustive social and environmental work programs carried out in Argentina since 2021 by the company’s team, alongside multiple reviews by external consultants. This report incorporates details from the Diablillos Pre-Feasibility Study, completed in April 2024, and comprises baseline environmental studies, air quality assessments, hydrological modeling, flora and fauna characterization, impact evaluation, as well as mitigation measures, controls, and benefits analysis throughout the project's life cycle, from construction to final closure.
John Miniotis, President and CEO, commented: “The completion of the EIA is an important milestone in advancing Diablillos as a sustainable mining project. It is the result of over three years of extensive environmental, community, and engineering activities. I am proud to say that our team’s proactive engagement with all local communities has ensured the project has been well-received by all local stakeholders, and we are confident in a positive outcome from the EIA review process. Its timely approval will represent a key step in our path toward becoming one of the world’s largest primary silver mines.”
The EIA was conducted by EC & Asociados, a certified environmental consultancy based in Salta, with extensive experience in Argentina’s mining industry. The EIA report concludes that, considering both environmental and socio-economic factors, the project's overall impact is positive. Key highlights include:
● Socio-Economic Impact: The report concludes that the Diablillos project’s impact on local communities is positive, leading to increased employment and socio-economic activity, as well as improvements in infrastructure and related services.
● Environmental: The EIA determined that the effects on flora, fauna, and soil components can be mitigated throughout the life of the project, and the Environmental Management Plan proposes extensive measures to identify and minimize environmental impacts.
● Water Management: The report includes details of an advanced water management system designed to reduce total water consumption by up to 30% through water recycling, efficient tailings management, and optimized processing techniques.
● Energy Supply: The project’s energy needs are expected to be met by a 20 MW hybrid power plant, consisting of a photovoltaic solar plant and stationary diesel generators. The integration of solar power is expected to deliver environmental and economic benefits, with the solar solution designed to minimize the project's footprint while maintaining high operational efficiency.
"Throughout the EIA process, the company has demonstrated a proactive approach to its sustainability practices, resulting in extensive collaboration and relationship-building with all stakeholders. This proactive engagement with local communities and authorities has been evident through recent informational seminars and provincial visits to the project under the company’s open-door policy," the company commented in a statement.
In the coming weeks, AbraSilver will formally submit the EIA to provincial authorities in Salta and Catamarca and will begin managing the complementary provincial and national permits required for the project’s development. Additionally, the company plans to complete an updated Pre-Feasibility Study by the end of 2024 and a Feasibility Study in the second half of 2025.
