Alba Mineral Resources has received revised permits from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to dewater the Lower Llechfraith workings at its Clogau-St David's Gold Mine in north Wales. The permits allow the company to dewater at a rate of up to 250 cubic metres per day, a significant increase from the previous maximum of 100 cubic metres per day. Safety and access works on Level 3 and towards Level 4 have been completed, and higher-rate dewatering is expected to commence in early January, with completion targeted for mid-January. Once Level 4 has been fully dewatered, Alba and its contractors will carry out a risk assessment, safety works, and exploration surveys. The company's contractors have advised that the airborne geophysical survey over Alba's key regional gold targets will be deferred to January due to weather conditions.
George Frangeskides, Executive Chairman of Alba, expressed delight at receiving the revised permits and acknowledged the cooperation of the NRW permitting teams. He stated, "We look forward to completing the dewatering as soon as possible in January and then finally setting foot on Level 4, the first time this key gold target will have been accessible to anyone for decades."