Maronan Metals has received Mineral Development Licence (MDL) 2028 from the Queensland Government in Australia for its Maronan Silver Project.
This development marks a significant step towards preparing the project for eventual mining operations.
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The licence encompasses the Maronan deposit along with proposed mine infrastructure within the company’s wholly owned Exploration Permit for Minerals (EPM) 13368.
It was granted after Maronan met all relevant statutory conditions.
Approvals were obtained from several key departments including the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development, and Environmental Authority approval from the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.
Native Title agreements were also finalised.
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By GlobalDataThe granted MDL allows Maronan Metals to excavate a boxcut and develop a decline, facilitating rapid drilling of the starter zone resource.
This will support potential future ore reserve estimation and aligns with the company’s timeline to fast-track project development.
The licence was received in less than 12 months from the application submission, underscoring the project’s minimal permitting risk.
Initially applied for in the first quarter of 2025, the MDL formed part of Maronan’s broader strategy to transition from advanced exploration to development readiness.
The application process included various regulatory and stakeholder actions necessary before final approval.
The MDL continues and extends existing EPM tenure, allowing development-level studies without granting approval for mining operations to begin.
With this licence, Maronan can pursue bulk sampling and validate geological conditions through exploration decline to a depth of 200m below surface.
The company can advance resource estimates or expand value through targeted surface drilling, or both simultaneously.
However, Maronan said that receiving this licence does not equate to a commitment to specific developments nor implies secured funding for such works.
Future activities include finalising a landholder compensation agreement, conducting additional surface drilling to enhance the indicated resource base, and continuing technical work in preparation for future mining lease applications and development decisions.
Maronan Metals chairman Simon Bird said: “The MDL materially strengthens the project’s regulatory position and marks a clear step forward into structured development planning. It also gives us flexibility in how we sequence the next stages of work, and in the timing and funding of future development activities.”
