Savannah Resources has secured environmental operating permits for the Mahab 4 and Maqail South mining licence applications in Oman.
With the approval from the Oman Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs (MECA), the company has so far received regulatory approvals from six out of eight ministries.
The company is planning a series of copper mine developments in the country.
Savannah Resources CEO David Archer said: “The award of environmental operating permits marks a major breakthrough for our 2018 development plans for the mining of the high-grade copper deposits at Mahab 4 and Maqail South.
“MECA’s environmental clearance is expected to be factored positively into the approval process of the remaining ministries.”
Remaining ministerial approvals are expected to be received by the end of this year, with the mining licences set to be granted early next year by Public Authority for Mining.
In Oman, Savannah has rights over two blocks, Block 4 and Block 5, covering 1,004km² in the Semail Ophiolite Belt.
The company holds a 65% stake in Al Fairuz Mining, which is the holder of the Block 5 licence comprising Mahab 4 and Maqail South deposits.
Block 5 has an indicated and inferred mineral resource of 1.7Mt at 2.2% Cu, including a high-grade zone of 500,000t at 4.5% Cu at the Mahab 4 target.
With an exploration target of between 10.7Mt and 29.250Mt of copper, the company expects to start mining in the first half of next year.
