Q&A with Kurt Budge Chief Executive Officer at Beowulf Mining plc (LON:BEM)

Beowulf Mining plc (LON:BEM) Chief Executive Officer Kurt Budge caught up with DirectorsTalk for an exclusive interview to discuss the Supreme Administrative Court’s decision on Tasman Metals’ Norra Kärr project, what implications this has on their Kallak North application and what will happen next

 

Q1: Now, some interesting news out this morning regarding Tasman Metals’ Norra Kärr project, Kurt could you explain to us the Supreme Administrative Court’s judgement?

A1: Yes, well what we gather from Tasman’s press release back in February is that the Supreme Administrative Court reviewed the decision making process that had been followed by the Mining Inspectorate of Sweden and determined it was incorrect in that the decision to award Tasman a mining licence was not adequately supported by environmental studies. Up until that decision the process in Sweden has been to focus on Concession area which is really delineated by the ore body and the activities within the Concession area. The court’s decision has now expanded the process to cover all aspects for mining operation so that’s really expanded sort of the way the Mining Inspectorate should look at applications when they’re put to them.

 

Q2: So what are the implications for the company’s Kallak North application?

A2: Last year we got the support of the County Administrative Board for the county of Norrbotten and the recommendation of the Mining Inspectorate that Beowulf Mining’s concession be awarded by the government but both the support and the recommendation were specific to the Concession area which has been working practice in Sweden up until the Supreme Administrative Court’s decision. So having looked at the Supreme Administrative Court’s decision we are suggesting to the government that our application be returned to the Mining Inspectorate and reviewed in light of the court’s decision so that any award of the Concession is in accordance with the court’s decision. We feel confident that we submitted a comprehensive environmental impact assessment as part of our original application and we also responded to a long list of questions that the County Administrative Board put to us at the back end of 2013 and at the back end of 2014, we also addressed an issue around transport that was giving them concern so we have done everything with our application to respond to questions which are for the wider mine operation. We actually looked at the wider mine operation so everything that’s required to build Kallak and we feel confident that if that’s reviewed in the light of this latest court decision that we will get our exploitation concession.

 

Q3: So I guess finally then, what do you think will happen next for Beowulf Mining plc?

A3: Well really Giles it’s in the government’s hands but whatever happens we are most definitely hoping for transparency and some definite timelines going forward. If our application is sent back to the Mining Inspectorate then it’s been our approach to work with all our stakeholders including the Mining Inspectorate and if there are any outstanding matters that crop up then we’ll do everything we can to address those, we’re motivated to do so. I’ve said time and time again since becoming CEO that my belief is that we have done everything that’s required of us by the Swedish regulations. If we are given a fair assessment of our application and if it’s understood what we have shown in the last year or so, our commitment to our stakeholders in Jokkmokk and the county of Norrbotten and the approach that we’ve taken in all our interactions with them in wanting to take in partnership the Kallak project forward then I am still hopeful that we should get a long-awaited positive decision on our exploitation concession and that we move forward with the project.

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