Canberra hands Alliance’s NiWest project major project status

Alliance Nickel (ASX:AXN) has announced the Federal Australian Government has awarded its NiWest project priority critical mineral status.

Officially called “Major Project Status,” the MPS classification will see Alliance granted access to the Major Projects Facilitation Agency (MPFA), which can do everything from streamline regulation to provide ‘additional resources.’

The MPS classification is the first for a nickel project since the government declared the metal critical back in February, Alliance said on Thursday.

“NiWest is the first nickel project to be awarded MPS since nickel was added to the Critical Minerals List earlier this year,” company chief Paul Kopejtka said.

Unsurprisingly, he declared himself “delighted.”

“The NiWest Project is now recognised as significant from an industry and economic perspective, and we look forward to working closely with relevant Ministers, Government and industry bodies as we move towards construction,” Kopejtka added.

In the background, Alliance continues to develop a DFS for the WA-based project – which it describes as one of the largest undeveloped plays of its type.

The project is located near Leonora in WA and the company is targeting annual production of 90Ktpa nickel sulphate and 7Ktpa cobalt sulphate. The construction phase of the project is anticipated to spur some 600 jobs, and 300 in operations.

AXN last traded at 3.5cps.