Aberdeen International Inc T.AAB

MWS expansion may be delayed

[Bobwins]

 

Doubt this will impact current royalties that we are receiving but if expansion is blocked, we would not get expected increased royalties.  
ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORIZATION UNEXPECTEDLY WITHDRAWN FROM FIRST URANIUM'S MWS FUTURE TAILINGS STORAGE FACILITY
1/20/2010 1:12 AM - Canada NewsWire
TORONTO and JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 20, 2010 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX News Network) --
Company seeks greater clarification from NWDACE
First Uranium Corporation (TSX:FIU, JSE:FUM) (ISIN:CA33744R1029) ("First Uranium" or "the Company") has been notified by the North West Provincial Government's Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Rural Development ("NWDACE") of their decision to withdraw the Company's environmental authorization ("EA") for a new Tailings Storage Facility ("TSF") designed to accommodate future tailings deposition capacity requirements at the Company's MWS tailings recovery project in South Africa.
NWDACE's decision to withdraw the EA was unexpected, as the Company had, in December 2009, secured the withdrawals of two of three previously filed third-party appeals. First Uranium had been advised that the third appeal would also be withdrawn.
"The Company is currently seeking clarification from NWDACE's regarding their apparent decision, before undertaking any action," said Gordon Miller, President and CEO of First Uranium. "We will keep shareholders informed as more information becomes available."
As previously disclosed, MWS received a positive record of decision ("RoD") from NWDACE in July 2009 to construct the TSF. After the RoD was received, three appeals were then lodged by interested third parties with the offices of the Member of the Executive Council (the "MEC") for the Northwest Province. In reaction to the appeals, the MEC subsequently advised MWS that the RoD was being suspended pending the outcome of the appeal process governed by the National Environmental Management Act ("NEMA"). In October 2009, NWDACE notified MWS that they intended to withdraw the RoD. MWS submitted its response on November 5, 2009 to NWDACE, recommending a retrospective authorization process under NEMA to address NWDACE's issues.