South32 wins appeal over Worsley mine environment conditions

The news: Mining group South32 has received a boost to its plans to extend the life of its Worsley Alumina mine, after the Western Australian minister for environment agreed to amend environmental approval conditions that saw $827 million written off the value of the project earlier this year.

The numbers: The minister approved an amendment of the conditions made by the WA Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in July, after South32 claimed the conditions would "create significant operating challenges" and "went beyond reasonable measures for managing environmental risks based on scientific assessment and decades of operating experience".

South32 noted that state approval of the bauxite mining project through a ministerial statement is expected late December, with federal approval due in early 2025.