Toro Energy Limited Appeals Determination Completed for Wiluna Project

10:08 AEST Sept 20, 2012 ABN Newswire (C) 2004-2012 Asia Business News PL. All Rights Reserved.

Adelaide, Australia (ABN Newswire) - Toro Energy Limited (ASX:TOE) acknowledges and welcomes the Western Australian Minister for Environment's determination regarding the nine appeals raised against the Wiluna Uranium Project. This is a further significant milestone in the government assessment process for the Project, with the next step being a formal decision by the WA Environment Minister.

The environmental impacts of the Wiluna Project, which is the most advanced uranium project in that State, have been rigorously assessed by both Western Australian and Federal Government agencies and the public has had three opportunities for input to this process since it began almost three years ago.

In making his determination, the Minister has noted the following:

'Overall, the [Appeals] Committee agreed with the EPA's conclusion that it is likely that the EPA's objectives would be achieved provided there is satisfactory implementation by the proponent of the recommended conditions, subject to amendment of a number of the recommended conditions.

After considering all of the information presented to him in respect to the appeals, ...... the Minister was of the view that the EPA had adequately considered the key environmental factors identified by it in its assessment of the proposal, and that this assessment was consistent with section 44 of the [Environmental Protection] Act.

The Minister was also satisfied that, subject to improved coordination and understanding between agencies, the regulation of uranium mining in Western Australia can be adequately managed by the [Department of Mines and Petroleum], the [Department of Environment and Conservation] and Radiological Council of WA.'

Apart from those sections of the appeals which added to the existing EPA conditions, the appeals were dismissed. Toro now awaits the WA Minister's decision and final conditions on the Project and the subsequent decision by the Federal Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities following his assessment of the Project.


About Toro Energy Limited:

Toro Energy is a modern Australian uranium company with progressive project development, acquisition and growth. The company is based in Adelaide, South Australia with a project office in Perth, Western Australia.

Toro’s flagship and wholly-owned Wiluna uranium project (includes existing mining lease) is 30 kilometres southeast of Wiluna in Central Western Australia.

Wiluna contains two shallow calcrete deposits, Lake Way and Centipede, with prefeasibility and optimisation studies completed and a definitive feasibility study underway. Toro has advanced the Approvals process with an anticipated date of mid-2012, construction through 2013 and first uranium sales in 2014.

Toro has a new uranium project at Theseus in Western Australia, and owns uranium assets in Northern Territory, South Australia and in Namibia, Africa.



Contact:

Toro Energy Limited
T: +61-8-8132-5600
F: +61-8-8362-6655
WWW: www.toroenergy.com.au