Mining Permit Application lodged for BOGP

Santana Minerals Ltd
Level 1, 371 Queen St
Brisbane, QLD 4000
ABN 37 161 946 989
GPO Box 1305
Brisbane, QLD4000

T: +61 7 3221 7501



20 March 2025

Mining Permit Application lodged for BOGP

Santana Minerals Ltd (ASX/NZX: SMI, “Santana” or “the Company”) is pleased to announce the
lodgement of its Mining Permit Application with New Zealand Petroleum & Minerals (NZPAM), marking
a key step in transitioning its proposed Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project (BOGP) from exploration to the
mining permit stage, enabling development upon receipt of the necessary consents.
The Mining Permit Application under the Crown Minerals Act 1991 is a prerequisite for any mining
operation in New Zealand and grants the legal right to extract and process mineral resources within
the defined permit area.
The application builds upon extensive exploration success, geological modelling, and technical
assessments, demonstrating the project's strong viability as a future gold producer.
NZPAM Mining Permit and Fast-track Approvals Resource Consents
To facilitate project development and targeted gold production by the end of 2026, the Company still
requires its Resource Consents. Final preparation of its submission, following an invitation to apply
under Schedule 2 of the new Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 (“FTA”), is well advanced.
The FTA regime accelerates the consenting process for nationally significant projects by referring the
assessment to a ‘one-stop-shop’ expert panel, which prioritises economic benefits as a key intent of
the consenting process. As is prescribed under the FTA, Santana expects to secure its resource consents
within six months of lodging its Fast-track Approvals submission, paving the way for Bendigo-Ophir to
become a fully permitted mining operation.
CEO Damian Spring, said:
"Whilst a required statutory step, this NZPAM Mining Permit application is a pivotal stride towards
unlocking gold production, and the substantial economic benefits the project can deliver to NZ people
and the economy. The submission reflects our team's dedication to advancing the project responsibly
while ensuring compliance with all past and future regulatory standards. We look forward to engaging
with NZPAM and other stakeholders as we move closer to achieving mining status."


For further enquiries:

Damian Spring
Exec. Director & CEO
dspring@santanaminerals.com
Sam Smith
Exec. Director Corp Affairs & IR
ssmith@santanaminerals.com

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