Government Support for Novales-Udias Zinc Project
Released
Released
Announcement PDF
ASX Announcement | 11 March 2025
Variscan Mines Limited (ASX:VAR)
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR NOVALES-UDIAS ZINC PROJECT
Highlights
• The Government of Cantabria fully supports the Company’s plans to recommence
mining
• The Company has held a positive meeting with the President of the Government of
Cantabria, Ms. María José Sainz de Buruaga and the Regional Minister for Industry,
Employment, Innovation and Trade, Mr. Eduardo Arasti Barca
o “The Government of Cantabria will do "everything possible" to re start
zinc mining”
o “Minister Arasti affirms that the Executive will "facilitate" the project, which
aims to reopen the old Udías and Alfoz de Lloredo (San Jose) exploitation”
Variscan Mines Limited (ASX:VAR) (“Variscan” or “the Company”) is pleased to advise that a
meeting held with senior officials in the Government of Cantabria confirmed their very positive support
for the Company’s plans to recommence mining.
High-level meeting with President of Cantabria and Minister responsible for Mining
Stewart Dickson (MD & CEO, Varsican Mines) and Martin Silvan (Legal Representative, Variscan Mines
Cantabria) recently met with the President of the Government of Cantabria, Ms. María José Sainz de
Buruaga and the Regional Minister for Industry, Employment, Innovation and Trade, Mr. Eduardo Arasti
Barca, who is responsible for mining.
The meeting was scheduled as part of the Company’s ongoing communication with local government
and to discuss permitting and the planned mine re-start. The President expressed strong interest in the
Novales-Udias Project and declared the commitment of the Government of Cantabria to help deliver
the Project.
The Regional Minister suggested, and the President endorsed, the formation of a small, specificallyfocused coordination group to assist as much as possible to ensure that the project can be expedited
as efficiently as possible. The Government of Cantabria have adopted this model of success with
international chemicals company, Solvay Group, who operate in Torrelavega (16km from the San Jose
Mine).
Positive statements by Government of Cantabria reported in regional media
Statements made by Government officials in and following the meeting with Variscan were reported in
an article on 5 March 2025 in El Diario Montañés, the daily regional newspaper serving the region of
Cantabria. The headlines were:
•
“The Government of Cantabria will do "everything possible" to re start zinc mining”
•
“Minister Arasti affirms that the Executive will "facilitate" the project of the Australian
company Variscan, which aims to reopen the old Udías and Alfoz de Lloredo (San Jose)
exploitation”
Figure 1. El Diario Montañés article of 05 March 2025 with headline: “The Government of Cantabria
will do "everything possible" to re-start zinc mining”
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Web link article is available at: eldiariomontanes.es/region/occidental/gobierno-cantabria-
hara-posible-recuperar-mineria-zinc-20250306195720-nt.html#vca=fixedbtn&vso=eldiariomontanes&vmc=unknow&vli=region
The Government of Cantabria has created a working group led by the Directorate General for Industry,
Energy and Mines to ‘facilitate as much as possible’ the development of the Project. The first meeting
has been scheduled for this month.
The Mayor of Udías, Fernando Fernández, was also quoted, “It is a project for the future that will
generate employment. We are delighted and very accustomed to mining activity”. He points out the
‘great acceptance’ of the Project among the local community, who are very used to mining activity
despite the fact it ceased several decades ago. The Company recently reported very high-grade maiden
drilling results from the Udías Mine 1.
Figure 2. Meeting between Variscan Mines and the President of the Government of Cantabria, Ms.
María José Sainz de Buruaga and the Regional Minister for Industry, Employment, Innovation and
Trade, Mr. Eduardo Arasti Barca.
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Refer ASX Announcement 23 February 2025
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Variscan’s Managing Director & CEO, Stewart Dickson, said:
“This public commitment by the Government of Cantabria to work with Varsican on permitting and the
re-start of mining by 2027 is very encouraging.
In my meeting with the new President and Minister I was impressed with their positive 'can do’ attitude
and will be working with them closely to deliver our project. It is the regional governments in Spain that
are key to unlocking mineral resource projects and we have a first-class relationship forged over years
of local commitment, communication and delivery.
Further, it highlights the importance and value of having a de-risked, former producing asset with a
granted mining licence in place and excellent routes to market.
This bodes extremely well for the future as our ambitions to re-start production advance. I am in no
doubt we have the most exciting high grade zinc development asset in Europe”.
ENDS
This ASX announcement has been approved by the Board and authorised for issue by Mr Stewart Dickson,
Managing Director and CEO, Variscan Mines Limited
For further information, please contact:
Variscan Mines Limited (ASX:VAR)
Stewart Dickson
Managing Director & CEO
E: stewart.dickson@variscan.com.au
T: +44 (0) 7799 694195
Media & Investor Enquiries
Jane Morgan Management
Chloe Hayes / Jane Morgan
E: chloe@janemorganmanagement.com.au /
jm@janemorganmanagement.com.au
P: + 61 (0) 458619317/ +61 (0) 405 555 618
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About Variscan Mines Limited (ASX:VAR)
Variscan Mines Limited (ASX:VAR) is a growth oriented, natural resources company focused on the acquisition,
exploration and development of high-quality strategic mineral projects. Its primary focus is the development of its
advanced zinc projects in Spain. The Company’s name is derived from the Variscan orogeny, which was a geologic
mountain building event caused by Late Paleozoic continental collision between Euramerica (Laurussia) and
Gondwana to form the supercontinent of Pangea.
To learn more, please visit: www.variscan.com.au
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Competent Person Statement
Where reference is made to previous releases of exploration results and mineral resource estimates in this
announcement, the Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the
information included in those announcements and all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the
exploration results and mineral resource estimates included in those announcements continue to apply and have not
materially changed.
The information in this document that relates to previous exploration results was prepared pre-2012 JORC code.
It is the opinion of Variscan that the exploration data is reliable. Although some of the data is incomplete, nothing
has come to the attention of Variscan that causes it to question the accuracy or reliability of the historic
exploration.
Forward Looking Statements
Forward-looking statements are only predictions and are not guaranteed. They are subject to known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and assumptions, some of which are outside the control of the Company. Past performance
is not necessarily a guide to future performance and no representation or warranty is made as to the likelihood of
achievement or reasonableness of any forward-looking statements or other forecast. The occurrence of events in
the future are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company’s actual results,
performance or achievements to differ from those referred to in this announcement. Given these uncertainties,
recipients are cautioned not to place reliance on forward looking statements. Any forward-looking statements in
this announcement speak only at the date of issue of this announcement. Subject to any continuing obligations
under applicable law and the ASX Listing Rules, the Company, its directors, officers, employees and agents do
not give any assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the events referred to in this announcement will occur
as contemplated.
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