Cadence Minerals (KDNC) has been granted a preliminary environmental licence (LP) for the Amapá iron ore mine in Brazil.
The LP allows for the full mine capacity of 5.5 million tonnes per year of DR-grade iron ore concentrate and covers the entire development plan, including the Azteca processing plant.
The approval covers open-pit mining, mineral processing, waste rock handling and associated tailings storage infrastructure across the project's existing mining concessions.
This means work can proceed toward first-stage refurbishment and production.
Meanwhile, installation licence requirements are advancing as planned.
"This is a highly significant regulatory milestone for Amapá,” said Kiran Morzaria, chief executive of Cadence Minerals.
“The grant of the Preliminary Licence confirms environmental acceptance of the mine at its full intended scale and marks a decisive step forward in the project's redevelopment. Importantly, the LP validates the complete mine plan and provides the regulatory foundation to advance the Azteca processing plant as the first step toward production. With this key de-risking milestone achieved, our focus now turns to securing the Installation Licence and progressing refurbishment activities in line with our staged development strategy. The remaining Installation Licence requirements are advancing well, and we remain on track as we move the project toward refurbishment and production."
View from Vox
The granting of the LP represents a material de-risking event and establishes a clear regulatory pathway toward construction and production at Amapá. With work on the Installation Licence progressing, and archaeological surveys already complete, Cadence looks well set up to move Amapá rapidly forward in 2026.