20 August 2026 | Manna Lithium Project, Western Australia
Global Lithium Resources has secured a Native Vegetation Clearing Permit and technical support for its groundwater licence at the Manna Lithium Project, about 110 kilometres east of Kalgoorlie.
The clearing permit is now effective with no appeals lodged. It allows clearing of up to 875 hectares across mining lease M28/414 and associated miscellaneous licences and runs for five years to 19 August 2031.
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation has also provided technical support for the project's groundwater licence. The proposed entitlement covers the current operating plan while retaining capacity for a possible future expansion.
Approval pathway
The new approvals follow approval of Manna's Mining Development and Closure Proposal on 4 August 2026. Global Lithium said the primary State approvals required to begin early works are now in place.
The remaining works approval is progressing, with the company targeting completion by the end of the September 2026 quarter.
Manna has a mineral resource of 51.6 million tonnes at 1.0 per cent lithium oxide and an ore reserve of 19.4 million tonnes at 0.91 per cent lithium oxide.
Why it matters
Clearing and groundwater authorisations are practical prerequisites for establishing site access, infrastructure and mine development. Their receipt reduces a key execution risk as Global Lithium moves Manna towards a final investment decision.
If the project proceeds, the early-works and construction phases would require a mix of mining, civil, environmental, water-management, technical and project-delivery capability. Global Lithium also expects the project to contribute employment and economic activity in the Goldfields region.
Next steps
Global Lithium is targeting a final investment decision in the December 2026 quarter. Its current schedule has first direct-shipping ore planned for the second quarter of 2027 and first 5.5 per cent spodumene concentrate targeted for mid-2027.
Those dates remain subject to completion of the remaining approval, investment decision, funding and execution milestones.
Source: Global Lithium Resources Limited, “Manna Clearing Permit and Groundwater Licence Secured”, 20 August 2026.