Great White Project

The Great White Project (TGWP) is a mining operation that will develop a world class kaolin deposit. Kaolin from the Great White Deposit is a fine white clay typically composed of 50% mineral kaolinite and 50% granitic sand, formed from the weathering of granite. The kaolinite is comprised of flat microscopic platelets approximately 0.003 mm thick along with a rare tubular (nanotube) form called halloysite. Kaolinite is chemically inert and non-abrasive.

The mining process at TGWP will include removing kaolin ore from the ground using conventional techniques of excavators and trucks. Stockpiled ore is then fed into a wet-processing plant. The plant will separate the two main components of kaolin: kaolinite and sand. Washed sand will be returned to the mined area or stockpiled for sale. The kaolinite concentrate will be dried and bagged for trucking to port.

The kaolinite product will be used in a range of applications and everyday products such as ceramics, paints, agricultural pest control, and paper.

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South Australia has a two-stage approval system.

The first stage involves the application for Mining Tenements. Applications for a Mining Lease (ML) and two Miscellaneous Purposes Licences (MPLs), supported by a Mining Proposal which described the Development, were submitted to the Department for Energy and Mining (DEM) in February 2021. The Mining Proposal provided government and the community information on how the Development will interact with the environment and included studies into the flora and fauna, hydrology, landscape, air quality, communities, businesses, traffic and infrastructure.

DEM granted ML 6532, MPL 163 and MPL 164 ("Mining Tenements") in December 2021, subject to conditions based on environmental outcomes ("Mining Lease Conditions").

The second stage in the approvals process is the preparation and lodgement of a management plan called a Program for Environment Protection and Rehabilitation (PEPR).

Andromeda lodged the PEPR for the TGWP in August 2021, following extensive stakeholder engagement and comprehensive environmental studies. The PEPR demonstrates how operations at TGWP will comply with the conditions attached to Mining Lease 6532 and Miscellaneous Purposes Licence 164 and other regulatory requirements.

Andromeda received approval of the PEPR for the TGWP from DEM in March 2023.

Following approval of the PEPR, payments for an environmental bond and the Native Vegetation Fund are required prior to construction commencing.

TGWP will also be subject to a range of secondary approvals controlled by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and SafeWork SA, which the Company expects to receive and are not required prior to the commencement of construction.

Andromeda has lodged a PEPR with a mining schedule of approximately 13 years. This is at a nominal mining rate of 300,000 tpa (tonnes per annum) of kaolin to nominally produce 150,000 tpa of refined product. This program is within the description of the Mining Proposal and reflects the staged approach to operations, described in the 2023 DFS released to the ASX on 24 August 2023.

In the PEPR, approximately 13 years of mining will occur in the western side of the deposit which has been historically cleared for cropping. This scope minimises the clearance of vegetation, meaning a lower environmental bond is required for the commencement of operations. This allows Andromeda to preserve capital as it establishes the mine. Andromeda proposes to fund the environmental bond for mining beyond the scope of the PEPR through cashflow from production.

TGWP will provide generational jobs and opportunities for the region for a planned Life-of-Mine of 28 years.

The mining schedule for the TGWP starts in the western part of the deposit which has been historically cleared for cropping with Mining in the east of the deposit scheduled for later in the Life-of-Mine.

Andromeda must provide an environmental bond for impacts detailed in its PEPR. By limiting the PEPR to approximately the first thirteen years of operations which fall largely beneath historically cleared, cropped areas, Andromeda’s program will minimise impact to existing vegetation. This will mean a lower environmental bond is required ahead of the commencement of mining, preserving capital resources.

Andromeda received approval of the PEPR for TGWP from DEM in March 2023.

Following approval of the PEPR, payments for an environmental bond and the Native Vegetation Fund are required prior to construction commencing.

Pending finance and a Final Investment Decision (FID) being made, on-site ground-engaging activities will conducted.

Construction of initial infrastructure will take approximately 3 months, with mining activities expected to commence immediately after the completion of construction, and associated processing infrastructure to be constructed thereafter.

The mining process at TGWP will include removing kaolin ore from the ground using conventional techniques of excavators and trucks. Stockpiled ore is then fed into a wet-processing plant. The plant will separate the two main components of kaolin: kaolinite and sand. Washed sand will be returned to the mined area or stockpiled for sale. The kaolinite concentrate will be dried and bagged for trucking to port.

Mining will be undertaken during daytime only, 6 days per week. Wet-processing of the ore will be undertaken on a 24-hour cycle, 7 days per week.

Shift schedules for weekday, weekend and evening work are yet to be determined, however, all activities will be subject to the Environment Protection (Noise) Policy 2007.

Initially, diesel generators will power operations. After the construction of the wet-processing plant, gas turbines will provide power generation and an opportunity to capture exhaust heat and gas for drying the product. This will provide a significant reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) production and result in increased energy efficiencies. Gas turbines can be run on hydrogen, and it is anticipated that as hydrogen availability improves, the power generation requirements can be switched to green hydrogen.

Kaolin ore from the pit will be mined using conventional techniques using excavators and trucks, to a depth of approximately 40 metres, with shallow angled walls.

Kaolin ore will be fed into the wet-processing plant and washed with water from the granitic sand to produce a concentrated kaolinite product. The washed granitic sand is suitable for the building industry and will be sold where possible. If not sold, the sand will be dewatered before being returned to the pit by truck.

The kaolinite concentrate is refined using hydrocyclones, then dried and bagged. Bags of kaolinite product will be transported to port using trucks.

Andromeda is committed to open, transparent, and engaging dialogue with communities, including Indigenous communities. Andromeda is actively engaging with The Wirangu People, who have connection to the country associated with the TGWP and are important stakeholders.

The Great White Project is a world-class mining opportunity for South Australia.

Download the Great White Project Fact Sheet

Water is required for wet-processing the kaolin ore to separate the kaolinite from the granitic sand. Water will also be used for dust suppression around the mine, and on local roads. The Great White Project has been designed to retain and recycle over 90% of its water.

During construction and initial operations, mains water will be trucked to site from the trunk main on the Eyre Highway, as required. After the construction of the wet-processing plant, a water pipeline from the trunk main will supply up to 10 l/s, as required.

Both Andromeda and SA Water have a commitment to ensure water supply and pressure in the region to all existing users.

Andromeda will source water for The Great White Project (TGWP) from the trunk main on the Eyre Highway by duplicating the existing infrastructure along Streaky Bay Road. The existing supply line will be supplemented with a parallel pipe (larger in diameter than the existing infrastructure) to the Poochera – Port Kenny Road offtake. Water supply for the TGWP will be taken at this point while still providing additional capacity for the existing Streaky Bay and Chandada/Inkster water users.

A new water pipeline has been designed to extend supply from Streaky Bay Road to site and will be installed in the Poochera – Port Kenny Road reserve and adjacent to the TGWP access road to the mine site. This is currently in engineering and design phase.

Andromeda will duplicate the existing infrastructure along Streaky Bay Road from the Eyre Highway to Poochera - Port Kenny Road. The new pipe will be larger in diameter than the current infrastructure and installed at Andromeda's cost.

A new water pipeline has been designed to extend supply from Streaky Bay Road to site and will be installed in the Poochera – Port Kenny Road reserve and adjacent to the Great White Project’s access road to the mine site. This is currently in engineering and design phase.

The new connection from the trunk main on the Eyre Highway has been designed to supply water to the Project without any adverse impacts to existing water users.

Water available to the wider community will increase at the intersection of Streaky Bay Road and Poochera – Port Kenny Road, after supply to The Great White Project (TGWP) has been taken into account.

Groundwater drawn from the region’s local bores by current users has been included in the Project’s hydrogeological studies. The nearest groundwater user is 4 km away from the TGWP with no impact expected from mining operations.

Andromeda must ensure that there is no adverse impact to the quantity and quality of groundwater available to existing users and groundwater dependent ecosystems as a result of mining operations. Andromeda will implement a groundwater monitoring program of bores located within and around the mine area, measuring quantity and quality of groundwater.

A hydrogeological study was conducted as part of the Mining Proposal to understand groundwater in the area around the Development and the potential effect on current users. The local groundwater is limited and not suitable for use for human consumption.

An independent groundwater report prepared for the PEPR found there is no risk of lowering groundwater levels at the nearest third-party operational well located 4.4km from the proposed mine.

No. The fracture-bound granite aquifer beneath Great White Deposit is limited in quantity and too high in salinity to be used in the wet-processing operation. It may be able to be used in limited amounts for dust suppression.

Andromeda must ensure there are no public nuisance impacts and health impacts from air emissions and /or dust generated from mining operations. Additionally, Andromeda must ensure no impacts to agricultural productivity to third party users as a result of dust generated by mining operations. Andromeda will undertake ongoing air quality monitoring around the ML to ensure and demonstrate that the dust generated from site does not exceed the limits set by the EPA and specified in the Mining Lease Conditions.

Dust management will be undertaken in a number of ways:

• Roads will be defined and constructed using aggregates and binding agents.
• Speed limits will be applied on all mine roads.
• Maintenance of internal and access roads with use of dust suppressants.
• The mining schedule will allow areas where the kaolin is removed to be backfilled and revegetated to stabilise the area progressively over the Life-of-Mine.
• The processing plant will use a wet process, which processes the slurry, dries and seals the product in bags for export.
• Landscaped earth bunds and boundary vegetation will surround the operating area to provide ground protection and windbreaks.
• Our workforce employed in the mine area will be trained and focused on safe work practices which minimise dust.
• A water cart will be used to reduce the likelihood of dust in working areas.
• Air quality in the region is generally very good, though the area does experience very dusty conditions on occasion. Control and management strategies for the Project have been designed to minimise dust generation in these conditions.

Dust generation from site is unlikely to impact agricultural productivity; in fact, kaolin dust is used in many agricultural businesses to improve soils, control pests, limit sun damage and loss of moisture through transpiration.

Andromeda is currently collecting data using air quality monitors and dust deposition gauges around the Project area to understand baseline dust levels. Andromeda must ensure no impacts to agricultural productivity to third party users as a result of dust generated by mining operations.

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Andromeda has committed to upgrading Poochera – Port Kenny Road and its intersection with Streaky Bay Road in consultation with the District Council of Streaky Bay, and the Department for Infrastructure and Transport. The proposed upgrade of the Poochera – Port Kenny Road has been designed to improve the vertical and horizontal alignments and widen the road where necessary to ensure safety for all road users.

Upgraded designs for the intersection of Streaky Bay Road and Poochera – Port Kenny Road have been approved by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport.

Andromeda has committed to halting haulage trucks along Poochera - Port Kenny Road during the time of school bus trip. This commitment includes the operation of water trucks.

A traffic assessment for the Great White Project has been undertaken by Tonkin Consulting. It determined that A-triple trucks are currently the most suitable for the Project. The A-triple combination is a common truck on the roads and is used to transport grain from regional silos to ports across the Eyre Peninsula. Further assessments on the suitability of vehicles, sizes, and combinations determined that combinations up to quad road trains could be used.

Andromeda is working in consultation with the Department for Infrastructure and Transport to determine the appropriate traffic route depending on the port chosen.

Three port options are currently being considered:

• Thevenard
• Lucky Bay, and
• Whyalla.

For all port options, trucks will travel along Poochera – Port Kenny Road and Streaky Bay Road to the Eyre Highway.

Due to the increase in traffic, there will be an impact on local roads. Andromeda has committed to upgrading Poochera – Port Kenny Road and associated intersections to accommodate haulage trucks from the Development. Upgrades will be staged as production at the mine (and road use) increases. Andromeda's commitment extends to ongoing maintenance of the road for the Life-of-Mine. The redesign of the road will benefit all road users.

Andromeda has engaged Tonkin Consulting to redesign Poochera – Port Kenny Road and the intersection with Streaky Bay Road to meet the Austroads standards. Upgrade designs have been approved by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport and the District Council of Streaky Bay. The intersection will be upgraded during the Project construction phase and widened to cater to all trucking configurations considered for use at the Development.

Yes.

The intersection of Poochera - Port Kenny Road with Streaky Bay Road will be upgraded to support the Project. Upgrade designs have been approved by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport. The intersection will be upgraded during the Project construction phase and widened to cater to all trucking configurations considered for use at the Development.

An assessment of sight distances for vehicles entering Streaky Bay Road from Poochera - Port Kenny Road, was completed and found that the roads exceed the relevant Performance Based Standards (PBS). The existing lane and shoulder widths of Streaky Bay Road to Poochera are also acceptable, based on the PBS.

Safety for truck drivers and the public is a paramount concern for the Great White Project. Poochera – Port Kenny Road will be upgraded and maintained to ensure safety for all road users. Andromeda will maintain the road to ensure it remains in safe and in a serviceable condition.

In response to community feedback, Andromeda is committed to halting haulage trucks along Poochera – Port Kenny Road during the time of school bus trips. This commitment includes the operation of water trucks.

Throughout the school year, the school bus will occasionally run outside its normal schedule, such as at the end of terms. Andromeda will work with the school community on changes to operational scheduling associated with irregular school bus trips.

Yes - up to 40 direct jobs will be created when production starts at the Great White Project. Up to 70 direct jobs will be created in the Poochera/Streaky Bay region with full-scale operation. This will bring combined incomes of over $7 million per annum into the community through salaries alone. Increased economic activity in the area associated with TGWP will support the development of additional services in the region, such as childcare and health care.

Andromeda has a "shop locally" policy and opportunities for supply, contracting and other services will be available. Once the Project gains the necessary approvals, supply requirements will be communicated through Streaky Bay’s Local Business Directory.

Please contact the District Council of Streaky Bay to register your interest.

Please contact the District Council of Streaky Bay to register your interest.

Positions with Andromeda are posted on the Careers page of the company website. You can join our careers mailing list.

Andromeda will also advertise locally and online for employment opportunities as they arise. You can join our careers mailing list to receive updates.

Andromeda is proudly South Australian and is committed to sourcing from locally based and South Australian suppliers, wherever possible.

Please send a capability statement to [email protected] or register for supplier updates.

Andromeda must ensure that noise emanating from operations is in accordance with the current amenity as defined by the Environment Protection (Noise) Policy 2007 and the relevant land use zoning as defined by the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 at the date the Mining Lease was granted.

The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) stipulates noise limits during construction and operation under the Environment Protection (Noise) Act 2017 (EPP).

A noise impact assessment undertaken for the TGWP by independent noise experts Resonate Consultants indicates that relevant noise criteria is unlikely to be exceeded during construction or operation. Bunding, site location, design and selection of plant and equipment, will be used to minimise noise impacts.

Andromeda must ensure that there are no adverse impacts to:

• public safety;
• human comfort;
• third party property (including stock);
• adjacent land use; and
• aircraft

from airblast, flyrock and vibration caused by blasting.

The Great White Deposit is typically free dig, due to the low strength characteristics of the clay and overburden of soil, sand and silts. There are harder overlying rafts of silcrete and calcrete which will generally be ripped with a dozer prior to excavating. Some areas may require limited drilling and blasting, on an as needs basis. Small, controlled blasting will be undertaken to fracture the rock to allow it to be excavated. Andromeda will comply with the Australian blasting compliance limits set out in AS 2187.2-2006 to ensure that impacts are minimised. Any impact is significantly reduced by distance from the mine. The nearest sensitive receiver (residence) is over 1 km from the mine area.

Andromeda must ensure that there are no native fauna injuries or deaths due to mining operations that could have been reasonably prevented.

As with any new development there will be an impact on native flora and fauna. The key is to understand and minimise the impact and where possible, remediate to offset the impact. Desktop studies, followed by field surveys were undertaken by ecologists to understand the existing natural environment. As part of the environmental surveys, a wider area around The Great White Project (TGWP) was included to understand if there could be any associated impacts.

In terms of native vegetation, the TGWP is located in an area described as highly degraded by agricultural practices. Specific attention was given to identifying any listed species that could be impacted by the TGWP, specifically the Malleefowl. There are no expected impacts to the surrounding native flora or fauna or Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES).

The PEPR that Andromeda has submitted for the Project includes a mining schedule of approximately 13 years of mining, at a nominal mining rate of 300,000 tpa (tonnes per annum) of kaolin. Mining is confined to the western side of the deposit which has been historically cleared for cropping.

The Great White Project (TGWP) is predominantly located within previously cleared agricultural land, but in order to access the kaolin deposit, some clearance of existing vegetation will be undertaken. The TGWP footprint has been designed, where possible, to avoid native vegetation. To offset the reduction in native vegetation, a contribution of Significant Environmental Benefit (SEB) is required. As part of the ongoing mine works, the mined areas will be progressively rehabilitated and revegetated.

The PEPR that Andromeda has submitted for the Project includes a mining schedule of approximately 13 years of mining, at a nominal mining rate of 300,000 tpa (tonnes per annum) of kaolin. Mining is confined to the western side of the deposit which has been historically cleared for cropping

Miscellaneous Purposes Licence (MPL) 164 was granted for the mine access road along the northern boundary of the adjacent Crown land which is covered by Native Vegetation Heritage Agreement (HA 511). This includes a small portion of this land that has been degraded by historic quarrying. The route for the mine access road was selected to minimise impact on both native vegetation and arable agricultural land. The route is also the most direct path to the Eyre Highway and therefore minimises ongoing emissions from product transport.

Andromeda must ensure that the land is progressively and finally rehabilitated to support the future land use agreed with the regulator (DEM). Rehabilitation will involve the backfilling of the pit where possible and reforming the land profile to a stable form prior to the reinstatement of soils. Investigations of the soil profile indicate it is naturally high in boron and may not be suitable for cropping following mining.

Andromeda is committed to reinstating the land to a safe and stable condition which includes re-vegetation. As the mine progresses and overburden is backfilled in the mined area, the rehabilitated landform surface may be lowered due to the removal of kaolin ore with changes to the resulting landform slopes.

A mine closure plan will be approved by DEM as part of the PEPR before any construction works or mining start.