Santana Minerals has begun the submission process for its Fast Track application to mine for gold in Central Otago.
In a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange on Friday the company said it had commenced the submission process including payment of the $390,000 application fee.
The submission followed completion of all required technical works, studies and was the result of years of intensive environmental, social and engineering investigations, the statement said.
Processing of the application would begin after formal acceptance by the Environmental Protection Agency with a decision expected in about six months. It was anticipated construction would begin the first half of next year and the first gold production about 15 months after that.
— Allied Media













