Monday 8 May 2006
ABC NT Local News

Mining company Compass Resources hopes to start extracting copper, cobalt and nickel south of Darwin early next year, after winning environmental approval from the Northern Territory Government.

The 180-hectare mine at Batchelor will produce 2.5 per cent of the world's cobalt and employ 150 people.

The Federal Government now has 30 days to sign off on the project.

The company's Rod Elvish does not expect any hiccups.

"As soon as we've got the approval from the Commonwealth and the mine management plan we'll start work on the ground straight away," he said.

"I would hope that we could have that within six to eight weeks."