08:37 AM EST, 01/23/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Belo Sun Mining ( BSXGF ) on Thursday said Brazil's Federal Court of Appeals has unanimously held that the Secretariat of Environment and Sustainability of the State of Para (SEMAS) is the competent authority for the environmental permitting process of the Volta Grande Gold Project (PVG) going forward.

This ruling reverses the court's earlier decision that had designated the Federal Brazilian Institute of the Environment (IBAMA) as the competent authority for the environmental permitting process of PVG.

Though the ruling designating SEMAS as the competent authority could be appealed, it is a positive development due to the Para State agency's familiarity with and knowledge of the project, Belo Sun said. The next stage in the permitting process of PVG will be the transferring of files back to SEMAS.

"We welcome the... court ruling confirming SEMAS as the permitting authority for the project, an agency that is already familiar with PVG, and one that has been permitting mining projects in this important mining jurisdiction in Para State," said Ayesha Hira, interim president and CEO of Belo Sun.