Heron sues Russia's Norilsk over tenement access

Nickel explorer Heron Resources Ltd has launched legal proceedings against Russian giant Norilsk Nickel in the Western Australian Supreme Court in a bid to gain access to the Bulong tenements near Kalgoorlie.

Herron is seeking to enforce its rights in relation to Bulong tenements, which it acquired from receivers in April 2004. At the time Heron said buying the mining rights at Bulong required negotiation, in good faith, for access to plant and infrastructure tenements for the purpose of exploration, mining and development.

The nickel explorer revealed in February that LionOre Australia, which was bought by Norilsk, intended to terminate negotiations with Heron over access to Bulong.

Heron has said the tenements had a potential resource of 227.2 million tonnes from a total Kalgoorlie Nickel Project mineral resource of 903 million tonnes.

The company has said the Bulong resources have no impact on the resource base of the Jump-up Dam Heap Leach project north of Kalgoorlie.