Ariana Resources PLC was granted renewal for the Ardala operational license at its Salinbas gold project in Turkey for five years until June 3, 2024.

The Ardala operating permit also increased in area to cover the known extents of the Salinbas, Salinbas North and Ardala mineralization, according to an Oct. 15 news release.

The company now holds all three operational licenses, Ardala, Salinbas and Hizarliyayla, comprising the Salinbas project. Resource drilling is expected to start in the second quarter of 2020.

Managing Director Kerim Sener said the company will immediately start an environmental baseline study and associated scoping work to advance an environmental impact assessment for the Salinbas project.