Australian mining company Matsa Resources has been granted its first two special prospecting licences in Thailand by the country's Department of Primary Industry and Mines, enabling the firm to explore lithium in the Ratchaburi province.
The licenses, the first of six such permits being sought by the company, allow Matsa to advance its exploration activities in the area where it has discovered the Spotted Panther lithium pegmatite prospect.
The move comes after Thailand's Ministry of Industry indicated plans to prioritise lithium exploration and mining.
Matsa has found several occurrences of lithium-bearing pegmatites in the region and has lodged 118 applications for lithium prospecting.