Chatham Rock Phosphate Ltd. wishes to advise that, two years after first communicating with the incoming government of New Zealand, it is very imperative and timely for the company to reiterate the messages it has sent directly to key ministers during this period.
The company continues to send public communications because the benefits of the company’s reliable environmentally friendly project include a well-documented and established range of environmental and health related benefits, as well as providing an obvious boost to the New Zealand economy.
The company’s economically beneficial product, Chatham rock phosphate, is already located here in New Zealand and does not have to be imported from the other side of the world. Its ownership is also undisputed, unlike the rock phosphate being imported from the Western Sahara. In addition, the company’s permit area contains significant byproducts, including rare earths and other green minerals that are very important to the economy, as well as the rest of the world.
The area that the company proposes to develop during its mine life (less than 500 square kilometres in total or less than 30 square kilometres per year) represents less than a quarter of 1 per cent (less than 0.25 per cent) of the Chatham Rise, a tiny area compared with the 19,000 square kilometres of the Rise bottom trawled annually in the area by the fishing industry with few identified ill effects, if any; the impacts on the sea floor are broadly the same from an environmental perspective.
Chatham is a genuinely good news story which is why it is worth repeating these messages below again. And, it is also why the company will continue to request progressive meetings with its key ministers in order to communicate these messages in person. The company thanks all its government officials for their interest and support of Chatham rock phosphate.
This project deserves to be supported by any government, in any country, and particularly so by the Labour/Green/NZ First coalition in New Zealand.
In summary, it ticks all the relevant boxes that every concerned government would appraise: environmental, health, ethical, security of supply, economic, regional development, rare earths and other green minerals:
The company’s rock is a proven reactive phosphate rock. Using it results in much less runoff into waterways and an improved soil profile compared with the effects of manufactured fertilizers.
It is an organic fertilizer with no additives and with the only processing being grinding and possible pelletization.It contains ultralow levels of cadmium, a cancer-causing heavy metal with much greater concentrations in other rock phosphate deposits.
Being locally sourced and needing to be applied less frequently results in much lower carbon emissions (in effect increasing the present NZ electric vehicle fleet from 10,000 to 29,000 vehicles).
It is New Zealand’s only significant source of phosphate and seabed extraction involves a far smaller environmental impact than that imposed on local overseas communities which mine phosphate.
The rock is within one day’s sailing distance and supply is far more secure (and more ethical) than phosphate rock imported from unstable regions on the other side of the world.
The project economics are attractive and Chatham will pay significant port charges, royalties and income taxes.The project will generate new jobs in environmental monitoring, on the mining ship, in the home port, and in the science and agricultural sectors.
Chatham rock phosphate has been independently shown to be as effective as other phosphate fertilizers used in New Zealand. The company could provide the two fertilizer co-ops supplying most of New Zealand’s fertilizer with a green fertilizer alternative to naturally complement its other products.
- The company’s rock is a proven reactive phosphate rock. Using it results in much less runoff into waterways and an improved soil profile compared with the effects of manufactured fertilizers.
- It is an organic fertilizer with no additives and with the only processing being grinding and possible pelletization.
- It contains ultralow levels of cadmium, a cancer-causing heavy metal with much greater concentrations in other rock phosphate deposits.
- Being locally sourced and needing to be applied less frequently results in much lower carbon emissions (in effect increasing the present NZ electric vehicle fleet from 10,000 to 29,000 vehicles).
- It is New Zealand’s only significant source of phosphate and seabed extraction involves a far smaller environmental impact than that imposed on local overseas communities which mine phosphate.
- The rock is within one day’s sailing distance and supply is far more secure (and more ethical) than phosphate rock imported from unstable regions on the other side of the world.
- The project economics are attractive and Chatham will pay significant port charges, royalties and income taxes.
- The project will generate new jobs in environmental monitoring, on the mining ship, in the home port, and in the science and agricultural sectors.
- Chatham rock phosphate has been independently shown to be as effective as other phosphate fertilizers used in New Zealand. The company could provide the two fertilizer co-ops supplying most of New Zealand’s fertilizer with a green fertilizer alternative to naturally complement its other products.
The company appreciates the interests and support of the New Zealand government ministers and high-ranking officials that have continually granted its requests to meet and brief them, including the key ministers of this government, in order to gain the support that this project so richly merits. It is good for the environment, good for the economy, good for New Zealand and good for the world.
