Chatham Rock Phosphate Hamilton October 2014 Overview Mining - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Chatham Rock Phosphate Hamilton October 2014

Overview  Mining method  Benefits to NZ  Key effects and mitigation  Sustainable management of NZ’s natural resources

Mining method Boskalis is the technology partner Existing technology with flexible connections

Benefits to NZ  Only major NZ rock phosphate deposit  Replace some of the 1m tonne imports – mostly from Morocco/Western Sahara  $900m value to NZ – (NZIER)  Import substitution & exports - $250m annually  Environmental benefits of end product – low cadmium & direct application means less nutrient run-off to water  New industry – undersea mining

Sediment plume The size and distribution of the sediment plume drives all effects beyond the mining site All experts agreed:  Sediment model is appropriate and conservative  The model takes into account an appropriate level of chalk  If the amount of fine material doubled, the plume would be within the bounds of the original plots

Benthic communities and coral Unavoidable impact in mined areas But: • CRP will protect the most important areas • Area mined each year is small • CRP proposes environmental compensation

Coral Communities and Mining Plan coral communities (1700 m buffer) mining blocks no-mining areas 7

So what about BPAs? • Created by fishing industry for fishing industry, not equivalent to marine reserves • Set aside areas not actively bottom trawled • Prohibit bottom trawling only, not any other activity • Same or better biodiversity protection can be achieved

Chatham Rise ecosystem  No reduction in primary productivity  Key habitats within area protected through no-mining areas  Size of affected area is small

Scale is important

Fishing Fishing experts agreed: o The marine consent area is not important area for commercial fish species or spawning o “Worst - case” fish stock modelling showed low to negligible effect on major fish stocks

Marine mammals Sound: • Mammals expected to move away • Exclusion zone prevents any physical effects Operational considerations: • Collision and entanglement unlikely to pose a risk • 30 years of observations indicates that area is not an important habitat for baleen whales (most sensitive group of marine mammals) 12

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Seabirds  No biological attractors to vessel  Best practice lighting mitigation plan 14

Toxicology and radiology Experts agreed that : • Toxicology effects in water column will be very low • Radiological risk for marine life is negligible • No biomagnification of uranium or other metals in fish, but CRP will monitor it anyway • Uranium accumulation in soils has and will continue to occur from use of all phosphatic fertilisers; this is a long- term national issue 15

Balancing exercise • CRP’s project provides unique opportunity for NZ • Benefits are significant • Environmental risks are low or can be managed properly • Consistent with “sustainable management” 16

Thank you