WELLINGTON, New Zealand,
Dec. 11, 2018 /CNW/ - Chatham
Rock Phosphate Limited (TSXV: "NZP" and NZAX: "CRP" or the
"Company") wishes to advise that a year after first communicating
with the incoming government it's timely for the Company to
reiterate the messages it has sent directly to key Ministers during
this period.
We keep sending these messages as the benefits of this project
include a well documented and established range of environmental
and health related benefits as well as providing an obvious boost
to our economy.
Chatham rock phosphate is
already located here in New
Zealand and doesn't have to be imported from the other side
of the world. Its ownership is also undisputed, unlike the rock
being imported from the Western
Sahara. And our permit area contains significant by-products
including rare earths and other green minerals.
The area we would disturb during our mine life (less than 500 sq
km in total or 30 sq km a year) represents less than a quarter of
one percent of the Chatham Rise, a tiny area compared with the
19,000 sq km of the Rise bottom trawled annually in the area by the
fishing industry with few identified ill-effects; the impacts on
the seafloor are broadly the same.
Chatham is a really good news
story which is why it's worth repeating these messages again below.
And it's also why we will continue to request meetings with our key
ministers in order to communicate these messages in person.
This project deserves to be supported by any government, in any
country, and particularly so by the Labour/Green/NZ First coalition
we have in New Zealand.
In summary it ticks all the boxes: environmental, health,
ethical, security of supply, economic, regional development, rare
earths and other green minerals
- Our rock is a proven reactive phosphate rock. Using it results
in much less run-off into waterways and an improved soil profile
compared with the effects of manufactured fertilisers.
- It's an organic fertiliser with no additives and with the only
processing being grinding and possible pelletisation
- It contains ultra-low 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 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
fertilisers used in New Zealand.
We could provide the two fertiliser co-ops supplying most of
New Zealand's fertiliser with a
green fertiliser alternative to naturally complement their other
products.
We repeat our request to meet and brief the key Ministers of
this government in order to gain the support that this project so
richly merits. It's good for the environment, good for the
economy and good for New
Zealand.
Regards
Chris Castle, President and
CEO
chris@crpl.co.nz or +64 21 55 81 85
Skype: phosphateking
Neither the Exchange, its Regulation Service Provider (as
that term is defined under the policies of the Exchange), or NZX
Limited has in any way passed upon the merits of the Transaction
and associated transactions, and has neither approved nor
disapproved of the contents of this press release.
SOURCE Chatham Rock Phosphate