Unanimous Support For Redesign Of Anglo American's Woodsmith Mine

Local councillors in Whitby have unanimously backed Anglo American's proposals to remove production limits and redesign key infrastructure at its Woodsmith polyhalite mine.

Plans by mining firm Anglo American to remove restrictions on its annual polyhalite production at Woodsmith in Whitby have received unanimous support from local councillors.

Whitby Town Council has said it fully supports the company’s proposal to remove an annual polyhalite production restriction and to redesign and relocate a ventilation shaft and temporary winding headframe.

Anglo American is developing a polyhalite fertiliser mine and a 37-kilometre tunnel as part of a plan to transport the product to Teesside and sell the fertiliser globally to boost crop yields.

At an extraordinary meeting of Whitby Town Council’s planning committee, members decided to unanimously support the application.

Cllr Elizabeth Mulheran, chair of the planning committee, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS):

“Anglo American had previously given a presentation on this application in November and at the meeting last night a member of Anglo American was there to answer our questions.”

The main amendment of the proposal – which will be decided by the North York Moors National Park Authority – is the “requirement to alter the location of the currently approved ventilation shaft and for it to be sunk to the mine production level of 1,600m,” according to plans.

A temporary winding tower would be required to sink the shaft, which would be removed when the mine is operational. Associated surface developments would include a ventilation fan station, air coolers, refrigeration plant and heat exchange system.

Woodsmith Mine site is situated approximately 4km south of the outskirts of Whitby and wholly within the boundary of the North York Moors National Park.

The site was formerly in agricultural use but is now at an advanced stage of construction.

The Woodsmith Project currently employs more than 1,000 people, of whom 76 per cent are from the local area.

In February, Anglo American announced that it had entered into an investment agreement with Mitsubishi Corporation to support continued progress of the project.

Anglo American and Mitsubishi will explore opportunities to build out additional demand for POLY4 in key markets, including providing financial and commercial resources to accelerate pilot sales, leveraging Mitsubishi’s extensive networks and partnerships across the food and agriculture sectors.

Commenting at the time, Peter Kyle, UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, welcomed the news, stating:

“It’s a game-changing investment that will help the UK to become a major global fertiliser producer, boosting sustainable and secure food production, whilst delivering £1.5 billion per year to the UK economy.”

Polyhalite is a naturally occurring mineral containing four of the six macronutrients that are “essential for plant growth”.

Since acquiring the Woodsmith Project in 2020, Anglo American has carried out a comprehensive technical review to optimise the project’s design and delivery. The review identified a series of engineering enhancements aimed at ensuring the project’s long-term safety, efficiency, and operational reliability, the company said.

The proposed amendments are the outcome of a review of the mine’s ventilation requirements which identified a need to increase both the ventilation airflow and cooling load to maintain safe workplace temperatures.

The North York Moors National Park Authority has not set a date for deciding on the application.

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