Miner’s Monthly: May 2022

Miners invited to meet with National Party energy and resources spokesperson, Stuart Smith

On the 13th and 14th of June, Minerals West Coast will host the National Party’s spokesperson for energy and resources, Stuart Smith, visiting mines and miners on the West Coast to inform the party’s understanding of the mining industry on the West Coast.

Minerals West Coast invites its members, particularly local miners, to meet for lunch with Stuart Smith at 12:30pm on Monday the 13th of June at the Paroa Hotel.

This will be a good opportunity for local operators to share their experiences in the industry and offer suggestions on what policies and regulations would better enable the sector.

If you would like to attend, please email manager@mwc.org.nz to confirm your attendance to ensure there is adequate catering on the day.

Heavy mineral sand mining given the go-ahead in Buller

Westland Mineral Sands secured resource consents in May for the mining of heavy mineral sands near Cape Foulwind outside Westport. The mine is expected to initially employ about forty people, with a concentrate processed at onsite plants before being trucked to the port of Westport for export.

Minerals West Coast manager, Patrick Phelps, spoke on the Mike Hosking Breakfast on Newstalk ZB on the 12th of May to discuss the benefits of the project and what it means for the mining industry and the West Coast region.

Climate Change Emissions budgets released

The government this month released its climate change emission reduction plans. With the exception of confirmation of the government’s intention of banning the use of what, by its definition, are low and medium temperature coal boilers by 2037, there was nothing new relating to the mining industry.

The emissions reduction plans, which outline the reductions in emissions New Zealand will aim to achieve in three five year periods out to 2037, are part of the government’s commitments to reach net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.

There was no mention in the plans of any legislation specific to the extraction of coal, or anything notable relating to heavy diesel or earthmoving equipment, with the majority of the focus on transport.

Minerals West Coast discusses New Zealand’s climate change performance on RNZ

In April, in anticipation of the release of the government’s emissions reduction plans, Minerals West Coast manager, Patrick Phelps, discussed New Zealand’s performance in emissions reductions over the past three decades on his regular slot on RNZ’s evening show Nights with Bryan Crump.

The interview covered some of the reasons New Zealand’s emissions have continued to rise in the past three decades while those of other countries have fallen, and the difficulty the country will have in reducing emissions in some sectors.

The full interview can be heard below.

Minerals West Coast forum one month away

Tickets to Minerals West Coast’s annual forum are still for sale if you haven’t yet registered.

For a full forum itinerary and information on how to register, please visit the page on Minerals West Coast’s website by clicking here.