Fonterra's Glencoal says Waikato mine delayed, not on hold 27 Feb 2015
Related articles
- NZ consumers grow more upbeat, may resume spending Business
- NZ looking at all avenues on whaling issue News
- Knowles quits as CEO of KiwiBank Business
- NZ migration bolstered by British invasion Migration
- NZ manufacturing activity reaches highest since 04 Business
- NZ dollar hits 22-month high vs euro Business
- Budget provides $321m for RS&T activities News
- OceanaGold finds new gold deposits at Fraser mine Business
- Transpower gets go-ahead for $170m SI upgrade Business
- Government Widens Drought Assistance News
Fonterra's Glencoal says Waikato coal mine not on hold, just delayed
By Fiona Rotherham
Feb. 27 (BusinessDesk) - Fonterra Cooperative Group subsidiary Glencoal has denied suggestions it has put its plans for an open cast mine in the Waikato on hold indefinitely following public opposition.
Former Green Party co-leader and environmental activist Jeanette Fitzsimons claimed today that Glencoal had backed off plans for a mine in Mangatangi despite having gained consent from the Waikato District Council and Waikato Regional Council in late 2013, subject to a number of conditions designed to address environmental and health concerns.
In a blog for the Coal Action Network, which is trying to stop coal mining in New Zealand, Fitzsimons said the local community was celebrating after lodging submissions and staging protests against the mine.
However, a Fonterra spokesman said that while it was experiencing some delays in the project due to the need to minimise environmental impacts, it had not been put on hold.
Fitzsimons also said that Solid Energy had just reopened Kopako 1, an old mine that was part of the same Maramarua coal field as the proposed site for Glencoal’s one.
Solid Energy has a contract with the dairy cooperative to supply coal for its Waikato milk drying plants.
Solid Energy spokesman Bryn Somerville said the state-owned coal miner was doing some work on whether it will re-open the Maramarua field but no decision had been made.
The company has bigger problems on its mind right now after it announced today it would delay reporting its first-half accounts because forward pricing for coal may impact its ability to meet debt repayments when they fall due next year. Low coal prices are expected to continue for longer than previously forecast and will mean Solid Energy will need make further structural changes.
Somerville said Solid Energy was looking at potential North island replacements for its Rotorwaro open cast mine, its second-largest coal-field, which supplies major North Island customers such as Fonterra, Genesis Energy and NZ Steel. Options include trying to extend the life of the mine which Somerville said could potentially run out of coal in the next three to six years.
Fitzsimons claimed Fonterra was one of the country’s largest coal users, which clashed with the “clean, green image” it liked to use to sell its milk overseas.
Fonterra said it was looking at ways to optimise its energy mix and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels but dairy processing was energy intensive.
The new Kopako open cast mine on 30 hectares of farmland near Maramarua is aimed to replace Glencoal’s Kopako 3 mine in the same coal-field which is expected to be depleted by around 2017.
Glencoal’s planned new mine will extract coal over eight years and once the mining is finished, the land will be returned to pastoral farming.
Submitters raised concerns about respiratory problems for locals from dust, noise and traffic, and adverse effects on waterways downstream from the mine. The commissioners found the health risks raised were overstated and conditions could be put in place to mitigate the dust effects and limit the noise. They were also satisfied there would be no significant adverse effects on the Waikato River.
(BusinessDesk)
News
Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students
29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more
New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process
7 Mar 2020 News
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more
Business
NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19
17 Mar 2020 Business News
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more
NZ Government announces aviation relief package
19 Mar 2020 Business News
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more
Living
Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London
6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall.
It was the first... more
Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate
12 Jan 2022 Arts
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...
New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more
Property
Fairer rules for tenants and landlords
17 Nov 2019 Property
17 NOVEMBER 2019
The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more
New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax
17 Apr 2019 Property
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more
Migration
Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued
19 Nov 2019 Migration
19 NOVEMBER 2019
We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more
Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location
18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018
HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY
The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more
Travel
Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
more
Sport
The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners
27 Oct 2019 Cricket
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more
PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final
26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more
Columns
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
First published on Werewolf
The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more
Kiwi Success
Congratulations to Loder Cup winner
26 Sep 2018 People
25 SEPTEMBER 2018
The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more
Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
HON JENNY SALESA
Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more
Recruitment
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
14 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
22 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more