Following the decision of mining giant BHP to abandon their attempt to take over Anglo American, owners of the Woodsmith phosphate mine in Whitby, politicians are calling on the company to abandon plans to massively reduce investment in the site.
As part of plans to stave off the takeover Anglo American announced it would reduce capital expenditure on the polyhalite mine, totalling US$7 billion to date, to only US$200 million in 2025 and zero in 2026.
Local Conservative parliamentary Conservative candidate Roberto Weeden-Sanz told the newswire “he urged the company to consider the “catastrophic impact” as the project and its supply chain are responsible for around 2000 jobs in the area and generated £1.5 billion to the regional economy.” This includes a dozen or so Scarborough hotels who have closed their doors to tourists to accommodate mine workers with their futures now uncertain.
This does also bring into question the decision process to grant permission for the mine in the North York Moors National Park:
“The National Park is afforded the highest level of landscape protection and central government policy, referred to as the ‘Major Development Test’, applies to proposals for large developments such as the mine and mineral transport system. The Major Development Test states that planning permission for such developments should be refused except in exceptional circumstances where it can be demonstrated that they are in the public interest. Consideration of such applications should include an assessment of the need for the development and the cost of and scope for developing elsewhere. There should also be an assessment of any detrimental effects on the environment and the extent to which they could be mitigated.”
Anglo American have provided no further comment.
Photo from Anglo American