Phosphate mining study

Jan de Nul will be carrying out mining study. Photo / Thinkstock

Widespread Energy said Belgian dredging company Jan de Nul would undertake a mining concept study of the Chatham Rise rock phosphate project.

Widespread has previously said that three dredging companies - Royal Boskalis, IHC Merwede and DEME - would carry out two jointly funded mining concept studies on the project. Yesterday it said a further jointly funded mining concept study would be carried out by Jan de Nul.

Jan De Nul had already provided a preliminary mining report for Chatham Rise phosphate, and would now provide a more detailed study of the mining and riser systems based on its earlier engineering for similar projects and additional studies on the most critical items.

Analysts have said that extracting rock phosphate from under 400m of water on the Chathams Rise is an ambitious project from both a mining and funding perspective. The mineral is used as a fertiliser. Local development of the resource would reduce imports.