The New Zealand Environmental Protection Agency has officially approved the application of Trans Tasman Resources for the exploitation of iron ore at the South Taranaki Bight, which means that cross-Tasman Resources will develop in New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone Resources.
| EDTA |
According to the application shows that the company plans in 35 years in the seabed digging capacity of 50 million tons / year, each year from the 5 million tons of iron ore. The southern Taranaki Bay mine area and the nearby Kupe block reported 1,698 million tons of iron ore resources in line with the Australian Mineral Reserves Joint Commission (JORC) standard, and the ferric oxide grade was 11.16%. In addition, the second phase of the mine block contains 2.37 billion tons of iron ore resources, ferric oxide grade 3.5%. The mines will be processed on a specially crafted integrated mining vessel of 345 meters in length, and the project is expected to begin exporting iron ore to Asia by 2020.
This controversial submarine mining project has undergone several months of controversy. Some members of the New Zealand Environmental Protection Agency’s decision-making committee still did not agree with the final outcome, on the grounds that the negative impact on the environment. Scientists at the New Zealand National Institute for Water Resources and Atmosphere also expressed concern about the mining operations in New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone. They argue that research shows that if deep sea mining activities are carried out at the bottom of the sea, some submarine biological communities will face the risk of disappearance.
| Melamine |