Woodsmith polyhalite fertiliser project upgraded to optimise long term value

The project design is to be modified to improve safety and operating integrity standards and to optimise the value of the asset for the long term.

Anglo American conducted a technical review of the UK’s Woodsmith polyhalite project to ensure the technical and commercial integrity of the full scope of its design. The review has confirmed due diligence findings and changes will be made to the design as a result.

There will also be a change of leadership of the project. Tom McCulley, who has led the development of the Quellaveco copper project in Peru, will take over from Chris Fraser as CEO of Crop Nutrients. After 12 years of driving the project from inception to its position today, Chris Fraser will step aside and take on a strategic projects role for Anglo American.

The changes to the design of the mine infrastructure will result in a different configuration and a different construction and production ramp-up schedule. Mark Cutifani, Chief Executive of Anglo American, notes, ‘We expect to have completed our design engineering, capital budget and schedule at the end of 2022, with a fully optimised value case that recognises the upside potential we see in Woodsmith, and we will then submit the full project to the Board.’

In the meantime, construction of the major critical path elements of the project, principally the two main shafts and the mineral transport tunnel, is progressing.