Media Coverage: NZ company to resubmit East Coast phosphate mining application

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Radio New Zealand released the following article. To read in its original form click here.

ARTICLE TEXT:

NZ company to resubmit East Coast phosphate mining application

11:53 am on 10 May 2017 

A New Zealand company denied the right to mine phosphate from the ocean floor says the detention of a shipment of phosphate in South Africa shows it was right all along.

Chatham Rock Phosphate lost an application before the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to mine phosphate from the seabed off the east coast of the South Island.

Since then, 55,000 tonnes of phosphate have been seized in South Africa, en route for New Zealand, and political activists are promising more such actions.

They said the phosphate was mined in the Western Sahara, which was illegally occupied by neighbouring Morocco, making its export unlawful.

The shipment is one eighth of New Zealand's total annual needs.

Chatham Rock Phosphate chief executive Chris Castle said this development underlined the strategic value of New Zealand's own deposits.

His company sought to extract up to 1.5 million tonnes a year of phosphate from Chatham Rise, 450km off the East Coast of New Zealand, at a depth of 400m.

The company plans to re-submit its application to the EPA for reconsideration.

In the meantime it is closely watching a similar application by Trans Tasman Resources (TTR) which wants to mine ironsands from the sea floor off the coast of South Taranaki.

TTR was also turned down first time around but has come back with a second attempt to win approval.

Mr Castle added New Zealand phosphate would be low in cadmium, a poisonous metal often found in phosphate deposits.

Media Coverage: Secure, low cadmium and ethical phosphate resource option

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Scoop.co.nz released the following article. To read in it's original form click here

Article Text: 

Secure, low cadmium and ethical phosphate resource option

Tuesday, 9 May 2017, 11:46 am
Press Release: Chatham Rock Phosphate

NEWS RELEASE 17-10 May 8, 2017

Chatham offers secure, low cadmium and ethical phosphate resource option to NZ farmers

WELLINGTON New Zealand – Chatham Rock Phosphate Limited (TSXV: “NZP” and NZAX: “CRP” or the “Company") wishes to reconfirm that it offers a secure, low cadmium and ethical phosphate resource option to NZ farmers.

New Zealand needs to use its own source of ethically-produced, environmentally-friendly phosphate rock rather than importing product from a disputed territory, Chatham Rock Phosphate Chief Executive Chris Castle said today.

He was commenting on the interception and detention, by the Western Sahara liberation movement, of a shipment of phosphate rock on route for New Zealand

“This is the sort of supply disruption which we have been signalling for years.

“As both New Zealand fertiliser manufacturers source a large part of their phosphate rock from that area, the implications for farmers and the agriculture sector (the backbone of our economy) are serious.

“It underlines the strategic value of our deposit.

“Most of the rock phosphate imported into New Zealand comes from mines in the Western Sahara which has been under armed occupation by Morocco since 1975. The trade has continued despite this – and the 1991 commitment of the United Nations (and subsequent sanctions) to ensure Western Sahara benefits from self-determination.”

Mr Castle said the Chatham Rise resource is not only an ethical source but it also has among the lowest known levels of cadmium.

“To put it in a nut shell, Chatham offers a secure, ultra-low cadmium supply of rock phosphate – with no associated ethical baggage.

Mr Castle said the current issue is also a good time to consider more environmentally sustainable alternatives to current fertiliser products.

“The rock coming (or not coming) from Morocco is used to make superphosphate, the predominant fertiliser used in New Zealand to apply phosphorus to soils.

“It’s well established this results in high levels of run off with resulting detrimental effects to our waterways. Research indicates it can also be detrimental to soil health over the long term.

“The solution to both problems is the use of Chatham rock phosphate as a direct application fertiliser.

“We can deliver a secure and sustainable local supply of low-cadmium phosphate that will also reduce fertiliser run-off into waterways, produce healthier soils and shrink fertiliser needs over time,” Mr Castle said.

The resource, with an estimated worth of $5 to $7 billion, represents one of New Zealand’s most valuable mineral assets and is of huge strategic significance because phosphate is essential to maintain New Zealand’s high agricultural productivity.

Chatham proposes to extract up to 1.5 million tonnes a year of phosphate nodules from the top half metre of sand on identified parts of an 820km2 area on the Chatham Rise, 450km off the west coast of New Zealand, in waters of 400m.

“Our environmental consenting process has established extraction would have no material impact on fishing yields or profitability, marine mammals or seabirds.”

Mr Castle said Chatham is also seeking other sustainable rock phosphate sources, to move from being a single project company and take more control of our destiny.

Recent approval of a Namibian environmental consent for a marine phosphate mining resource also opens the door for Chatham to advance its own Namibian permit applications. Chatham applied in 2012 for prospecting permits over five distinct areas well offshore Namibia, some not far from the area held by the successful applicant. These 2012 applications were lodged with the confidence that based on research undertaken to date, this area of the seabed likely contains substantial quantities of rock phosphate.

Chatham offers secure, low cadmium and ethical phosphate resource option to NZ farmers

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NEWS RELEASE 17-10                                                                                                  

WELLINGTON New Zealand – Chatham Rock Phosphate Limited (TSXV: “NZP” and NZAX: “CRP” or the “Company") wishes to reconfirm that it offers a secure, low cadmium and ethical phosphate resource option to NZ farmers.

New Zealand needs to use its own source of ethically-produced, environmentally-friendly phosphate rock rather than importing product from a disputed territory, Chatham Rock Phosphate Chief Executive Chris Castle said today.
He was commenting on the interception and detention, by the Western Sahara liberation movement, of a shipment of phosphate rock on route for New Zealand
“This is the sort of supply disruption which we have been signalling for years. 
“As both New Zealand fertiliser manufacturers source a large part of their phosphate rock from that area, the implications for farmers and the agriculture sector (the backbone of our economy) are serious.
“It underlines the strategic value of our deposit.
“Most of the rock phosphate imported into New Zealand comes from mines in the Western Sahara which has been under armed occupation by Morocco since 1975. The trade has continued despite this – and the 1991 commitment of the United Nations (and subsequent sanctions) to ensure Western Sahara benefits from self-determination.”
Mr Castle said the Chatham Rise resource is not only an ethical source but it also has among the lowest known levels of cadmium.  
“To put it in a nut shell, Chatham offers a secure, ultra-low cadmium supply of rock phosphate – with no associated ethical baggage.
Mr Castle said the current issue is also a good time to consider more environmentally sustainable alternatives to current fertiliser products.
“The rock coming (or not coming) from Morocco is used to make superphosphate, the predominant fertiliser used in New Zealand to apply phosphorus to soils. 
“It’s well established this results in high levels of run off with resulting detrimental effects to our waterways.  Research indicates it can also be detrimental to soil health over the long term.
“The solution to both problems is the use of Chatham rock phosphate as a direct application fertiliser.
“We can deliver a secure and sustainable local supply of low-cadmium phosphate that will also reduce fertiliser run-off into waterways, produce healthier soils and shrink fertiliser needs over time,” Mr Castle said. 
The resource, with an estimated worth of $5 to $7 billion, represents one of New Zealand’s most valuable mineral assets and is of huge strategic significance because phosphate is essential to maintain New Zealand’s high agricultural productivity. 
Chatham proposes to extract up to 1.5 million tonnes a year of phosphate nodules from the top half metre of sand on identified parts of an 820km2 area on the Chatham Rise, 450km off the west coast of New Zealand, in waters of 400m. 
“Our environmental consenting process has established extraction would have no material impact on fishing yields or profitability, marine mammals or seabirds.”
Mr Castle said Chatham is also seeking other sustainable rock phosphate sources, to move from being a single project company and take more control of our destiny.
Recent approval of a Namibian environmental consent for a marine phosphate mining resource also opens the door for Chatham to advance its own Namibian permit applications. Chatham applied in 2012 for prospecting permits over five distinct areas well offshore Namibia, some not far from the area held by the successful applicant. These 2012 applications were lodged with the confidence that based on research undertaken to date, this area of the seabed likely contains substantial quantities of rock phosphate. 

Chris Castle – +64 21 55 81 85 or chris@widespread.co.nz

About Chatham Rock Phosphate 

Chatham Rock Phosphate, a publicly listed company, was granted a mining permit in 2013 to develop New Zealand’s only significant source of environmentally friendly pastoral phosphate fertiliser and is now preparing for a revised environmental consent application.

Local and international investors have contributed more than $37 million to develop the project’s financial viability, environmental benefits and impacts, technical and logistical requirements, local and international product uses.
In progressing plans to submit a new application we are working with government officials to seek improvement in the permitting process and iwi, academic, industry and central government input to ensure New Zealand can benefit from an environmentally superior phosphate source. 
Chatham is listed on NZAX, the Toronto Stock Exchange and in Frankfurt. These multiple listings provide a more useful share-trading platform for overseas shareholders and facilitate the capital raising needed for the consenting process and beyond.
Neither the Exchange, its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined under the policies of the Exchange), or New Zealand Exchange Limited has in any way passed upon the merits of the Transaction and associated transactions, and has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release.

Neither the Exchange, its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined under the policies of the Exchange), or New Zealand Exchange Limited has in any way passed upon the merits of the Transaction and associated transactions, and has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release.
 

New graphic shows why Chatham Rise phosphate is good for NZ

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2 May 2017 

New graphic shows why Chatham Rise phosphate is good for NZ 

Chatham Rock Phosphate today launched an interactive graphic on its website to clearly and simply show the many reasons why its Chatham Rise sourced phosphate will be good for New Zealand.

“We spend a lot of time explaining to people why our product offers so many benefits,” chief executive Chris Castle said today.

“We’ve worked with a graphic artist to translate a basic concept originally developed as a PowerPoint slide into something that is creative and tells the story in an appealing way.

“The graphic on our website allows you to see it all at a glance on one page or you can drill down to get more information simply by clicking on different parts of the illustration.  We’ll also be using the illustration in our investor and stakeholder presentations.

The key themes shown are: 
•    benefits for the environment
•    ethical, secure supply
•    taxes, jobs and knowledge and
•    return on investment.

“Environmental opponents often don’t appreciate that while our project will have an environmental footprint, the flip side is it will offer major benefits for the New Zealand environment because it will reduce run-off into rivers and lakes, offers improved soil health, contains very low levels of cadmium, and has a low carbon footprint.”  

In addition the product will provide an ethical source of a highly strategic resource and reduce New Zealand’s dependence on imported phosphate.  New Zealand currently imports a large amount of high-cadmium phosphate from politically disputed territories in the Middle East.

The project also presents a range of financial and economic benefits – including $33 million a year in taxes and royalties, skilled jobs, building leadership in marine technology and the opportunity to identify conservation priorities.

Rounding out the benefits is building a significant New Zealand company with annual revenues of $250 million – something achieved by only a tiny percentage of companies through developing the $6 billion phosphate resource. 

The link to the graphic and further embedded information can be found here:  
http://www.rockphosphate.co.nz/projectinfographic/

For further information please contact
Chris Castle
+64 21 55 81 85 or chris@crpl.co.nz
 

CRP features on CEO Clips airing on the Documentary Channel

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1 May 2017

Chatham Rock Phosphate features on CEO Clips airing on the Documentary Channel

CEO Clips, a series which profiles the most innovative publicly traded companies in North America, will feature Chatham Rock Phosphate on The Documentary Channel beginning May 15-28, 2017, Monday – Friday between the hours of 6am – 12am.  

Our CEO Clip has been posted on Thomson Reuters Insider Network at http://reut.rs/2oBczTo, where it can be viewed by over 80,000 financial professionals.

In addition it will be posted on these financial portals: BNN.ca Finance, Thomson Reuters Insider Network, Stockhouse, YouTube, as well as on BTV/CEO Clips.

It can also be viewed online via this link: 

http://www.b-tv.com/chatham-rock-phosphate-ceo-clip/ and on the home page of our website at www.rockphosphate.co.nz

 

For additional information contact:

Chris Castle
Chief Executive Officer
Chatham Rock Phosphate Limited
Email: chris@crpl.co.nz
Cell: +64 21 558 185
Skype: phosphateking
www.rockphosphate.co.nz 

 

About The Documentary Channel:

“Documentary is a digital television station devoted to showing the best documentaries from Canada and around the world. With its special emphasis on feature length films, watching Documentary is like having a cinema in your own living room, showing award winning films twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.”

 

About Chatham Rock Phosphate 

Chatham Rock Phosphate, listed on the TSX.V (ticker NZP), the NZAX (code CRP) and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (code 3GRE), was granted a mining permit in 2013 to develop New Zealand’s only significant source of environmentally friendly pastoral phosphate fertiliser and is now preparing for a revised environmental consent application.

Our role as custodian of this resource is focused on delivering a secure and sustainable local supply of low-cadmium phosphate that will reduce fertiliser run-off into waterways, produce healthier soils and shrink fertiliser needs over time. 

The resource has an estimated worth of $5 to $7 billion, representing one of New Zealand’s most valuable mineral assets and is of huge strategic significance because phosphate is essential to maintain New Zealand’s high agricultural productivity. Local and international investors have contributed more than $40 million to develop the project’s financial viability, environmental benefits and impacts, technical and logistical requirements, local and international product uses.

We propose to extract up to 1.5 million tonnes of phosphate nodules from the top half metre of sand on identified parts of an 820km2 area on the Chatham Rise, 450km off the east coast of New Zealand, in waters of 400m. Our environmental consenting process has established extraction would have no material impact on fishing yields or profitability, marine mammals or seabirds.
In progressing plans to submit a new application we are working with government officials to seek improvement in the permitting process and iwi, academic, industry and central government input to ensure New Zealand can benefit from an environmentally superior phosphate source. 
We are also seeking to own other sustainable rock phosphate sources, to move from being a single project company and take more control of our destiny.
 

CRPL lists on Frankfurt bourse

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Download PDF Press Release

CHATHAM ROCK PHOSPHATE LIMITED LISTS ON FRANKFURT BOURSE

 WELLINGTON New Zealand – Chatham Rock Phosphate Limited (TSXV: “NZP” and NZAX: “CRP” or the “Company") wishes to announce that it has listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, to make it easier for its burgeoning international investor base to trade their shares.

The latest move follows the completion of Chatham’s listing on the TSX Venture Exchange in March after a friendly reverse takeover of Antipodes Gold.  Chatham has been listed on the New Zealand Alternative Exchange (NZAX) since 2006, when it was originally named Widespread Energy.

Investors domiciled in Singapore, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands and North America have supported recent capital raisings by Chatham.

About 60 per cent of shares are held by New Zealanders. 

“We continue to enjoy strong investor interest in Europe, North America and Asia, so we are facilitating the trading in our shares,” Managing Director Chris Castle said today.

Chatham’s ticker code in Frankfurt is 3GRE.

The link to the company’s page on the Frankfurt exchange is: http://en.boerse-frankfurt.de/stock/Chatham_Rock_Phosphate_1-share. This link is also located on the home page of our website next to the links for the TSX.V and NZAX market price.  

For further information please contact

Chris Castle
64 21 55 81 85
chris@crpl.co.nz
www.rockphosphate.co.nz

Neither the Exchange, its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined under the policies of the Exchange), or New Zealand Exchange Limited has in any way passed upon the merits of the Transaction and associated transactions, and has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release.

Completion of Merger

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16 March 2017

AUCKLAND New Zealand – Chatham Rock Phosphate Limited (formerly “Antipodes Gold Limited”) (TSXV: “NZP” and NZAX: “CRP” or the “Company") is pleased to announce, further to its news release of February 24, 2017, that it has completed the acquisition of the remaining 7% of the issued shares of Chatham Rock Phosphate (NZ) Limited (“CRPNZ”).

These acquisitions were completed by way of a combination of processing additional acceptances of the takeover offer received by the Company and by way of compulsory acquisition procedures under the provisions of the (New Zealand) Takeovers Code.  As a result, the Company now owns 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of CRPNZ and its NZAX trading symbol has been changed from AXG to CRP.

In total, the Company issued 12,272,776 common shares to the former shareholders of CRPNZ in consideration for the acquisition of a 100% interest CRPNZ. Following completion of the 10:1 share consolidation, the takeover of CRPNZ and the debt settlements described in the Company’s news release of February 24, 2017, the Company now has a total of 13,627,813 issued and outstanding common shares and Mandatory Warrants exercisable into an additional 379,214 common shares.

Antipodes Gold was renamed Chatham Rock Phosphate on February 24, 2017 and now owns the “old” Chatham Rock Phosphate 100%.  It is business as usual for the combined company.

The “new” Chatham Rock Phosphate is stock exchange listed in both New Zealand and Canada, with its primary listing being on the TSXV in Canada where its trading symbol is NZP.  Since the reconstructed company started trading in Canada sales have been at 68 and 70 cents.  In NZ currency terms the most recent sale price of 70 in Canada is equivalent to 75 cents.

In New Zealand, the last sale price on the NZAX, pre-merger, was $0.09 implying a post-merger share price of 65.59 times that, or 59 cents.  Subsequently there have been small sales here in NZ at 50, 48 and 43 cents.  To summarise, our shares are trading at 43 cents in one market and 75 in the other.

This anomalous situation is not desirable but also not unusual in dual listed stocks as investors in one market are not necessarily aware of the market price in the other.  

In order to better inform our shareholders, the home page of Chatham’s website (www.rockphosphate.co.nz) now has links to our market prices on both markets.  Just click the links on the right hand side of the home page.

Please call me or e-mail me if this is not clear and I will be pleased to help.

Regards,
Chris Castle
Chief Executive Officer
Chatham Rock Phosphate Limited
Email: chris@crpl.co.nz
Cell: +64 21 558 185
Skype: phosphateking
www.rockphosphate.co.nz

Neither the Exchange, its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined under the policies of the Exchange), or New Zealand Exchange Limited has in any way passed upon the merits of the Transaction and associated transactions, and has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release.