CRP to push for 3 additions to list of Critical Minerals

NEWS RELEASE 23-21 August 3, 2023

Chatham to push for phosphate, monocalcium phosphate and selenium to be added to Australia’s list of Critical Minerals

WELLINGTON New Zealand

Chatham Rock Phosphate Limited (TSXV: “NZP” and NZX: “CRP” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that three of our Australian subsidiaries are making submissions to the Australian Government to expand the Australian list of Critical Minerals. This follows the call from Federal Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King for submissions to expand the list. (See the government announcement below).

CRP’s subsidiaries will seek inclusion for phosphate, monocalcium phosphate and selenium on the list of Critical Minerals for Australia.

Through subsidiary Avenir Makatea Pty Ltd, a submission for phosphate to be listed as a Critical Mineral will be made. With Australian fertilizer producers importing phosphate rock, the classification of phosphate rock as a critical mineral should provide assistance to Australian producers to overcome the all too familiar ‘tyranny of distance’ associated with the logistics of mining in the Georgina Basin. While our Korella North project is adjacent the Phosphate Hill to Townsville rail line, the significant distance to Port remains.

Our other Australian subsidiary Korella MCP Pty Ltd, is developing a Cloncurry based monocalcium phosphate project. With monocalcium phosphate an essential ingredient in the supplemental feeding of cattle in phosphorus deficient Northern Australia, the fact that it is a fully imported product with no domestic production is a strong reason for its inclusion on the list.

Oraganoselenium Pty Ltd, the latest incorporated wholly owned Australian subsidiary, will make a submission that selenium be added to the Australian list of Critical Minerals.

Selenium is already listed on the Queensland Government’s list of New Economy Minerals but not on the Australian list of Critical Minerals. Organoselenium Pty Ltd is focused on development of selenium extraction processes from the two selenium exploration areas held by Avenir Makatea Pty Ltd these being Gunnerside EPM28676 and Tambo EPM 28606.

Announcement by Federal Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King.
Consultations open for update of critical minerals list
27 July 2023
The Australian Government is consulting with industry, experts and other stakeholders to inform an update of Australia’s Critical Minerals List.
As was made clear with the release of the Critical Minerals Strategy last month, updating the Critical Minerals List is a priority of the Albanese Government.
The new Critical Minerals Strategy sets out a plan to establish Australia as a global supplier of raw and processed critical minerals by 2030.
Critical minerals are crucial components of low-emissions technology such as batteries, electric vehicles, solar panels and wind turbines, as well as important elements in advanced medical and defence technologies.
Reviewing and updating the Critical Minerals List is an important process to signal and focus the government’s efforts to grow the critical minerals sector and embed Australia in global critical minerals supply chains.
Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King said updating the Critical Minerals List would ensure the government could support the industry’s development and help Australia to work with international partners to build stronger global supply chains.
“Reviewing and updating our Critical Minerals List will help Australia capitalise on our amazing potential to create new industries and new jobs around our rich geological endowment and build on our record as a stable and reliable resources and energy exporter,” Minister King said.
“Building a strong and reliable critical minerals sector will help Australia and the world achieve net zero emissions, while creating thousands of new jobs and supporting economic growth for decades to come.
“The path to net zero runs through Australia’s resources sector.”
The Critical Minerals List outlines minerals that are essential to our modern technologies, economies and national security, and whose supply chains are vulnerable to disruption. The current list, last updated in March 2022, includes 26 minerals.
Australia is the world’s largest producer of lithium, the third largest producer of cobalt and fourth largest producer of rare earths. Australia also produces significant amounts of metals such as nickel and copper, which combined with critical minerals, are crucial for low-emissions technology.
Minister King said the government would update the list by the end of the year and would prioritise support for critical minerals projects that underpin priority technologies and contribute to the vision and objectives set out in the Critical Minerals Strategy.
The issues paper, and information on how to lodge a submission, is available through the Department of Industry, Science and Resources consultation hub at https://consult.industry.gov.au/updating-australias-critical-minerals-list-issues-paper.
Responses are due by 17 August 2023.




For further information please contact:

Chris Castle
President and Chief Executive Officer
Chatham Rock Phosphate Limited
64 21 55 81 85 or [email protected]

Statements about the Company’s future expectations and all other statements in this press release other than historical facts are “forward looking statements”. Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including risks inherent in mineral exploration and development, which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any projected future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

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.

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