Build & Sustainability
Miner Anglo American to spend further £440 million on Woodsmith Project
February 25, 2022
A firm behind a huge fertiliser mine has pledged to spend £440 million to maintain the development’s momentum.
Anglo American says it is ramping up investment on its Woodsmith Project, which straddles North Yorkshire and Teesside.
The promise comes after the business spent nearly £390 million on the scheme last year, with bosses saying they are “even more positive” about the venture.
The mine, based on the outskirts of Whitby, is being built to extract the fertiliser polyhalite, which is reputed for encouraging strong crop growth.
Tipped to create 1000 direct jobs and support another 3000 in the construction phase and eventual supply chain, the development will feature an underground transport system, which will move polyhalite from Whitby to Wilton, near Redcar, for storage, before being exported from a new harbour.
Chief executive Mark Cutifani confirmed the investment plans, adding the company is making a number of changes to the project’s design to meet safety and commercial goals.
He said: “This is a world-class fertiliser project.
“This is a very long-life asset and a product for which we see increasing market interest as the commercial trials demonstrate its crop yield and numerous environmental qualities.
“We are going to take the necessary time to get every aspect of the design right to match our long-term vision and value aspirations.”