Ann: ADDRESS: CRP: Chatham Rock Phosphate centre

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CRP
18/10/2012 08:30
ADDRESS

REL: 0830 HRS Chatham Rock Phosphate Limited

ADDRESS: CRP: Chatham Rock Phosphate centre stage at UMI Conference

18 October 2012

Chatham Rock Phosphate centre stage at UMI conference

Chatham Rock Phosphate is centre stage at the Underwater Mining Institute
conference being held at Shanghai this week.

CRP principal scientist Dr Robin Falconer updated the conference on recent
corporate milestones and presented the findings of the four cruises conducted
in the Chatham Rise licence area, east of New Zealand over the 2011-12 summer
at a cost of $7 million.

The cruises, on the Dorado Discovery, used the latest technology to closely
analyse the resource, already well defined using older technology in the
1970s and 80s.

The scientists demonstrated how modern techniques have been able to assist
CRP in developing its mining plan, design its mining system and pinpoint
areas of marine life.

The surveys collected:
- Multibeam swath bathymetry data (ship and ROV)
- Sub-bottom profile data
- Side-scan sonar data
- Magnetic anomaly data
- Sea floor samples (grab, box core, vibrocore, ROV)
- Video and still photos of the sea floor
- Geotechnical data (cone penetrometer and jet testing).

Dr Falconer said the main factors influencing the design of mining system and
plan were the variations in:
- the water depth and features
- the thickness and composition of the sandy silt
- resource concentrations.

Also critical was designing a mining system that minimised the environmental
impact on the sea floor and in the water column.

The other main focus has involved establishing the economics, especially
capital and operational expenses, and the make-up and locations of the
expected market.

In addition to the CRP presentation, Gert Jan Grundlehner from Royal
Boskalis, CRP's technical partner and cornerstone shareholder, spoke on the
mining operations and system design.

Another paper relevant to the CRP project was that by Malcolm Clark of the
National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research who provided a New Zealand
perspective on the science requirements for managing the environmental
effects of seabed mining.

Mark Dettweiler of Odyssey Marine Exploration, which operates the Dorado
Discovery, also spoke on the multidisciplinary mineral exploration services
provided by the vessel when undertaking four cruises for Chatham Rock
Phosphate earlier this year.

It is the third year CRP - one of the most advanced marine mining projects in
the world - has updated the marine mining industry on progress.

CRP submitted its mining licence application with New Zealand Petroleum and
Minerals in late September to extract rock phosphate nodules from the seabed
in 400 metre waters.  It plans to apply for a marine consent in the second
quarter of 2013, as soon as the regulations for the EEZ legislation are
complete.

Establishment of a rock phosphate industry in New Zealand territorial waters
has a significant number of economic, environmental and market benefits.

Chris Castle - +64 21 55 81 85 or [email protected]
End CA:00228576 For:CRP    Type:ADDRESS    Time:2012-10-18 08:30:15