If you go down in the Woods anyday…

A Corporate Update on the Woodsmith Project, “we’re in the most positive position since the slowdown.”

Current construction & marketing activities continue with over 1000 people employed expected to ramp up again next year.  To ramp up again Anglo American are focussed on strengthening the balance sheet, with the proposed Teck merger to complete within the next year subject to final jurisdictions, Anglo intends to remain in charge of the Woodsmith Project and need final approval from the ‘Anglo Board’ with a Final Investment Decision to be made on completion of a comprehensive Feasibility Study. Over £3.6bil has been spent on the Woodsmith Project since 2017.  

When Anglo took over Sirius Minerals a further Blue Print to reinforce precision of the Project through to completion was demanded (so far there are 25 Chapters to the Study) and the Blue Print is to establish what, how, time & cost,  etc to review another CAPEX/OPEX to increase certainty on ROCE and reduce risk. To do this work continues to the shaft sinking, marketing, approvals and resource drilling.  Anglo are selling granulated Poly 4 sourced from Boulby on a commercial basis, with a pathway towards further syndication with Mitsubishi, Poly4 is being produced at a R&D site in Teesside.   

For Crystal Clarity it was confirmed that the monies enabling the construction to continue at pace, has been funded directly by Anglo American restructuring its focus on it’s Core Value assets; Copper, Premium Iron Ore, Critical Minerals and Crop Nutrients.

Construction Update:  Focus has been on the Service shaft that has been dug out to 874m into the Sandstone layer.  Water-flowing into the shaft is within capacity allowance and the tubbing, steel segments with lead, concrete to create the water tight curtain lining without voids, using the SBR’s it’s still quite heavy hefty work for the specialists involved. The water bearing Sandstone layer is to 1060m with tight installation progress at 25m per day, once past the Sandstone the shaft sinking rate is expected to  increase.

Resource drilling at the Mine site is down to 1600m and reinforms not only the resource but the shaft sinking team’s expectations. Two other offsite Resource Drilling Bore Holes at Partridge Hill Farm and Dean Hill are awaiting planning approval by the NYMPA. Again, these are to further inform and develop the maximum business case by gathering geological data as to the thickness of the seams.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSZQgIyQRhk&list=RDjSZQgIyQRhk&start_rad...

The Tunnel will not intersect with the shaft directly, the TBM is currently at over 30km and should traverse under the River Esk this Summer. Once the TBM meets the Woodsmith Mine site it will continue into the neverland. Stella.

NYMPA – Planning Update: The two further explorations were in the system, with the Statutory Consultations ie Parish, Natural England, Environment Agency together with a public consultation was in progress. Awaiting response and further information from Anglo, the NYMNP planning recommendation is not expected until May. These two explorations are available to view on the NYMPA website and it was reminded that these applications are temporary with restoration works included.

Rather interestingly, or otherwise, a full S73 Application for variation to the Woodsmith Mine site is to validated by the end of next week, once validated by the Authority it is expected to take 16 weeks for determination. 

To cut to the chase, the Application is for the construction of a new mine shaft – a full Ventilation Shaft – to enable and increase a safer working environment. There would be two air down shafts and one shaft uptake with heat extraction pumps. Together with the TBM Shaft, more winding gear and another SBR  so Erm, that would make Two Monoliths.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xq0_8zsiqw&list=RD1xq0_8zsiqw&start_rad...

Whilst the applications for the two temporary bore holes were only noted by one attendee wandering in the local woods it has been proposed that the new Ventilation Shaft at the Mine Site will be reduced by the footprint of various annexes for storage and office space subject to the usual statutory and environmental impacts approvals.

Matters Arising.

"This year’s theme — “Minerals for a Changing World”— could not be more fitting today for Anglo American and us as an industry." 

Anchorage? Moi?

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/apr/15/plantwatch-the-cactus-th...

Never, Mind.