New Zealand Exchange Limited
P.O. Box 2959
Wellington
3 September 2010
Dear Sir,
Chatham Rise Rock Phosphate Project Update
Widespread Portfolios owns 10% of this project and holds another 18%
indirectly through its 20% holding in Widespread Energy (the project
operator).
The Chatham Rise rock phosphate project is making rapid progress in
evaluating the viability of its undersea reserves.
The Widespread Energy Ltd and Widespread Portfolios Ltd joint venture has
established a team of key technical, environmental, financial and other
experts to bring together and evaluate existing data.
These include people who investigated the potential of the resource in the
1980s and have a wealth of knowledge. The technical advisers and Widespread
directors have recently met in Wellington for a two day workshop to share
knowledge, identify information gaps and plan the next steps in the years one
and two work programmes for the project.
Key steps include:
- The data gathered in the exploration voyages of RV Valdivia and RV Sonne in
the late 1970s and early 1980s has now been digitised and that data is now
being analysed.
- A dialogue has also recently been initiated with representatives of the
German organisations that played a central role in the exploration role in
the early 1980s.
- Further work is also being undertaken with several undersea mining
organisations to evaluate the optimal approach to extraction of the joint
venture's seabed rock phosphate resource.
Project Director Chris Castle also attended last week's Australian fertiliser
industry annual conference and while there met representatives of a number of
fertiliser manufacturers and users.
He will also be presenting a paper at a conference on undersea mining in
Russia in October.
In conjunction with profile raising for the project, a six page fold-out
marketing brochure has been produced and is available to view and download on
the project website rockphosphate.co.nz.
"We're achieving significant progress on a number of fronts and this project
is developing a lot of momentum. We want to be in a position to complete our
first year report to Crown Minerals well within the specified time frame," Mr
Castle said.
On behalf of the Board
Chris Castle
Wellington, 3 September 2010
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