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Source: ONE News -
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State-owned Solid Energy said coal in the Inangahua sector of Paparoa National Park identified by the Government on Monday for potential mining would almost certainly be destined for use in the domestic market.
The government has named 7,058 ha of land it proposes be removed from schedule four in the Crown Minerals Act, to pave the way for access for mining. The area included 3,315 ha in the Paparoa National Park, on the West Coast.
Solid Energy chief executive Don Elder said his company had investigated a small and more accessible part of the area.
"We identified that there was probably between 15 and 20 million tonnes of sub-bituminous coal, or low quality thermal coal," he said.
"We don't yet know a lot more about it, but we've been having a close look," he said.
Such coal could be a relatively low cost fuel for dairy companies like Westland Milk or Fonterra's plant at Takaka and schools and hospitals.
Solid Energy had an exploration permit in the Inangahua coal field, he said.
It welcomed the Government's discussion paper released today.
"New Zealand's natural resources are worth thousands of billions of dollars.
"This is the opportunity for New Zealanders to understand the potential value of our mineral resources and to have a sensible and balanced national discussion about their use and that includes the constraints around their use. The decisions that we make today will impact on our country for decades, if not hundreds, of years and could bring significant benefits for generations to come," Elder said.
The company particularly supported the proposal for a Conservation Fund which could draw on royalty revenue from mining operations on Crown land and resource special conservation projects to improve New Zealand's overall natural environment.
"We know that New Zealanders value our unique natural environment extremely highly. We also know that New Zealanders want good jobs and a high standard of living. Smart well-managed use of our natural resources, combined with a conservation fund to create long-term environmental gain will allow us to have both."
Pike River Coal general manager Peter Whittall said his company was open to looking at any options but it did not have any comment on specific areas.
Pike, which is currently mining high quality coal for foreign steel mills near and eventually under the Paparoa National Park, has said it is open to be more than a one mine company.
"We haven't reviewed the document so we are not in a position to make any comment," he said.
His company was not falling over itself to look at the discussion paper.
Business NZ chief executive Phil O'Reilly said New Zealand had in-ground natural resources worth thousands of billions of dollars and developing them could create a step change in New Zealanders' prosperity.
"These resources belong to all New Zealanders and should be used carefully in creating new industries and growing our economy.
"In taking stock of resources below the conservation estate the
Government is acting judiciously on behalf of all New
Zealanders."
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentmenacerec said on 2010-07-24 @ 00:53 NZDT: Report abusive post
John needs the boot... not just for this either.
menacerec said on 2010-07-24 @ 00:49 NZDT: Report abusive post
No hawthorne, what National have done is gone back on multiple significant election promises. Their economic policies have already shown to correlate with increases in income inequality. They are increasing our debt in order to give the upper 5% of earners the greatest tax cuts, although 75% of the population is hardly left with enough to live on. They are further cutting the rights of workers in favour of big businesses, their true agenda is quite clear.
irwin said on 2010-07-21 @ 11:05 NZDT: Report abusive post
The protest actions taken by my fellow NZers and the governments decision not to proceed with the mining on DOC land makes me very proud to be a Kiwi. This is democracy at its finest and those people who say the government should never investigated it in the first place have lost the plot. The people have spoken and the government has listened. Great.
ukustarmitch said on 2010-07-21 @ 10:01 NZDT: Report abusive post
HAHAHA this is too funny. How dare they consider destroying our beautiful landscape! National, you did the right thing, but don't expect me to vote for you in next years election
SantaCruz66 said on 2010-07-21 @ 08:54 NZDT: Report abusive post
Simply a matter of matter that Gerry doesn't want to mine what he can't walk around. 50k kiwis marched because Gerry et al missed the point. Good democracy for sure but political ineptitude and appalling stewardship - all Gerry had to do was announce it the conference and he would have been fine :)