JOINT PRESS RELEASE FROM NGAA HAUMI, CANA, FOREST & BIRD

Today, hapuu, and community and environment groups are tentatively celebrating news that Bathurst Resources is finding it difficult to find a market for the coal from a proposed extension of its its Rotowaro coal mine in North Waikato, and may no longer be applying for Fast-Track approval for the extension.

BT Mining (a Bathurst Resources and Talley’s joint company) told a recent Genesis Energy community meeting that market conditions are no longer favourable for a coal mine extension.

This is because its main customer, the Glenbrook steel mill, is set to halve its coal use once it has fully commissioned its new Electric Arc Furnace, which will focus on recycling steel rather than making new steel with coal. Genesis is moving to burn biomass instead of coal at Huntly, and other major local coal user Fonterra is switching its Te Awamutu dairy factory away from coal.   [See RNZ story 28 May]

Local and national groups oppose the mine extension, including a rangatahi Māori-led climate justice group from Kirikiriroa, Ngaa Haumi, who have collected 1214 signatures on an open letter to the Fast Track panel to highlight the importance of Te Tiriti and community opposition to the new mine.

“Coal mining disturbs the mauri that binds together all living things by destabilising the balance of carbon, the foundation of all life, between Ranginui and Papatūānuku. That is why we are hopeful  today that there will be a discontinuation of the Rotowaro operations, along with movements towards a just transition, which would help us move closer to protecting the wellbeing of whenua and wai for future generations,” said Hannah Huggan of Ngaa Haumi. 

Other groups campaigning against the mine extension are Coal Action Network Aotearoa, Forest & Bird and 350.

“It is clear that coal is on the way out for industry in Aotearoa, and that more modern, low-carbon technology designed to reduce emissions is the future for this country, not dirty coalmines,” said spokesperson for Coal Action Network Aotearoa, Cindy Baxter.

Glenbrook’s new Electric Arc Furnace was supported by the last Labour government under its Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry (GIDI) Fund, which was designed to target emission reductions. The fund also contributed to Fonterra getting out of burning coal, and it has been converting its Te Awamutu dairy factory to biomass, whereas it was previously taking coal from Bathurst. The fund was dropped by the current government.

“That Bathurst is finding the market for coal difficult demonstrates that strong policies to support the decarbonising of industry do work, and the decisions to support Glenbrook and Fonterra out of coal are doing what it says on the packet; putting a question mark over a dirty new coal mine,” said Baxter.

The project would have extended the life of the Rotowaro mine in Huntly for a minimum of 19 years, which would enable the company to mine an additional 6.64 million tonnes of coal.

“If Bathurst decides against the mine, this will stop around 14.5 million tonnes of polluting carbon dioxide from being pumped into the atmosphere. It’s good for the climate, and for the country,” said Baxter.

“Policies that mitigate climate change and support decarbonising New Zealand’s industry helps protect our vulnerable wildlife. Stopping the expansion of this mine has saved habitat for our wildlife and reduced the amount of carbon released. Anything we can do to reduce the acceleration of severe climate events can save habitats,” says Elvisa van der Leden, Forest & Bird.

“The best choice now is to take further steps towards a just transition, led by tikanga, mana whenua, and the affected community. It is essential to move away from fossil fuels in a way that ensures people thrive, where workers are respected, supported and protected from last-minute job losses. There is more work to be done,” says Ngaa Haumi.