SIRIUS MINERALS
76 a deep shaft system and an underground tunnel directly to nearby sea ports and shipping channels . The challenge for Sirius lies in the location , as the project is situated inside a major national park , meaning that the level of environmental responsibility placed on Sirius ’ shoulders is significant .
“ It started with the way that we designed the project and the infrastructure . Post construction , it will have minimal , if any , impact on the environment ,” explains Clarke . “ The mine site itself won ’ t be visible from any viewing point around the site once we ’ ve finished , and I think we ’ ve demonstrated that it ’ s possible to design a deep mine in a sensitive area without it having a significant impact on the environment . As a company , we take a lot of pride in the way we ’ ve gone about that , from the way we engage with the local people and the care we take in the environment .”
This is echoed by Chris Fraser , Managing Director and CEO of Sirius . He notes that the innovative low impact design came about through initial discussions and planning meetings about the mine , which originally was going to involve turning the polyhalite into sulphate of potash ( SOP ) through
“ I think we ’ re really setting the benchmark in sustainability and the way to develop a mine ”
— Graham Clarke , Operations Director at Sirius Minerals
NOVEMBER 2018