Momentum is building again at the Woodsmith polyhalite mining project in North Yorkshire, UK, with Anglo American now selecting Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering, as one of its engineering and project delivery partners for feasibility study services.
Stantec’s scope includes the engineering of hoisting, shafts, material handling, and underground infrastructure for the polyhalite fertiliser mine which is being built on the largest known deposit of polyhalite in the world. Stantec will work with Anglo American and Fluor. Fluor was recently announced as providing feasibility study services for the project.
“This project reflects the growing need to balance resource development with environmental stewardship,” said John Ord, Business Director for Stantec’s Energy & Resources business in the UK and Ireland. “Our team brings deep experience in hoisting and shafts as well as underground infrastructure and integrated project delivery, and we’re looking forward to working alongside Anglo American and Fluor to advance this important project. This is a fantastic opportunity to apply our global capabilities in the UK market, supporting the need for sustainable agricultural production while minimising impact on the natural landscape.”
Situated beneath the North York Moors National Park, the project is designed to meet strict environmental requirements, including limitations on surface structures, noise, and light. To minimise surface impact, key infrastructure such as headframes will be located underground – an approach that is uncommon in global mining projects.
The Woodsmith mine will extract polyhalite, known as the product POLY4,a naturally occurring multi-nutrient mineral used to support soil health and food production. Once developed, the project is expected to play a role in strengthening long-term agricultural supply chains.
The project will be managed through Stantec’s UK operations and will draw on experience from across the company’s global mining team, including its hoisting/shafts centre of excellence in the US. Stantec’s experience on large-scale underground and shaft projects includes work on developments such as the BHP Jansen potash mine, Nutrien Allan potash operations, and Resolution Copper project, as well as UK-based hydropower infrastructure like the Coire Glas Pumped Storage project.
It says these projects demonstrate the firm’s capability in delivering complex underground systems in technically and environmentally sensitive environments, “making Stantec an ideal partner for the Woodsmith project.”