Proponent: Verdant Minerals Ltd

Overview

Verdant Minerals Ltd has referred a proposed action that comprises alterations to the Ammaroo Phosphate Project, approximately 200 km south-east of Tennant Creek and 300 km north-east of Alice Springs, Northern Territory. In 2018, the NT EPA completed its assessment of the Ammaroo Phosphate Project under the Environmental Assessment Act 1982 and issued Assessment Report 87 . The original project involved mining and beneficiation of ore to produce phosphate rock concentrate.

The proposed action involves the development of downstream processing facilities for production of ammonium phosphate fertilisers from the phosphate rock concentrate onsite, requiring the construction of a phosphoric acid plant, sulfuric acid plant, ammonia plant, granulation plant, and changes to amenity, storage, export/import and service infrastructure. The alterations will require importation of 500,000 tonnes per year of elemental sulfur through Port of Darwin, natural gas use to 8.7 petajoules per year, and an expanded borefield to supply an extra 3.9 gigalitres per year of groundwater.

Stage 1: Referral

NT EPA notices

• Notice of decision to accept referral for standard assessment – 18 November 2022 PDF (570.9 KB)
• Notice of decision and statement of reasons - assessment by EIS - 8 February 2023 PDF (122.0 KB)
• Notice of Decision on terms of reference - 14 June 2023 PDF (144.7 KB)

Public consultation on referral

Statutory notice (23 November 2022)

The NT EPA published a statutory notice on 23 November 2022 inviting public comment on a referral for standard assessment, submitted by Verdant Minerals Ltd, to alter the previously-assessed Ammaroo Phosphate mine involving development of downstream processing facilities for production of ammonium phosphate fertilisers from the phosphate rock concentrate on the mine site. The alterations include the construction of a phosphoric acid plant, sulfuric acid plant, ammonia plant, granulation plant, and changes to amenity, storage, export/import and service infrastructure.

Interested persons were invited to make a submission by 20 December 2022. The NT EPA published the notice in accordance with regulation 52(1) of the Environment Protection Regulations 2020.

Documents

Public consultation on the draft terms of reference

Statutory notice (3 May 2022)

The NT EPA invited public comment on the draft terms of reference for preparation of an environmental impact statement for the Ammaroo Ammonium Phosphate Fertiliser Project proposed by Verdant Minerals Ltd.

Interested persons were invited to make a submission by 23 May 2023. The NT EPA published the notice in accordance with regulation 102 of the Environment Protection Regulations 2020.

Terms of reference

Withdrawal

On 8 April 2024, the Ammaroo Ammonium Phosphate Fertiliser Project proposed by Verdant Minerals Ltd was withdrawn from the environmental assessment process in accordance with Regulation 94 of the Environment Protection Regulations 2020. The proposal comprised alterations to the original Ammaroo Phosphate Project, which was previously assessed by the NT EPA.