After a protracted period of uncertainty, it’s great to hear today of the sale and ongoing operation of the Phosphate Hill Fertiliser Plant, the leader of Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) and state Member for Traeger Robbie Katter said.
Dyno Nobel have announced to the ASX that Mayfair Australia Corporation will be acquiring the plant, securing 540 jobs.
“Phosphate Hill is more than just a mine in our area, it’s an integral part of a wider industrial ecosystem,” Mr Katter said.
“Without Phosphate Hill taking the sulphur emissions from the smelter, the smelter is impacted, and without the million tonnes of fertiliser a year on the rail that is transported to Townsville Port, track access fees for the remaining users would quickly balloon out of control. That’s not to mention the 540 direct jobs, work for local contractors, and the flow on effect right through to Townsville.
“It’s good to see Mayfair, another Queensland based company, investing in the North West Minerals Provence. It will give the whole region some welcome stability and add to the positivity after announcements like Eva Copper and Austral.
“Mayfair are another Queensland based company that is investing in our sovereign manufacturing capacity, and it’s refreshing to see, especially in comparison to the bully-boy unethical conduct of Glencore in Mount Isa.
“Unlike Glencore who sacked 1200 workers and are now hiring overseas, here we see 540 jobs retained and ongoing work for local contractors and service providers,” the KAP leader said.
Mr Katter said it’s likely that the federal gas reserve policy announcement late last year helped the sale process but renewed called for the policy to come into effect immediately, and to cap the price paid by industry.
“We must not be complacent with gas prices and the competitive disadvantage our industries face,” he said
“When the ACCC confirm that gas prices are around $15 per gigajoule in Australia, and the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) are quoting around $4 per gigajoule in the States, there’s a clear imbalance.
“Affordable gas and input costs, managed by policies like a gas reserve, are what makes the difference between a nation that can make things for itself, and a country relegated to being dependant on imports across increasingly treacherous waters.
“The KAP won’t stop pushing for a real gas reserve policy until we have pricing that underpins the long-term sustainability of all our current and future manufacturing facilities,” the KAP leader said.
