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Salt Lake is set to be first to produc-
tion but Eidne warned peers not to get
involved in a race.
“Some people view it as a race, but I
don’t and I’m unsure if it is helpful. What
we need is for several companies to get
established and producing and perform-
ing to build confidence in the sector.”
Australian Potash managing director
Matt Shackleton shares a similar senti-
ment, believing a collegiate approach will
benefit all players.
“There are 5-6 CEOs continually wan-
dering the world and Australia telling the
story,” he told Paydirt. “I think the story is
starting to get out there because so many
of us are telling it. The next step for the
Australian SoP proponents is to put one
of these projects together successfully.
When us guys down here in Australia
start to present into that fertiliser theme,
we will really see that SoP value created.”
Shackleton and his peers have WA
Government backing for the sector to
flourish. Last year the sector was provid-
ed relief in the form of a reduction in rent
rates for minerals in brine mining leases
from the previous $18.70/ha to $2.32/ha
for the first five years and $4.64/ha there-
after.
WA Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Hon Bill Johnston said it was the level of
interest in the potash space that encour-
aged the State to act on the “inappropri-
ate” rental rate on leases paid by potash
hopefuls.
“It was well received by industry and it
recognises the peculiar nature of the pot- As people in Asia, Africa and Latin America demand better diets,
ash industry, which needs a very large farmers are switching from broad acre crops of staples such as wheat,
footprint. We were able to arrange a maize and rice to high-value fruit and vegetable production
special arrangement that only applies to
minerals in brine like potash so they don’t Australia to directly support individual “I have talked to potential funders here
have to have unnecessary costs on their mines for infrastructure, but we’re very in Australia and overseas and we think
projects and properly protects the interest keen to provide the proper environment… there is a strong case for supporting
of the resource holder; the people of the each project has particular issues and we these projects. We’re a low risk jurisdic-
State,” Johnston told Paydirt. are in constant discussions about how we tion, we have a very good framework for
While willing to provide a backdrop can be of assistance and make sure pro- supporting the industry and making sure
for potash companies to thrive in project jects can proceed,” Johnston said. that it operates to everyone’s benefit. We
development, including supporting R&D “We’re very excited about the oppor- think that investors should see this as a
initiatives to get the best out of potash in tunities in this area. Clearly, potash is low risk opportunity to participate in a
Australia, opening the State’s coffers to an important opportunity for fertiliser for growing global demand for fertiliser as
build infrastructure akin to the Northern domestic use but also for export and as we’d expect the need for agricultural pro-
Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) is there is an expectation for growth and ductivity to increase, not just in Australia,
not currently part of the strategy. productivity in the agricultural sector, but around the globe,” Johnston said.
“It is not common for us in Western which will need more fertiliser. As with all commodities, the coronavi-

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