A step towards an investment decision at Anglo American's UK polyhalite mine
Fluor Corporation has been awarded a contract to conduct feasibility study services for Anglo American 's Woodsmith polyhalite mine in North Yorkshire . The contract's value was not disclosed.
Anglo American has previously targeted 2028 for its final investment decision on Woodsmith. Construction began at Woodsmith in 2017, and Anglo American has been investing approximately US$300 million annually in the project since then. When - or if - the vast underground mine becomes operational, it will produce 13Mtpa of polyhalite fertiliser, using a 37km underground conveyor tunnel to move the material to a processing facility in Teesside.
"This award reflects our team's deep technical expertise and our commitment to executing complex projects safely, responsibly and with excellence," Fluor's mining and metals business president Harish Jammula said. Work at Woodsmith has been proceeding at a steady pace, with UK firm Salko announcing in April that it had been subcontracted by the mineshaft contractor Redpath Deilmann to install mechanics and electrics at the mine over a five year contract.
In December, the tunnel boring machine Stella Rose reached 30km, extending its world record for the longest single TBM tunnel. Teck's viewA few commentators have raised questions about Woodsmith's future with the looming merger of Anglo America and Teck. In October last year, Teck chief executive Jonathan Price refused to be drawn into speculation about the mine at the FT Metals and Mining Summit in London.
"That's part of Anglo American's portfolio… like all projects, we will assess the economics and assess the prioritisation…It's too early to be definitive on anything like that," Price said. And on an analyst's call in November 2025, Anglo American chief executive Duncan Wanblad insisted the UK mine was "very much part of our future.
"In Mining IQ's 2024 Project Pipeline Handbook, Woodsmith was the third most expensive mine in development by capital expenditure, with a cost of $3.67 billion. However, this was based on a 2016 feasibility study and "revised estimates may be considerably higher.
"Mitsubishi buys inIn February, Anglo American announced an investment agreement with the Mitsubishi Corporation to support development at the polyhalite mine. Mitsubishi would make an initial equity investment in Woodsmith, potentially giving the Japanese industrial giant a stake of up to 25% in the mine. The deal was contingent on the completion of a feasibility study and an investment decision by Anglo American's board.
The miner was looking for the study to show "robust economic potential for Woodsmith; a clear pathway to syndication with one or more investment partners; and sufficient deleveraging of Anglo American's balance sheet.
"The deal would see the companies develop demand for polyhalite, taking advantage of Mitsubishi's global food and agricultural network.
Polyhalite Mitsubishi Corporation Woodsmith Mine Fluor Corporation Teck Jonathan Price North Yorkshire Duncan Wanblad Redpath Deilmann TBM Stella Rose
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