The company which is bringing Plymouth’s huge tungsten mine back into operation is moving forward with plans to develop an aggregates business - but will need to increase the number of lorry journeys to and from the site.
Tungsten West Plc, which bought the mine out of receivership for £2.8m in 2019, is moving forward with plans to develop, what is believed to be, the world’s first integrated metals and aggregates operation.
Aggregates West Ltd (AWL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Tungsten West, began selling secondary aggregates in January 2021, using existing stockpiles leftover from the mine’s former owner, but plans to increase distribution and create an ongoing revenue stream by selling material previously classed as waste to the local construction market.
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Whilst the growth of the aggregates operation is largely considered as “permitted development” under the mine’s existing consents with Devon County Council, a week-long public consultation is taking place, including two in-person events for residents living near the mine, to notify the community of a proposed increase in vehicle movements to and from the site.
This requires a variation to an existing planning condition, which currently allows for up to 50 HGV journeys per day from the site. Tungsten West is asking to increase this to a maximum of 150 vehicles per day for the first two years and will gradually increase this to 300 by 2026.
The company stressed that vehicle movements will be restricted and monitored in agreement with the Mineral Planning Authority and will take place from Monday to Friday between 7am and 7pm and on Saturdays between 8am and 2pm. There will be no distribution on Sundays.
An online consultation for the proposal closes on Thursday, March 17, and Tungsten West would welcome any thoughts from the local community. You can comment by visiting www.aggregateswest.com
Max Denning, chief executive of Tungsten West, said: “We aim to be a successful, trusted local business and employer who is as sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible. That means making the most of the resources produced by maximising by-products.
“We want to take something that was previously considered waste and put it to good use in the local construction industry – providing a steady stream of quality aggregates to the local market and beyond.
“Because the material at Hemerdon is classed as ‘secondary’ aggregates - a by-product of another process - we are exempt from the aggregates levy. This helps to keep prices competitive and offset our impact on the environment.
“The material will be used in an array of construction projects locally, including ongoing housing developments and infrastructure schemes”
He stressed that Tungsten West has had a temporary increase of vehicle movements in place since July 2021 up to a maximum of 150 vehicles per day and said: “We have received very little, if any, feedback from local residents in response to the change.
“Some will argue the increase in transportation, considered negligible by our independent advisors when assessed in relation to existing traffic in the majority of areas on the designated route, will have a detrimental impact on the environment.
“But when you consider the alternative of shipping in aggregates from outside the region, and that our products have just 25% of the carbon footprint of primary aggregates, we are undoubtedly helping to reduce the overall environmental impact.
“Add to that the fact that this material would otherwise go to surface tip, it is absolutely the right thing to do, not only for our company but for the local construction supply chain and the environment.”
The company has entered into an agreement with GRS Roadstone, the UK’s leading construction materials provider, to market the aggregates produced.
Tungsten West commissioned independent master planning consultants Brookbanks to assess the impact of the increased activity on several factors including: air/dust, landscape and visual impact, ecology, hydrology and hydrogeology, transport, noise and vibration.
They concluded the impact would be negligible and mitigation measures already in place were adequate. These include monitoring of air quality, management of settled dust during dry periods by water bowsers, supplied by on-site water sources, and monitoring of noise to name but a few.
Mr Denning added: “Whilst our independent studies tell us that the impact of increased transportation will be minimal, we understand the importance of people’s lived experiences so we will work with our distributors to operate in the most considerate way possible.
“We want to be a good neighbour and we will work with people in the surrounding communities to make sure we do all we can to minimise the impact of the mine on their daily lives. We want to become part of the community and we know it will take time to build trust – we are absolutely prepared to put in the effort.”
Mr Denning added: “It’s our aim to become an employer of real importance to the region – we plan to directly employ around 300 permanent members of staff at the mine and have a supply chain that keeps thousands of additional people in work. We need the help and support of the community to achieve our ambitions which will have long-term benefits for the whole region.”
Tungsten West already employs 95 members of staff, a figure that will increase by a further 200-plus once production begins. It will also work with numerous contractors, subcontractors and suppliers in the region to support the economy. The firm stressed that one of its commitments is to buy local, unless specialist equipment is required.
Tungsten West is set to be the biggest western producer and largest producer of tungsten outside of China, with the potential to radically change the supply of this critical material in the UK, which is currently largely dependent on imports from China, Vietnam and Russia. Tungsten is vital to the manufacturing of new technologies including environmentally sustainable products such as electric cars and solar panels, because of its use in the cutting tools needed to make progressive technologies.
It is also considered a conflict mineral because, like diamonds, it originates from parts of the world where its production is used to directly fund conflict and Hemerdon will therefore ensure a sustainable supply of socially responsible tungsten is available to the West. Tungsten also makes it onto critical raw materials lists for countries around the world including the US and EU, which means it is a resource in high demand but has potential risks to a secure supply chain given the world’s largest producers are China, Vietnam and Russia.
