en.Wedoany.com Reported - Anglo American has appointed Stantec to join the feasibility study team for its Woodsmith polyhalite mine, located underground beneath the North York Moors National Park. Stantec will work alongside the project owner and contractor Fluor to design the hoisting system, shafts, material handling, and underground infrastructure. Fluor was recently announced as the feasibility partner as well.
The mine sits atop what Anglo American describes as the world's largest known deposit of polyhalite, with the product marketed under the POLY4 brand. This naturally occurring multi-nutrient mineral is used as a sustainable fertilizer alternative, containing four essential nutrients for crops—potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur—and can be applied directly without blending. Anglo American and its partners believe the deposit represents a significant domestic source of these nutrients.
In 2024, NCE visited the mine under construction to see how the project uniquely combines tunneling engineering with the mining sector. The project had previously faced difficulties: in 2024, Anglo American announced cuts to capital investment in the Woodsmith mine, and after BHP's failed acquisition attempt, the company further reduced funding for the fertilizer project, with capital expenditure capped at $200 million (approximately £160 million) in 2025 and dropping to zero in 2026. The company stated that these adjustments would slow the pace of tunneling and other work but did not cancel the project.
Progress was made in 2025: the tunnel boring machine (TBM) for the polyhalite mine surpassed 30 kilometers of excavation, extending the record for the longest single-tunnel drive previously set by the same TBM. Named Stella Rose, the TBM is constructing a 36.7-kilometer-long, 4.9-meter-diameter mineral transport system (MTS) to move polyhalite from beneath the North York Moors National Park to a processing plant in Teesside. Contractor Strabag, hired by Anglo American, stated that the machine reached the 30-kilometer milestone under the guidance of its senior occupational health advisor, Ronnie Birkett.
Upon completion, the tunnel will transport tens of millions of tons of polyhalite from the underground deposit near Whitby to processing facilities at Wilton, near Teesside. The mine plan also includes two shafts, each approximately 1.6 kilometers deep: a production shaft for hoisting ore and a service shaft for personnel and services. The tunnel route runs deep beneath the national park, with environmental groups and local residents concerned about its impact on the landscape and habitats, while supporters highlight the job creation and long-term economic benefits the project will bring.
A notable feature of the Woodsmith project is its limited surface footprint. Most of the mine's key infrastructure, including the headframe typically built above ground, is planned to be located underground to minimize impact on the national park. This approach, uncommon in large-scale mining projects, is intended to help the project meet the stringent environmental and planning conditions imposed for development within a protected landscape.
John Ord, Director of Energy and Resources for Stantec in the UK and Ireland, stated that the project reflects the growing need to balance resource development with environmental stewardship. He noted that the Stantec team has deep experience in hoisting system and shaft design, underground infrastructure, and integrated project delivery, and looks forward to working with Anglo American and Fluor to advance this important project, applying global capabilities to the UK market to support sustainable agricultural production while minimizing impact on the natural landscape.
