Platinum New Zealand 2013 competitive minerals tender open

26 SEPT 2013

New Zealand Petroleum & Minerals opened the Platinum New Zealand 2013 competitive minerals tender on Friday 20 September

New Zealand Petroleum & Minerals has invited companies interested in exploring for platinum group elements to submit work programme-based bids by April 2014.
The tender covers five areas across the South Island:
- Longwood (Southland), Grey River (West Coast),
- Murchison West (West Coast),
- Murchison East (Tasman),
- East Nelson (Nelson-Marlborough).

Exclusions from the tender include land listed as unavailable for mining under Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act, world heritage sites and land that is currently permitted.

Consultation
The launch follows consultation with 17 iwi and hapū, and engagement with 10 local authorities who have an interest in the tender areas. The consultation took place between June and August 2013 and feedback shaped the make-up of the final tender area to ensure areas of sensitivity are respected.

“Platinum New Zealand 2013 presents an exciting opportunity for New Zealand,” says David Binnie, General Manager, NZP&M. “The world demand for platinum is likely to move higher in the future because supply is currently quite constrained. The improving global economy is boosting demand for platinum as falling supply from other producer countries, such as South Africa, is leaving a shortage. About 60 per cent of platinum demand is for industrial applications.”

Platinum prospectivity
New Zealand has few areas with platinum prospectivity. Past exploration of these has been fairly ad-hoc and the Government wants to manage exploration strategically. Work-programme based bids are submitted and assessed by NZP&M. This competitive tender process ensures exploration permits are granted to the best operators, who are able to carry out exploration safely and responsibly.

More information on Platinum New Zealand 2013 is available on the New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals website

Exploration data is available online
The Platinum New Zealand 2013 Data Pack contains all information needed for making a bid, plus newly compiled geophysical data. It includes the results of about 75,000 geochemical samples from all over the South Island, and all available magnetic and radiometric data over the tender areas.

Order your free hard copy via the Online Exploration Database.

ENDS

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