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In 2018, New Zealand and Rio Tinto aluminum smelters agreed with city councils and the government to phase out ouvea premix, a waste by-product of aluminum production at Tiwai Point, for six years.
Floods and fires at the site this year prompted the Environmental Defense Society to initiate legal action against the smelter’s owners.
The plan remains to remove the waste from the paper mill for Christmas.
Deputy Environmental Judge Laurie Newhook, in a minutes issued this afternoon, said the arrangements had not been finalized.
“I am sorry that the goal has not yet been achieved, as an additional complication has arisen in what has been a very complex situation,” Judge Newhook said.
“That said, constructive progress continues on all fronts for the removal of the ouvea premix from Mataura to an industrial site. The completion of the various necessary contracts is closer, with considerable progress having been made in the last week.
“The logistical arrangements for the moving activities are now available.
“The parties remain focused on the urgency of the situation and continue to act constructively and swiftly. The goal remains to complete it before Christmas (possibly depending on the weather), subject to the remaining items being finalized urgently.”
Judge Newhook did not expand on the complicating factors.
The waste came to be in Mataura after New Zealand aluminum smelters contracted with Taha Asia Pacific to handle waste products from Tiwai Point’s aluminum production.
Taha moved more than 10,000 tonnes of ouvea premix and other slag to the paper mill without the consent of the resources six years ago.
The company subsequently went into liquidation and still owed a $ 2 million bond to the Gore District Council for retroactive consent to the slag.
