Revised Terms of Reference Released for Chandler Proposal

• Tellus completes successful independent value engineering and environmental studies
• The net result is the Chandler proposal’s ecological footprint has reduced
• Environment Protection Authority (NT EPA) releases revised Terms of Reference
• Draft Environmental Impact Statement remains on track for October submission

The Northern Territory EPA today reissued an amended Terms of Reference for the Chandler Proposal. These will be reflected in Tellus’ Draft Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”) that remains on track for an October submission for an adequacy review by the NT EPA before being released for public review.

“The revised Terms of Reference (ToR) released by the NT EPA today reflect changes that Tellus has made to the proposed Chandler Proposal including a materially reduced ecological footprint”, Environment and Approvals Manager Richie Phillips said.

The main changes to the Chandler Proposal include:

• reduced offsite logistics infrastructure (for example, Tellus is no longer planning to build its own dual use salt/ storage facilities at Darwin’s East Arm Business Park or the Brewer Estate)
• replaced wet processing of salt with evaporative ponds with a large footprint and high water use with a dry optical sorting process with a small footprint and no water use
• refined the waste management infrastructure to improve safety and efficiency
• plans for a new access route to the Stuart Highway to avoid use of the existing Old South Road during operations (this road will following existing fence lines to reduce ecological impacts)
• refined the internal haul roads to reduce ecological impacts
• increased salt tonnage (from 500,000 tpa 750,000 tpa) for improved project economics
• transport of salt by rail, mostly to a port in South Australia.

The revised ToR are now available for review and comment on the NT EPA’s website. They will remain available for public review until 16th September, 2016. All public comments need to be directed to the EPA and not Tellus. Visit: Environmental Assessments

Tellus also has posted the ToR on the company’s web site: Public Notices and Advertisements

Tellus aims to lodge its draft EIS to the NT EPA for adequacy review shortly thereafter before going out for public review.

The changes resulted from months of independent value engineering studies by industry experts which confirmed that the Chandler Proposal remains technically viable and has no fatal flaws. Multiple opportunities were identified to reduce the infrastructure footprint, improve the project economics and to offer customers a better service. Tellus accepted most of the recommended changes and did additional engineering and environmental studies.

In accordance with Commonwealth and Northern Territory (NT) environmental legislation and regulations, and consultation with the NT Environment Protection Authority (EPA), Tellus resubmitted a “Notice of Intent” to reflect the changes. In turn the EPA has issued an amended Terms of Reference that will be reflected in Tellus’ Draft Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”).

Tellus Holdings Ltd (“Tellus”) is an infrastructure development company in the business of creating economic, social and environmental value from waste, salt and clay resources. This dual revenue model involves mining the commodities salt and kaolin and backfilling the voids left from mining with equipment, archives or long term storage of waste. Tellus plans to store like-with-like materials, so as to create opportunities for the future long-term, storage, treatment and recovery of valuable materials or the permanent isolation of waste. Tellus supports releasing valuable materials back into the circular economy. Tellus’ business model mirrors world’s best practice solutions operating in the UK, Europe and North America. Tellus is developing the Chandler proposal in the Northern Territory (NT) and the Sandy Ridge proposal in Western Australia (WA). Tellus’ ‘Chandler Proposal’ has been awarded Major Project Status by the NT Government.

Visit: www.tellusholdings.com.au or contact:

Duncan van der Merwe

Jane Munday | Corporate and Chandler Project

Cameron Morse | Sandy Ridge Project

Managing Director

Michels Warren Munday (Media)

FTI Consulting (Media)

Tel: +61 (0)2 8257 3395

Mobile: +61 (0)427 880 083

Tel: +61 (0)8 9485 8888