New Zealand’s Aluminium Smelter (NZAS) has confirmed it will move the remaining Ouvea Premix currently stored at the former paper mill in Mataura to Tiwai Point to be stored as it awaits processing and export.

NZAS Chief Executive and site general manager Stew Hamilton commented, “While NZAS does not own this material, we will remove it from the paper mill site and deliver a solution in the best interests of the community.

Advertisement

Advertise on the Southland App

“After discussion with the local and national governments, we will provide safe storage at NZAS to resolve this long standing issue for our Southland community.”

Environment Southland chairman Nicol Horrell also welcomed the agreement to move the ouvea premix.

"Environment Southland has been a party to this long-running issue, first identifying it illegally dumped in 2014, subsequently prosecuting and discovering the storage at the Mataura paper mill through an enforcement order."

"We’re delighted that the ouvea premix will be stored more securely as the paper mill has been a risky site environmentally with three recent near misses." 

"This is the best possible outcome, providing the Mataura residents with peace of mind while also protecting our waterways."

Advertisement

Advertise on the Southland App

The material will be stored in watertight shipping containers and kept on a hardstand at the smelter at Tiwai Point.

Removal from the paper mill has already begun and will take eight to 12 weeks to move.

The material will then be processed at NZAS by third party contractors before being shipped to an industrial end-user overseas.