Aggregates firms failing to replenish extractions

Aggregates companies are failing to come close to replenishing the sand and gravel and crushed rock that they extract each year.

Since 2000, the aggregates industry has extracted 1,150 million tonnes of aggregates. Consents for new reserves have been estimated at less than 600 million tonnes over the same period. This means that fewer than half the aggregates extracted are being replaced by new deposits.

These conclusions are the result of BDS Marketing & Research Ltd monitoring planning applications and consents for new minerals over a long period of time.

A report published in 2005 estimates reserves and reserves life for each operating sand and gravel pit and crushed rock quarry in the country, by individual location.

The current landbank for sand and gravel is thought to be around eight years at currently operating pits, and there will be additional reserves at sites not used at the moment.

This is above the landbank target set by the government. However, landbanks are falling. This puts into question the industry’s ability to supply the future market, particularly major construction projects such as those relating to the 2012 Olympics.