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UK's leading salt producer invests in preparation for another severe winter
6 April 2010 - The UK's leading road salt producer today announces it will invest between £4million and £5million in mining machines, processing equipment and storage facilities as part of a number of steps to improve the security of the nation's salt supplies. The announcement is included in a white paper, Salt Union: Preparing for another severe winter, which provides a clear path for all those involved in the production, storage and distribution of de-icing salt to meet the challenges of future cold winters.
During the winter of 2009/10, the miners and hauliers of Salt Union worked 24 hours a day, seven days a week to produce and ship salt and worked closely with customers and government agencies, through the Salt Cell, to ensure that salt was distributed according to the greatest need.
As we prepare for next winter, increased investment in mining capacity is one of seven key actions for the industry as a whole which reflect the aim of keeping Britain moving during severe weather. Regional salt stockpiles, improving the fairness of winter allocations, and increasing year round communication between stakeholders are also significant actions that would strengthen the ability of the highway authorities to keep Britain moving during severe weather. As the 2009 UK Road Liaison Group report pointed out, the supply of salt is not a commodity but a service which should be valued accordingly: taking these steps to improve the security of the UK salt supply position is not without a cost, and will likely lead to price increases for future winter seasons.
Steve Holmes, Group Commercial Manager, Salt Union, said: "The Winters of 2009 and 2010 have forced all those involved in the de-icing industry to think about their approach. As Britain looks toward the next winter we can either continue as we are and risk a third consecutive winter of disruption or learn the lessons of the recent past and introduce new practices to better achieve our shared goal of keeping Britain safe and moving in periods of severe cold weather."
Salt Union plans to meet with key stakeholders involved in the de-icing salt industry to discuss how together they can work to keep Britain moving in the winter.
Download the Salt Union white paper: preparing for winter here
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A full copy of the White Paper is available at Salt Union's website: www.saltunion.com. For further information, or a full copy of the White Paper, please contact:
Liam Tuner / E: turnerli@fleishmaneurope.com / T: 020 7395 7056 / M: 07725 925 843
About Salt Union Limited
Based in Winsford, Cheshire, Salt Union Limited is the leading producer of highway deicing salt in the United Kingdom. Salt Union, a subsidiary of Compass Minerals, began operations in 1844 and owns the U.K.'s largest salt mine. The company produces salt year round, building stock levels through the spring, summer and autumn, for use by governments and local authorities during the winter months.
About Compass Minerals
Compass Minerals is a leading producer of minerals, including salt, sulfate of potash specialty fertilizer and magnesium chloride. The company provides highway deicing salt to customers in North America and the U.K. and specialty fertilizer to growers worldwide. Compass Minerals also produces consumer deicing and water conditioning products, ingredients used in consumer and commercial foods, and other mineral-based products for consumer, agricultural and industrial applications. Compass Minerals also owns DeepStore Limited, which provides records management services to businesses throughout the U.K.
