Business
23 April, 2025
Buyer emerges for Dajarra miner under administration
A Christmas Island company has exclusive rights to make an offer on Centrex and its subsidiaries.
A Christmas Island phosphate miner has emerged as a potential saviour for the Ardmore operation at Dajarra.
Fertiliser company PRL Global has been selected as the preferred party to advance through a 45-day period to conduct exclusive due diligence on Centrex, including its subsidiary Agriflex
Dajarra Roadhouse owner Scott Punch, who also owns Punchy’s Earthmoving, is Centrex’s second biggest creditor and said he spoke with PRL Global representatives on the phone last week.
“They said they were doing their due diligence to decide whether they can make the mine work again and they were chasing some general information from me,” he said.
“They wanted to know whether I was keen to come out and work with the mine again.
“At the end of the day, I would like to see someone take the mine over again soon so that I can get more of my gear out there working again and we can get some of the local boys back to work.”
Mr Punch said he currently had a water truck working at Adrmore for about six hours per day and had employed locals to operate it.
“I think this has all had an impact on the town and we would like to see a bit of certainty going forward,” he said.
“I am trying to keep the local boys employed and find some work for them where I can.”
He said the administrators had arranged a meeting next month.
John Park and Joanne Dunn of FTI Consulting were last month appointed as voluntary administrators of Centrex, owner of the Ardmore mine, which has been placed into care and maintenance mode.
In a statement to the ASX, PRL Global said the acquisition of Centrex would “provide the opportunity to expand (our) customer base and market access, while driving growth and value for shareholders and other valued stakeholders into the future”.
“Subject to the due diligence being completed to the satisfaction of PRL Global, the parties will finalise the terms of the potential acquisition,” the statement read.
PRL Global, formerly known as Phosphate Resources Ltd, was established in 1990 after the Christmas Island community joined together to form a group.
Their success ended three years of shutdown for Christmas Island’s phosphate mine.