K+S Cancels Controversial Solar Salt Project Near Exmouth Gulf

K+S Salt Australia has scrapped plans for its Ashburton Salt project near Western Australia’s Exmouth Gulf, ending a nearly decade-long effort to build a 4.7-million-tonne solar salt facility in a nationally significant wetland.

The German parent company cited a shift away from international salt production as the primary reason, rather than environmental concerns, despite strong opposition over potential damage to endangered marine habitats. While the project had promised 200 jobs for the town of Onslow, conservationists welcomed the withdrawal as a major win for ecosystems with near–world heritage value.