Article

Fertoz International Organic Inc. was penalized $23,305 for 122 breaches of environmental monitoring at its phosphate mine near Sparwood, B.C. The company began extracting phosphate rock in 2021 for organic fertilizer testing.

Required monitoring failed to ensure that discharges did not contaminate local water sources. Despite Fertoz's claims of low environmental impact, the Ministry of Environment determined that the missed monitoring was significant.

The company has faced prior warnings and penalties for similar failures. Following corrective measures, the penalty was reduced. Fertoz plans to expand into producing phosphoric acid and lithium iron phosphate batteries as phosphate was designated a critical mineral by the Canadian government.