Name and Location
York potash polyhalite project, North Yorkshire, England.

Client
Sirius Minerals.

Project Description
The project involves the construction of the first potash mine in the UK in more than 40 years, within an existing private farm and a commercial forestry block located about 2 km south of Sneaton village and 3.5 km south of the outskirts of Whitby. A new mine will extract polyhalite, a unique multinutrient form of potash.

The project will comprise four main elements:
• a mine with minehead, welfare and ancillary buildings at Dove’s Nest Farm/Haxby plantation;
• a mineral transport system consisting of a 36.5 km tunnel containing a series of linked conveyors to transport the mineral from the minehead to Wilton, with three intermediate access shafts at Lady Cross plantation, Lockwood Beck and Tocketts Lythe;
• a materials handling facility (MHF), comprising granulation and storage facilities at Wilton International Complex; and
• harbour facilities at Bran Sands, the Wilton International Complex on the south bank of the Tees river estuary, connected to the MHF using a conveyor for the bulk shipping of polyhalite, including provisions for domestic distribution by road.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Value
The project is estimated at $3-billion.

Duration
Not stated.

Latest Developments
Sirius won approval to build the York project in July this year.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Sirius Minerals, email info@yorkpotash.co.uk.