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East Cleveland's fertiliser mine is applying to extend its operations for another 25 years.

Boulby ICL, the area's largest employer, wants to continue mining its polyhalite product until the 2040s at least, securing hundreds of jobs long-term.

Mine bosses say it "underlines" owner ICL's commitment to the area and strengthens its position as the world's first and only producer of polyhalite".

The global firm's application to the North York Moors Park Authority comes as nearby polyhalite mine firm Sirius Minerals announced it had pulled a £400m fundraising offer and was slowing down construction.

(Image: Evening Gazette)

Global firm ICL switched to mining polyhalite in 2018, investing £30m in the "costly and challenging" transition process after supplies of its previous potash product ran out.

The firm's ICL's old potash operation ceased in June 2018, ending almost half a century of production at the North Yorkshire coast mine.

It sustained losses of £150m in 2017, during the transition, and the workforce has been cut in half.

But ICL's investment has proved a shrewd one, with growing sales success around the world.

Boulby mine's general manager Andrew Fulton said: “Following our successful move to polyhalite production, the planning application is the next phase in our ‘Building Boulby’s Future’ strategy.

(Image: Gazette)

"We aim to drive forward an increase in our production to a target of 1.3m tonnes per year by 2023, securing over 500 jobs and ensuring that we continue to make a major contribution to the economy of East Cleveland and the wider area.

“Already, with the support from our parent company ICL, we have invested more than £30m in delivering the transition to polyhalite and our products - marketed as Polysulphate - are now helping farmers and growers to increase growth and yields in countries across five continents.

“We hope as many people as possible will take the opportunity to come along to the public exhibitions to find out more about what we have achieved already in becoming the world’s first and only polyhalite mine and how our plans can secure its future.”

Sirius Minerals plans to mine its product from the same underground seam of polyhalite - which is the largest in the world.

But construction workers on the massive south Whitby mine and Teesside processing plant were 'let go' last week, with bosses vowing to do their "absolute utmost" to solve their current cash crisis.

Boulby ICL will hold a month-long public consultation programme from Tuesday, in advance of lodging its application to the North York Moors Park Authority for a 25-year extension.

A series of exhibition roadshows will start at Hinderwell Village Hall, followed by Mulgrave Community Sports Centre on Wednesday and Staithes Village Hall on Friday.

Councils, businesses and community groups will also be consulted.

The exhibition will "help visitors understand the background to the mine and outline improvements to above and below ground operations", ICL says.

(Image: Evening Gazette)

Consultation exhibition locations and dates are: October 1, Hinderwell Village Hall, 2pm-8pm October 2, Mulgrave Community Sports Centre, 2pm-8pm October 4, Loftus Town Hall, 2pm-8pm October 9, Staithes Village Hall, 2pm-8pm Fate of Normanby 'rural haven' being bricked over with 400 new homes to be decided October 10, Skinningrove Village Hall, 2pm-8pm October 12, Skelton Civic Centre, 9am-2pm October 15, Mickleby Village Hall, 2pm-8pm October 26, Marske Leisure Centre, 9am-2pm

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