Firms asked to register for £1.4bn potash contracts

THE company behind plans for a huge potash mine near Whitby is giving local businesses the opportunity to become part of the construction supply chain for its proposed £1.4bn investment. 

Planning applications for key parts of the project, including the mine itself, are due to be submitted at the end of the month with decisions expected by January 2015.

With the detailed engineering work continuing a pace, a shortlist of companies is already being invited to start tendering for parts of the construction work.

This includes the shaft sinking at the proposed mine site near Whitby, and to construct the 23 mile tunnel and associated shafts for the mineral transport system that will take the mined polyhalite to Teesside.

Given its specialist nature, the firms tendering for the work are either large UK or international businesses.

However York Potash, in collaboration with local councils, is asking bidders to demonstrate how they will work with local businesses. It has stated that there is an expectation for contractors to use companies from the area to supply the goods and services that would be needed during construction.

A database of local businesses is be provided to the companies invited to tender, and over the next two weeks firms from North Yorkshire and Teesside are being asked to register their interest in becoming part of the construction supply chain.

Across over 60 supplier categories, including earthworks, mechanical and electrical, landscape design, logistics, security and catering.

The deadline for inclusion on the database is October 12.

Although the company is about to submit its planning applications, it needs to begin its construction tendering process now to ensure that work can start promptly if planning permission is granted.

Chris Fraser, York Potash managing director, said: “Specialist contractors for projects like ours want to use local firms as much as possible, but often the battle is knowing what services are available so we’d encourage business to get involved and register their interest on our website.

“We have always said that we want the local businesses to benefit from the York Potash Project and ensuring that local businesses are engaged in the supply chain would help create jobs and bring further economic benefits for the area.”