Mine to seek permission to operate for another 25 years
ICL Boulby has announced details of a public consultation programme in advance of it submitting an application to the North York Moors Park Authority for permission to continue mining operations for a further 25 years.
The current planning permission which has been in place since 1968 expires in 2023. ICL Boulby’s General Manager, Andrew Fulton, stressed that seeking renewed permission underlined the commitment to securing the mine’s long-term future to strengthen its position as the world’s first and only producer of polyhalite.
This round of the pre-application consultation programme, which ends on 30 October, will involve meetings with councils, businesses and community groups, together with a series of exhibition roadshows at local villages taking place in October.
Fulton said: “Following our successful move to polyhalite production, the planning application is the next phase in our ‘Building Boulby’s Future’ strategy, which aims 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 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 over £30m in delivering the transition to polyhalite and our products—marketed as Polysulphate—are now helping farmers and grower 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.”
He added the exhibitions would help visitors understand the background to the mine and outline improvements to above and below ground operations.
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; 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.
