A POTASH firm behind a 1,000-job fertiliser development hopes to start drilling mine shafts this summer, The Northern Echo can reveal.

Sirius Minerals says it is making strong progress on its York Potash project.

Gareth Edmunds, external affairs director, told the Echo that drilling of shafts at its Woodsmith Mine, near Whitby, is earmarked to start between July and September.

He also confirmed the business intends to leave the AIM market, which is the London Stock Exchange’s international market for smaller growing companies, and apply for admission to the exchange’s main market, which he said will raise its international status and provide scope for fresh investment.

Sirius’ Woodsmith Mine is expected to create more than 1,000 direct jobs and support a similar number in the supply chain when it begins operations.

It aims to extract the fertiliser polyhalite, which is reputed for its potassium, magnesium, sulphur and calcium content that encourages strong crop growth, with production planned to get underway in late 2021.

Sirius previously revealed a financing plan, which included the issuing of new shares to raise up to £400m and convertible bonds to bring in a further £350m, to pave the way for building work.

That came after Australia’s richest woman Gina Rinehart backed Sirius through her Hancock British Holdings enterprise to the tune of £250m, and Mr Edmunds said its stock exchange switch was further proof of bosses’ commitment to the project.

He told the Echo: “It has been a long-term ambition of ours to join the main market because it is more aligned to the size and prospects of the business and it will raise our global profile.

“It will also open the business up to a new pool of investors.

We have got the cash and are putting it to use; we have made commitments on jobs and investment and are making good progress with the development.”

Mr Edmunds also confirmed Sirius is speaking to potential clients, revealing crop trials have started in North America, Brazil, China, Africa and Asia.

The business already has a stock of agreements in place, including a deal with a USbased firm to annually dispatch 1.5 million tonnes for at least seven years.

Mr Edmunds added: “It is an ongoing process and (will go on) for the life of the project. We have always had pretty good traction with customers and people in the fertiliser industry.”

Sirius will move its polyhalite underground on a transport system to Wilton, near Redcar, where it will be stored before being delivered from a new harbour.