A MAJOR Tees Valley employer has teamed up with a university to reduce its energy usage.

Cleveland Potash, which runs Boulby Mine on the North Yorkshire coast, has called on Teesside University's School of Science & Engineering.

The work is being carried out under a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), an initiative funded by the Technology Strategy Board that draws on university expertise to help increase a company's competitiveness, productivity and profits.

KTPs are a three-way partnership between a company, a university and a talented graduate, who together work to address a business issue or development project.

As part of the KTP, 25-year-old Teesside postgraduate Balaji Vasudevan, who has a Master of Science degree in petroleum technology from the university, is working on the reduction of particle emissions.

Based at Cleveland Potash, he is working under the supervision of a senior lecturer in the School of Science & Engineering, who makes monthly visits to the company.

The partnership began when Cleveland Potash Limited approached the University to work with it improving the process controls in the Potash refining plant.

As well as improvements in the emissions it has also led to a reduction in fuel consumption and energy costs.

Cleveland Potash environmental services manager Jennie Thomas said: "There is a legal limit to particle emissions from our stack, set by Redcar and Cleveland Council and although we operate well within the limits we want to ensure that our operations don't affect these levels.

"This project and the support from the University is excellent in helping us in our commitment to the environment.

"Balaji is absolutely excellent. It's been a very rewarding process and we're looking to take his work further."