BOSSES behind a £2bn North Yorkshire fertiliser mine are pushing to secure further global sales after gaining approval for the development.

Sirius Minerals is in discussions with customers around the world over supplying potash from its mine, which will be based three miles outside Whitby.

The development, known as the York Potash Project, will be the UK’s first potash mine in 40 years, and was last month approved by the North York Moors National Park Authority.

Sirius says it will create more than 1,000 direct jobs by tapping into the world’s largest and highest grade of the fertiliser polyhalite, and building work on the mine could start later this year.

The company already has agreements in place with firms to supply polyhalite, including a deal with Sinoagri, one of China’s largest fertiliser distributors, which is due to annually receive 500,000 tonnes, and China’s Yunnan TCT Yong-Zhe, which has an understanding to take one million tonnes of polyhalite a year.

In a report, Sirius said: “Our extensive engagement with current and potential customers continues to progress well.

“Discussions are ongoing with a range of partners all around the world, and, following successful outcomes to recent approvals decisions, we expect further progress to be made with polyhalite agreements.”

The company hopes to extract 13 million tonnes of polyhalite every year from its mine, from an overall defined store of 2.66 billion tonnes, with a significant amount expected to be sent abroad.

The firm, which has already spent about £125m on the development, will sink mine shafts at the former Dove’s Nest Farm, before shifting the mineral underground on a conveyor belt to a handling site at Wilton, near Redcar, for granulation, storage and distribution.

Redcar and Cleveland Council’s regulatory committee previously approved the mine and the transport system, with a decision on an adjoining harbour, earmarked for Bran Sands, on the mouth of the River Tees, to load ships carrying exports, expected from the Government next summer.

Chris Fraser, Sirius’ managing director and chief executive, said: “After our recent approvals success, we are now rapidly moving to the next phases of financing and construction.

“With the underlying strength of our business model, unique product and sector fundamentals, I believe we are only at the beginning of a very steep value curve as we move towards becoming a major multi-nutrient fertiliser producer.”

Mr Fraser previously told The Northern Echo the mine will bolster hundreds of firms’ order books, while supporting and creating thousands of supply chain jobs.

He said the company has a database of about 500 local companies, which could be used by contractors in the construction phase.

He added: “We have worked hard to get here, and now we have to get on building the mine as quickly as we can and at the lowest environmental impact we can.”