Off the wire
• China, Africa to strengthen industrial cooperation  • Chinese bank announces opening of four branches in Europe  • IMF says Albania not to be affected by possible Grexit  • Greece requests more time to repay IMF: official  • U.S. welcomes China's submission of climate change goals  • Major jail break in Yemen as ground battles intensify  • Roundup: U.S. stocks rebound despite Greece uncertainty  • Roundup: Policeman shot dead in Egypt's Cairo  • China signs deal with Airbus to buy 45 A330 planes  • 3rd LD Writethru: China, France agree to launch fund for joint cooperation with third parties  
You are here: 　 Home

Go-ahead for potash mine at national beauty spot in northern England

Xinhua, July 1, 2015 Adjust font size:

A 2.7 billion U.S. dollar plan to create a potash mine at one of Britain's most important natural beauty spots was given the go-ahead Tuesday night.

It is expected the facility will create over 1,000 new jobs in the North Yorks Moors National Park.

The moors are one of the largest expanses of heather moorland in Britain, spanning an area of almost 1,500 km² with over 23,000 people living within the park boundary.

The decision came after a marathon eight hour debate, with the Yes decision getting through on a vote of 8-7, a majority of just one vote at a special meeting of the North Yorks Moors National Parks Authority.

Sirus Minerals, the company behind the plan for the potash mine said the mine will create 1,040 direct jobs, with a further 1,010 supported in the construction and development phase. It will also earn tens of millions of dollars in exports.

The scheme has been under discussion for almost five years, with the impact on the national park a major issue.

But instead of transporting the mined materials by road, a 37-kilometer-long underground conveyor belt will be built to link the mine with a processing plant in coastal Teeside. This will reduce the potential impact on the area's natural beauty.

The scheme will also involve digging a 1.6 kilometer deep shaft into the moors to reach the potash mineral, known as polyhalite.

It has been estimated 3billion tonnes of the mineral lie under the moors, enough to create a steady supply of fertiliser for over 100 years.

Many of the local people cheered when the decision was reached, supporting the scheme because of its impact on local employment.

Chris Fraser, managing director or Sirius Minerals - the parent company of the York Potash Company said later: "A lot of hard work and sleepless nights have gone into this. We got there in the end by only one vote but that is all you need."

The aim is to start work on the project later this year or early in 2016.

But campaigners said they plan to call for a public inquiry in a last ditch effort to halt the plan. Endit