A FIRM behind a mine that could create up to 1,000 jobs is confident there is strong demand for the mineral it plans to extract, despite rivals casting doubt on the project. 

Sirius Minerals said it has agreements in place with fertilizer distributors and manufacturers about the future sales of the mineral polyhalite from its proposed mine at Sneaton, near Whitby, North Yorkshire. 

The company declined to reveal full details of the agreements but said they proved the market potential for polyhalite and the importance of the mineral for the global farming industry. Sirius confirmed this amounted to 310,000 tonnes a year of polyhalite including 60,000 tonnes mainly targeted for sales in the UK farming industry. The framework agreements would form the basis of formal contracts being signed closer to the start of production. 

The agreements are in addition to Sirius’ existing deal with Swiss firm  Keytrade AG to supply up to 1.75 million tonnes of the mineral every year. 

Cleveland Potash, in Boulby, east Cleveland, has voiced fears that Sirius' plans could fall victim to weak market demand. 

Chris Fraser, managing director and chief executive of Sirius, said: “This further customer endorsement of the market for polyhalite is just the beginning but demonstrates a clear need and market for this sustainable multi-nutrient form of potash.

"Customers both here in the UK and around the world are seeing significant agronomic value in our products and are encouraging us to reach production as fast as possible.”

Earlier this month Sirius received a major boost when the Ministry of Defence announced that it intends to withdraw its objection to the mine, which would be sited close to RAF Fylingdales.

The MoD feared that drilling or potential subsidence could affect monitoring equipment at the radar base and wanted assurances that the proposed work would not compromise security.

Those objections are expected to be withdrawn, providing planning conditions include an ongoing programme of monitoring to ensure the mine does not interfere with work at the base.