A NATURAL gas-fuelled energy centre is to be set up at the region's deepest potash mine.

Cleveland Potash, based at Boulby, on the A174 between east Cleveland and Whitby, has been granted planning permission by the North York Moors National Park Authority for the scheme.

The gas-fired energy centre will be housed in a new building because the company says it needs a supply of electricity which is more than the current overhead lines can supply.

The new energy centre will provide a combined heat and power system which will generate electricity and use most of the waste heat by generating steam for the processing plant.

The water used to cool the engines will be used for space heating and other processing needs.

The planning authority also granted permission for a gas pipeline to run from Kilton Mill, near Brotton, to the mine to connect to the centre