Project:

The York Potash Project is a nationally important proposal to mine large volumes of polyhalite – a multi-nutrient fertilizer that can help the UK contribute to the global food security challenge.

The economic benefits to the country and the local area will be significant.

The Project will create thousands of jobs, benefit local businesses, boost GDP and generate large scale exports. The Project has an innovative but simple design from mine to port, which will enable large-scale production in a way that is sensitive to the environment.

The polyhalite will be extracted via the shafts at the mine site south of Whitby in North Yorkshire and then transported to Teesside on an underground mineral transport system. It will then be granulated at the materials handling facility, with the majority being exported from the nearby harbour to supply a growing global market.

The Project will have an initial production capacity of up to 10 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa), with a full production potential of up to 20 Mtpa.

Currently the project is at tender stage.

Services:

Equib is supporting the HMJV in bidding for the Material Transportation System of the York Potash Project, which includes 37km of tunnel, intermediate shafts, underground caverns and installation of material conveyor within the tunnel.

The role of Equib is to ensure that the commercial risk assessment undertaken reflects the HMJVs position in respect of time and cost where quality is a constant as required in the contract.

A key role in this service is to advise the HMJV in respect of risk ownership i.e. where does the risk sit contractually and to ensure that in the tender submission it is clearly expressed i.e. through qualifications and exclusions.

Following completion of the commercial risk assessment; Equib were requested to undertake a Quantitative Schedule Risk Assessment (QSRA) upon the proposed construction delivery schedule.