Potash is the common name for various mined and manufactured potassium bearing salts in water-soluble form. Potash is mostly used as fertilizer with muriate of Potash (MOP) being the most common. MOP or sylvite is a naturally occurring mineral found in large underground deposits formed by the evaporation of ancient seawater. These deposits are often deep and require underground mining methods to recover the minerals. Mining methods include conventional underground mining or solution mining.
Operating in southeastern Utah will give PPI a strong geographic advantage, placing it within one of the largest markets for potash in the world. While the US is one of the top consumers of potash, it currently produces a very small percentage of its own consumption needs, importing 85% from outside the US. PPI will be able to help bridge the production and consumption gap while setting new industry standards for production cost and environmental stewardship.