Sask. mine recruiting hundreds of workers
BHP is moving forward with its plans to build the world's largest potash mine.
The company is in the midst of a recruitment blitz to build its Jansen potash mine, a $7.5 billion project 140 kilometres east of Saskatoon, as the company looks to hit a peak of 3,500 workers on the site in the coming years.
"This year is sort of commencement of that ramp up," Simon Thomas, BHP's president of potash said.
"The operation workforce will be in the order of 600 people long term. Around 400 to 450 of those will actually live in and around the communities that we operate."
Thomas said while those workers will settle in places like Humboldt, Leroy, Jansen and Lanigan, he expects employees at the mine to reflect the local community. BHP has committed to having a 20 per cent Indigenous workforce, which it is currently exceeding.
"We have programs and will continue to develop programs that create entry pathways to be traineeships, apprenticeships and early engagement to ensure that workforce is ready," he said.
Plenty of work is underway to make the potash mine not only the biggest in the world but the most sustainable when it starts production in 2026.
BHP will ditch its diesel-powered fleet in favour of an electric fleet as the company looks to challenge the province's reliance on fossil fuels.
Roughly 80 per cent of the underground vehicles at the mine will be electric, with plans to increase that to 100 per cent in the coming years.
"Our mine will be in the order of 50 per cent less in terms of CO2 emissions for production," Thomas said.
BHP is also changing the way it pulls potash out of the ground as it aims to use 60 per cent less fresh water than it currently uses per tonne of potash.
Jansen is expected to produce 4.35 million tonnes of potash per year when it comes online in 2026, with the potential for additional expansions.
The initial amount would represent about 20 per cent of the 22 million tonnes of potash produced in 2021.
"We're really pleased with the progress, really pleased with the performance of our teams and our contractors and it gives us a lot of confidence going into this year and into the several years ahead," Thomas said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Liberals to go after predatory lending in today's budget, invest in dental care plan
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is set to table a federal budget in the House of Commons on Tuesday afternoon, which a federal source says will include plans to go after predatory lending and more details on dental care as part of a pitch to make life more affordable.

Nearly all Canadian adults had COVID antibodies for about half of 2022, most through previous infection: survey
A newly released survey finds nearly all Canadian adults had antibodies against COVID-19 for about half of 2022, with most acquiring them through a previous infection.
Nashville police release chilling security camera footage of suspected school shooter
Nashville police have released security camera footage of a suspected shooter entering the private Christian elementary school. The shooting claimed the lives of three children, all aged nine, and three adults.
Family sues Hamilton, Ont. school board after 5-year-old girl loses part of finger in alleged bullying incident
The mother of a five-year-old girl said her daughter was allegedly bullied so badly she was left with a partially amputated finger from an incident in the washroom.
Quebec police officer stabbed and killed during arrest, second wounded
A Quebec provincial police officer was fatally stabbed Monday night while performing an arrest in Louiseville, west of Trois-Rivieres, Que. The Surete du Quebec (SQ) has confirmed the identity of the officer, Sgt. Maureen Breau, who had been on the force for over 20 years. She was assigned to the post of the MRC de Maskinonge. Another officer was injured during the incident, but their life is not in danger.
Nashville shooter was ex-student with detailed plan to kill
The former student who shot through the doors of a Christian elementary school in Nashville and killed three children and three adults had drawn a detailed map of the school, including potential entry points, and conducted surveillance of the building before carrying out the massacre.
Russian whose daughter drew anti-war picture gets two years' jail but flees
A Russian who was investigated by police after his daughter drew an anti-war picture at school was sentenced on Tuesday to two years in a penal colony on charges of discrediting the armed forces.
Some Flair customers say they're owed more after plane seizures, flight cancellations
Flair Airlines said Monday it has reimbursed virtually all 1,900 passengers whose flights were cancelled after the seizure of four of the carrier's planes earlier this month, but some customers say they are owed more money.
'It was my responsibility': Manitoba girl saves siblings from destructive house fire
A 12-year-old Manitoba girl is being hailed a hero after saving her two younger brothers from a house fire.