BHP surpasses halfway mark for stage 1 of Jansen potash project in Saskatchewan

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Mining major BHP announced the Jansen potash project in Saskatchewan has reached a pivotal milestone with construction having surpassed the 50% completion mark for stage 1, with stage 2 now underway.

The company said the project should have first production in 2026 with it holding the potential to become a major source by the end of this decade as it could eventually increase Jansen’s total output to 16-17 million tonnes/year of muriate of potash (MOP).

BHP total investment in Jansen is approximately Canadian dollars (C$) 14 billion ($10.2 billion) with the firm saying this marks the largest investment in its history, as well as the largest private investment in Saskatchewan.

Having crossed the halfway mark, the focus now shifts towards the completion of the mill building and processing plant, port construction, finalizing infrastructure and gearing up to handover the project to operations.

The company said efforts are also being intensified to prepare the workforce with an operations-ready mindset as the project gets closer to having its first ore.

“Reaching the half-way milestone for JS1 is a testament to the dedication of our Team Jansen workforce, our contractors and procurement partners, and the local and Indigenous communities surrounding the Jansen area,” said Karina Gistelinck, BHP asset president potash.

“Building one of the largest potash mines in the world requires an all-hands-on-deck approach, and the province has really come together to make a project of this magnitude possible. Delivering Jansen safely remains our top priority as we get ready for Jansen operations in 2026.”

C$1.00 = $0.73