Western Potash transitions Milestone potash project in Saskatchewan to commissioning phase

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Canadian producer Western Potash has announced that the processing plant of the Milestone Potash Phase 1 project is transitioning from the construction phase to the commissioning phase.

Located southeast of Regina, Saskatchewan, Milestone includes more than 87,500 acres of government mineral leases and more than 60,000 acres of acquired leases.

Once operational, it has been projected to produce 146,000 tonnes per year over a 12 year mine life.

Phase I is being developed, according to the company, in an ecologically sustainable, economically efficient and socially responsible manner and will be the first potash mine in the world without surface salt tailings.

Exploration work begin on the property in 2009 and in 2019, Western Potash broke ground with the drilling and developing of three solution mining caverns.

The company said in addition to the shift to commissioning that the operations team has officially begun preparation for start-up and operations.

Western has also further enhanced its operation and technical team by appointing Jamie Janotta as operations director.

Janotta brings over 40 years of potash processing and operational experience and started his career at the world’s largest solution potash mine, Mosaic Potash Belle Plaine Mine.

Western officials said he has demonstrated a strong track record of increasing refinery capacity, reducing operational costs and improving product quality and safety performance.