Diversified mining company BHP’s Jansen potash project has reached a pivotal milestone with construction surpassing the 50% completion mark for Stage 1, with Stage 2 also under way.

The project, in Saskatchewan, is on track to see first production in 2026 and be a major global producer of potash by the end of the decade.  

BHP first approved the C$7.5-billion investment in Jansen Stage 1 (JS1) in August 2021. In October 2023, the group approved a further investment of C$6.4-billion for Stage 2, bringing BHP’s total investment in Jansen to about C$14-billion. This marks the largest investment in BHP’s history, as well as the biggest private investment in Saskatchewan.   

“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 asset president for potash Karina Gistelinck.

“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,” she added.

The journey has not been without challenges – including logistical hurdles, harsh weather and a competitive labour market – but the project remains unstoppable.

Simon Thomas, VP projects, expressed his pride in the project’s advancement and the substantial economic benefits it has brought to local and Indigenous communities. “We have created of thousands of workforces and contractor opportunities, and we are especially proud of awarding over $850-million in contracts to Indigenous-owned businesses in the province,” he noted.  

As JS1 crosses the half-way mark, the focus now shifts towards the completion of the mill building and processing plant, port construction, finalising infrastructure and gearing up to hand over the project to operations. Efforts are also being intensified to prepare the workforce with an operations-ready mindset as the project gets closer and closer to first ore.  

“The Jansen leadership team is proud we have reached this milestone, and we remain confident in meeting the projected timelines and delivering the project as planned. We are extremely grateful that since sanctioning JS1 in August 2021, the project has covered a total of more than 9.7-million exposure hours with no fatalities or critical incidents. Our team is determined to maintain and elevate our safety discipline and finish the project with a clean sheet,” said Jansen programme director Christoff Kühn.