BHP Updates Progress on Major Canadian Potash-Mining Project

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The US$5.7 billion (C$7.5 billion) first phase (Stage 1) of BHP Group Limited's (Melbourne, Australia) Jansen potash-mining project in Saskatchewan, Alberta is now 44% complete, the company said last week, with first production expected in late 2026. The US$4.9 billion (C$6.4 billion) second phase (Stage 2) is under development and the target date for the first production is 2029.

The under-construction Stage 1 entails constructing an underground mine, along with surface infrastructure, designed to produce 4.15 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of potash, according to the company's latest operational review. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, potash is "used primarily as an agricultural fertilizer (plant nutrient) because it is a source of soluble potassium, one of the three primary plant nutrients."

BHP is developing Stage 2, which involves the "development additional mining districts, completion of the second shaft hoist infrastructure, expansion of processing facilities and addition of rail cars to facilitate production of 4.36 Mtpa."

The company also is evaluating two additional expansions at the Jansen mine, which would bring the production capacity from approximately 8.5 Mtpa to between 16 Mtpa and 17 Mtpa.

BHP's investment in the project also includes funding to increase storage facilities at Westshore Terminals in Delta, British Columbia, home to BHP's main port facility that will be used to ship potash to customers via ocean-going vessels. Construction of the brownfield potash export facility, which will receive the potash by rail and feature storage capacity of 4.5 million tons per year, is underway and expected to wrap up in early 2026.

A Canadian unit of Jacobs Solutions Incorporated (NYSE:J) (Dallas, Texas) is performing engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for Stage 1, and EPC firm Fluor Corporation (NYSE:FLR) (Irving, Texas) was selected to develop Jansen Stage 2.

Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Metals & Minerals Project and Plant databases can click here to read detailed information on the Jansen projects and click here for related plant profiles.

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