BHP is seeking to accelerate construction at its only potash project as high gas prices and sanctions on key exporters continue to disrupt global supplies of fertilizers.
The world’s largest miner is building Jansen in stages, with the first phase estimated to cost $5.7 billion.
The company had originally planned to kick off production at the underground potash mine in 2027. Market conditions, however, have prompted it to attempt bringing forward Stage 1 first production into 2026. Jansen is expected to yield 4.35 million tonnes of potash per year.
This means BHP will need as many as 2,500 people on site this year, in which the company expects to pour concrete foundations for the mill and other processing and storage facilities to start erecting steel structures.
Canada Innovation, Science and Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne said the investment shows how much the federal government is committed to…
