MOOSE JAW, Saskatchewan’s mining industry is gearing up for a major growth cycle, and Moose Jaw recently found itself at the centre of the conversation. During a special event marking Saskatchewan Mining Week, K+S Potash Canada unveiled a bold expansion roadmap for its flagship Bethune mine, promising to significantly scale up production to meet surging global demand for fertiliser.
Speaking at a business breakfast hosted at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites, and organised in partnership with the Moose Jaw & District Chamber of Commerce, Darren Hrynkiw, General Manager of the Bethune operation, delivered a keynote titled “Ramp-Up: Expanding Capacity for Growth.” His message: the time to invest in Saskatchewan’s potash potential is now.
Located just 50 km north of Moose Jaw, the Bethune mine already produces around 2.3 million tonnes of potash annually. But under the new expansion plan, that figure is projected to rise to 4 million tonnes per year, an increase of nearly 75%.
Hrynkiw outlined a multi-decade growth strategy focused on long-term infrastructure investment, technical upgrades, and a comprehensive workforce development program, all aimed at keeping Saskatchewan a global leader in potash production.
“Our vision is to responsibly scale output to meet global food security needs, while investing locally to ensure sustainable benefits for Saskatchewan communities,” said Hrynkiw.
Key to the success of the Ramp-Up initiative is talent development. With the Saskatchewan Mining Association estimating 15,000 new jobs will be needed across the sector in the next 10 years, collaboration with educational institutions is critical.
Hrynkiw pointed to partnerships with Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Moose Jaw campus as an example of how industry and education can align. Training programs in trades, environmental science, and engineering will be essential to equipping the next generation of miners and technical specialists.
The expansion also brings direct and indirect opportunities for the Moose Jaw region, including for local contractors, suppliers, and logistics firms. As K+S accelerates production, the demand for transportation services, equipment maintenance, and material procurement will rise sharply.
This is part of a broader trend across the province. According to government figures, Saskatchewan’s mining industry already supports 30,000 jobs and attracts billions in private investment. In 2024 alone, potash production reached a record 15.1 million tonnes of potassium oxide and that number could climb higher as projects like Bethune ramp up.
The significance of potash, a key nutrient in agricultural fertilisers, continues to grow amid global food supply concerns and climate-related production challenges. With Saskatchewan sitting atop some of the world’s richest potash reserves, strategic expansions like the Bethune project position the province as a key player in global food security.
Since opening in 2017, the Bethune facility has steadily grown its output. Now, with this renewed focus on long-term growth, K+S is poised to cement its role in both the provincial economy and the global fertilizer market.