P otash PRODUCER THE
E-NEWSLETTER | A POTASHWORKS COMPANION
APRIL
2021
VOL. 1, ISSUE 1
Nutrien deploys innovative technology to help keep workers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic Critical research and development set to enhance mine safety and productivity
The sale nobody wanted
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IN THIS ISSUE Message from the editor, Shayna Wiwierski – 6 Message from the premier of Saskatchewan, Scott Moe – 8 Canada includes potash on list of 31 critical minerals – 9 Jansen Project update and BHP’s COVID-19 response – 10 From where I sit... The sale nobody wanted – 12 Nutrien deploys innovative technology to help keep workers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic – 14
P otash PRODUCER THE
The artistry of moving dirt, building a brine pond: Kelly Panteluk Construction Ltd. – 16 SRC continues to provide world-class potash services – 18 Critical research and development set to enhance mine safety and productivity – 19 Supervisory provisions and the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board – 20 Heritage rights and Indigenous involvement – 22
DEL Communications Inc. www.delcommunications.com President & CEO DAVID LANGSTAFF Managing Editor SHAYNA WIWIERSKI shayna@delcommunications.com Director of Online Marketing & Sales MIC PATERSON mic@delcommunications.com Advertising Manager DAYNA OULION Production services provided by S.G. Bennett Marketing Services Creative Director/Layout & Design KATHLEEN CABLE © 2021 DEL Communications Inc.
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All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproducedby any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in and the reliability of the source, the publisher in no way guarantees nor warrants the information and is not responsible for errors, omissions or statements made by advertisers. Opinions and recommendationsmade by contributors or advertisers are not necessarily those of the publisher, its directors, officers or employees.
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MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR Shayna Wiwierski
W
elcome to Volume 1, Issue 1 of The Potash Producer e-newsletter.
When we first came out with our flagship publication, PotashWorks, in 2012, little did we know how much of a hit this magazine would be in the industry. Just like how the industry has evolved in these past nine years, we have felt the evolution as well. Of course we are still publishing PotashWorks magazine, but thanks to so much positive feedback and interest, we are excited to present to you The Potash Producer e-newsletter, which will be released three times a year in April, July, and October and is delivered straight to your inbox. For our first issue we have curated a number of interesting stories from potash giants, research institutions, academic centres, suppliers, and more. On page 19 we take a look
at Sask Polytech’s DICE Technical Access Centre, which is coming out with technology that is similar to GPS that will enable companies to operate more efficiently by improving mine safety and more. On page 10, BHP talks about their new PCR screening system at their mine site, which have helped to identify individuals who may have been asymptomatic with COVID-19. Since their testing commenced, there has been no workplace transmitting of the virus on the Jansen site.
who have contributed a story for Volume 1,
I hope you enjoy this first issue of The Potash Producer e-newsletter and we hope you will help us spread the message about this exciting new initiative. Also, if you haven’t signed up already, we invite you to share this with your colleagues and friends and to sign up for our newsletter at www.potashworks. com/potash-producer/.
• Natural Resources Canada
Finally, we wish to thank all the companies
Visit us online at potashworks.com. l
Issue 1 of The Potash Producer. Special thanks goes out to the following contributors: • Province of Saskatchewan • Nutrien • BHP • Steve Halabura Potash Consulting Ltd. • Saskatchewan Polytechnic • Canada North Environmental Services • Kelly Panteluk Consultants Ltd. (KPCL) • Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) • McKercher and Associates
We invite all interested companies to share their news and editorial ideas with us. If you would like to contribute a story for future issues of The Potash Producer e-newsletter, please contact Shayna Wiwierski at shayna@delcommunications.com.
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MESSAGE FROM THE PREMIER OF SASKATCHEWAN
Scott Moe
ing of the K+S mine at Bethune in 2017 – the first greenfield potash mine to begin production in Saskatchewan in more than 40 years.
O
n behalf of the Government of Saskatchewan, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to this edition of The Potash Producer.
Saskatchewan is fortunate to be the largest producer and exporter of potash in the world, accounting for close to 30 per cent of global production. The industry is a major presence in our province, directly employing more than 5,000 people and contributing to our communities in countless ways. We are grateful the potash industry in Saskatchewan has grown tremendously in recent years. Since 2007, more than $13.5 billion has been invested in mine expansions, while another $8.1 billion has been committed to new mine development. This includes the open-
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Despite the challenges arising from the global COVID-19 pandemic, the industry has demonstrated its resilience and ability to adapt. I have seen firsthand how our businesses and communities have been impacted by the pandemic, and we are thankful our potash producers took early action to protect workers, avoid production disruptions and keep the industry strong and competitive. Global potash demand exceeded expectations in 2020, with Saskatchewan sales reaching 14.1 million K 2O tonnes, an increase of nearly 14 per cent from 2019. World potash shipments reached record levels this past year and we expect this trend to continue in 2021. As we come out of the pandemic, we look to the potash industry to play a vital role in our province’s economic recovery. Our government is focused on supporting the industry, which is why we recently amended potash tax regulations to improve access to existing tax credits for qualified research and development projects and market development programs. We will work to ensure the industry benefits from a competitive investment and business environment in the province. Today, 95 per cent of our potash production is shipped to international markets, with the United States as our number-one buyer. Our government’s Growth Plan has set a goal of boosting the annual value of potash exports to $9 billion by 2030. To support this objective, this year we will be opening new international trade and investment offices in India, Japan, and Singapore. We want to strengthen our trading relations in Asia, the fastest-growing region in the world. The world’s population is forecast to grow to 10 billion by 2050, with much of the increase taking place in Asia. Saskatchewan potash will be in high demand for decades to come. For nearly 60 years, the potash industry has been an important part of the fabric of Saskatchewan. In the years ahead, the industry will drive growth in our province. Our government will work in partnership with the industry to create economic opportunity and support healthy communities right across our great province. On behalf of the Government of Saskatchewan, I want to thank the potash producers of Saskatchewan for helping build a stronger Saskatchewan.
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8
Scott Moe, Premier
CANADA INCLUDES POTASH ON LIST OF
31 CRITICAL MINERALS
collaboration is also essential to advancing the critical mineral file and seizing opportunities. That is why the federal government has engaged provinces and territories through the FPT Task Team to help refine
A
and support Canada’s list of critical minermid increased global demand, the Government of Canada recently announced a list of 31 minerals considered critical for the sustainable economic success of Canada
dentials, potash companies in Saskatch-
als.
ewan are investing in renewable energy
Canada has the potential to be a secure and
and its allies, including potash. As a miner-
have shown a commitment to Indigenous
al that is critical to global food security, the
communities and business groups through
inclusion of potash demonstrates the gov-
agreements for training and employment,
ernment’s commitment to protecting this
procurement, economic development, and
essential supply chain, as demand for this
social investment. In a world that increas-
critical mineral grows worldwide.
ingly demands sustainably produced prod-
The critical minerals on this list are essential to lowering emissions, strengthening our energy security, and increasing our competitiveness. As well, the list gives a
sources – such as wind and solar – and process innovations to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, potash companies
ucts, the potash industry is doing its part to ensure Canada’s mining sector is a global leader in environmental practices and corporate social responsibility.
responsible supplier of critical minerals to many global partners, and to develop value chains that create new economic opportunities in the country. Through work with international allies, such as the United States and the Canada-US Joint Action Plan on Critical Minerals Collaboration, the government is advancing mutual interests in securing supply chains for critical minerals needed for important manufacturing sectors, including communication technology, aerospace and defense, and clean technology. Industry will be an important partner
strong signal to investors where Canada
Not only does the inclusion of potash on
in efforts to build these value chains – from
will focus and lead.
the critical minerals list provide greater
exploration to mining, mineral processing
certainty and predictability to industry,
to downstream manufacturing.
This puts Canada in a strong position to leverage its existing advantages to advance the competitiveness of the potash industry, grow the economy, and create good jobs
investors, provinces and territories, and international partners, it signals its importance to the Canadian economy.
Canada is a global mining power and the critical minerals list is a sign that it is acting now to secure its leadership position. As
for Canadians. Nowhere is this more clear
The critical minerals list aligns with the
global and regional economies focus on the
than in Saskatchewan, where the potash
Canadian Minerals and Metals Plan, a
economic recovery post COVID-19, there
industry plays a crucial role in supporting
pan-Canadian effort developed by feder-
is a generational opportunity to supply the
workers, their families, and the commu-
al, provincial, and territorial governments
world with sustainable commodities, prod-
nities they live in. In addition to being the
to improve competitiveness in all aspects
ucts, services and innovations, and to se-
largest producer and exporter of potash in
of the minerals and metals industry and
cure key supply chains.
the world, the industry employed approx-
to position Canada to thrive when econo-
imately 5,000 workers and contributed
mies look to grow following the global pan-
over $5.5 billion to Canada’s GDP in 2019.
demic. Other work includes developing a
Moreover, potash demand is forecasted to
Pan-Canadian Geoscience Strategy, which
increase from 63.3 megatons (Mt) in 2019
includes a focus on critical minerals and
to 72.5 Mt in 2024, and 103.2 Mt in 2045.
developing made-in-Canada supply chains
Building on Canada’s world-renowned environmental, social, and governance cre-
for critical minerals and clean technologies. Federal, provincial, and territorial (FPT)
And we couldn’t do it without you. Canada’s minerals and metals industry is more than just mines – it is workers, communities, and Indigenous peoples employed in a range of activities, including engagement, technological innovation, environmental permitting and monitoring, and the sustainable development of our resources. l
9
JANSEN PROJECT UPDATE AND BHP’S COVID-19 RESPONSE In line with BHP’s core value commitment to health and safety, the team at the Jansen Project site has done everything possible to ensure the people who live and work there continue to stay safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
T
he BHP Jansen Potash Project has seen many changes over the past year, mainly due to new controls being implemented on site to keep our people and communities safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, in response to the provincial and federal governments’ emergency measures, activity was reduced on site to focus on one shaft at a time with reduced crews. This reduced the number of contractors and the need for out-of-province workers on site. Once the response to COVID-19 stabilized and COVID-19 controls were developed and implemented, activity was ramped back up to full crews operating in both shafts. The temporary slow-down of work on the shafts did not materially affect the timeline of the final liner scope, which consists of lining the two shafts with a final waterproof liner from the bottom (-1,000 metres) up. In line with BHP’s core value commitment to health and safety, the team at the Jansen Project site has done everything possible to ensure the people who live and work there continue to stay safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. This past December, we implemented Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) screening on site, which helped us to identify those individuals who may have been asymptomatic. More than 7,600 screening tests have been performed, proactively identifying 11 COVID-19 positive workers. The screening has enabled us to relocate individuals from the site to a safe location for isolation while they recover from
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or wait until symptoms pass. In late March 2021, we also implemented rapid testing on site, an additional measure to ensure we are stopping anyone who may be contagious with the COVID-19 virus from entering the site. All workers now take a PCR and rapid test as soon as they enter the site at the start of their rotation. If the workers do not work in close proximity to others and their rapid test result is negative, they are free to go about their day. If the worker works in close proximity with others, they are required to wait in an isolation room for approximately two to three hours until their PCR results are returned negative. Testing has enabled us to ensure that close-proximity workers (ex. shaft workers) are not infected with COVID-19 before going to work. Since our testing commenced, there has been no workplace transmitting of COVID-19 on the Jansen site. In addition to PCR and rapid testing, temperature checks, mandatory masks in public areas, reduced bus capacity, Bluetooth contact tracing cards – which are critical in on-site close contact tracing if a COVID-19 positive test does occur – and increased deep cleaning, including using a Clorox360 machine, contribute to our thorough safeguards against the virus. Off-site, BHP has been proud to offer support to the Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities which surround the site. In March 2020, we implemented an accelerated payment program, which delivered approximately $3 million more quickly into the hands of our small business partners through a reduction of payment terms and
an immediate payment of outstanding invoices for Indigenous and local community business partners. BHP was also proud to donate over $100,000 to various food banks throughout the province of Saskatchewan in support of COVID-19 relief efforts. The BHP corporate affairs team was also able to support the supply of hygiene products and safety supplies to local community stakeholders, including hand sanitizer and traffic cones for managing access to communities under stricter lockdowns. Vice-president, operations for BHP Potash, Giles Hellyer said, “The health, safety, and wellbeing of our personnel and the communities around the Jansen Potash Project are our primary concern and we have been implementing measures to reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19 in our office, on site, and in nearby communities.” In spite of COVID-19-related changes, the Jansen Project has been progressing, prepping the site for a potential construction period, and focusing on the final liner scope. The Jansen Project is expected to be brought to the BHP Board of Directors sometime in the middle of the 2021 calendar year for a sanction decision. We want to thank everyone on site for continuing to ensure that our site is a safe and healthy place to work, including the Jansen Health Centre team and the Lanigan and District Ambulance Association (LADAA), who have gone above and beyond over the last year. l
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FROM WHERE I SIT... THE SALE NOBODY WANTED By Steve Halabura, P.Geo., Halabura Potash Consulting Ltd.
D
uring the early summer of 2020, the Government of Saskatchewan quietly announced that the moratorium on issuing new potash permits within its potash Crown reserve was removed, and that applications for new subsurface mineral permits would again be accepted. The moratorium on new dispositions was invoked after a potash lands rush from 2005 to 2008 resulted in almost all available potash lands taken as permits. In the 1990s, global potash supply shrunk as most of the former East German production was shut down. Mine floods in the Urals further constrained supply, and with increasing potash prices during the early 2000s, the stage was set for potash becoming the next big thing. And did it ever. The old rules allowed for a prospector to apply for a 100,000-acre permit costing about $55,000, and given that this was about enough to support a conventional mine, there was no better deal out there. This was the match that lit the speculative fire, and in no time at all, the Mineral Tenure desk in Regina became a very popular place for both bonafide potash companies and speculators alike. The great potash rush led to numerous greenfield mine projects, the most famous being BHP Billiton’s Jansen Project and K+S’s Bethune mine; however, it also made speculators a lot of money, as cheap Crown permits were flipped to latecomers at huge markups. Multimillionaires were made; however, the party ended in 2013 when the breakdown of the Russian cartel caused prices to collapse, and with this, so too the Crown permit aftermarket. The government took note of the speculation and determined it was not in the
12
public’s best interest to have this happen again, so the regulations were changed to eliminate the speculative nature of potash land acquisition. The new regulations follow a system like oil and gas dispositions, whereby rights are sold to the highest bidder by means of a public auction.
Scenario 1 – A global miner: Perhaps a major mining company was looking to establish a significant potash resource by obtaining a big chunk of real estate in the middle of the world’s largest and richest potash basin. At $240 million this would be a bargain.
The first sale of subsurface mineral rights occurred in December 2018; however, the caveat was that the rights could only be granted for lands outside of the Crown Reserve. Sale S007 would be different, since it was to be the first sale that allowed for posting within the Crown Reserve. The listing of permit blocks available for bid was released mid-September 2020 with the sale date set for December 14, 2020.
Scenario 2 – A brine hunter: Perhaps a lithium producer wanted a lithium resource, and since lithium is covered by the same subsurface mineral regulations as potash, they go for a big chunk of real estate.
Sale S007 was huge – it consisted of 22 blocks encompassing 443,954 hectares. The minimum bonus was $3,000 per block with an aggregate work commitment of CDN$238,289,000. So, for some $238 million, one could lock up rights to several billion tonnes of potash. When the sale results came out, I was shocked – every block went “no bid”, meaning that no bids were received. Why the lack of interest by anyone in the fertilizer or mining world to gain rights to an enormous potash resource? From a technical perspective, the blocks spanned the basin, and while some are in good areas, others were not, so definitely a buyer would have to do their homework to see which were worthwhile. Like going to a garage sale, buying everything for one price, then sorting out the good from the junk later. Who might have posted the blocks and why? Here are some scenarios:
Scenario 3 – An innovator: Perhaps one of the “new wave” of junior companies looking to advance smaller footprint selective solution mining posted a swath of gem and decoy blocks. Scenario 4 – A speculator: Maybe there is a way to make a pile of money flipping “new regulation” permits? Scenario 5 – Someone already here: Perhaps one of the established producers; or Scenario 6 – Testing the waters: Perhaps the posting entity was the government itself, looking to gauge interest in permits, or to plant the seed for a big new development or two. From where I sit, only scenarios one and six are plausible. If it was a new entrant into the Saskatchewan potash play, for whatever reason, it was scared off by something between the date of posting and date of sale. As for the government doing the posting, let’s say you hold an expansive tract of real estate, things are lagging, and you want to generate some revenue. What better way than to generate some interest than by putting it out into the marketplace and see if there are any prospects?
What does this tell me? First, the new regulations work in terms of eliminating potash permit speculation.
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Second, holders of “legacy” leases must have enough ground, so no need to expand the land portfolio. Third, the “new wave” miners and the lithium hunters are looking for precisely placed and targeted land acquisitions – they have no need for township-sized tracts of land.
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21-12-2
21-11-2
20-12-2
20-11-2
19-12-2
19-11-2
19A-12-2
18-17-2
18-16-2
18-15-2
18-14-2
17-18-2
17-17-2
17-16-2
17-15-2
17-14-2
17-13-2
16-17-2
16-16-2
16-15-2
16-14-2
16-13-2
5
18-12-2
18-13-2
18-18-2
17-24-2
17-23-2
17-22-2
17-21-2
17-20-2
17-19-2
16-26-2
16-25-2
16-24-2
16-23-2
16-22-2
16-21-2
16-20-2
16-19-2
22-07-2
22-08-2
21-10-2
21-09-2
21-08-2
21-07-2
21-06-2
20-10-2
20-09-2
20-08-2
20-07-2
20-06-2
19-10-2
19-09-2
19A-11-2 19A-10-2 18-11-2
4
18-10-2
19A-09-2 18-09-2
17-12-2
17-11-2
17-10-2
17-09-2
15-04-3
14-05-3
13-04-3
12-05-3
Potash Disposition 15-03-3
15-02-3
Mineral Ownership
14-04-3
13-05-3 12-04-3
22-05-2
21-05-2
19-08-2
19-07-2
2
19A-07-2
19A-08-2
19-06-2
19A-06-2 19A-05-2
18-07-2
18-08-2
16-12-2
16-11-2
16-10-2
16-09-2
15-12-2
15-11-2
15-10-2
17-08-2
17-07-2
18-06-2 18-05-2
17-06-2
17-05-2
16-06-2 16-08-2
16-07-2
16-05-2
Indian Reserve - not included in permit block
TLE Land Claim - not included in permit15-30-2 block
15-05-3
23-05-2
22-06-2
22-09-2
22-10-2
6 16-18-2
24-05-2
23-06-2
23-07-2
1
MOOSE JAW 16-30-2
25-05-2
24-06-2
19-05-2
19-15-2
18-19-2
17-25-2
25-06-2
24-07-2
MELVILLE
REGINA 17-04-3
26-05-2
20-05-2
19-13-2 19-03-3
27-05-2
26-06-2
26-08-2
26-10-2
23-13-2
23-14-2
22-18-2
20-19-2
27-10-2
27-11-2
20-05-3 19-04-3
28-05-2
27-06-2
27-07-2
24-13-2
24-14-2
22-19-2
21-20-2
13
20-27-2
22-20-2
28-06-2
28-07-2
25-13-2
24-17-2
23-18-2
27-09-2
26-11-2
22-29-2
22-04-3
28-08-2
29-05-2
29-06-2
29-07-2
29-08-2
28-09-2
26-13-2
26-14-2
26-15-2
10
23-27-2
28-10-2
28-11-2
27A-13A-2 27A-13-2 26-12-2
12 24-22-2
29-09-2
29-10-2
29-11-2
27-12-2
27-13-2
27A-14-2
27A-15-2
27A-16-2 26-05-3
27-14-2
27-15-2
27-17-2
27-18-2
27-19-2
29-13-2 28-13-2
28-17-2
28-18-2
28-19-2
28-20-2
28-21-2
28-14-2
28-15-2
28-16-2 28-28-2
29-14-2
29-15-2
29-16-2
29-18-2
29-19-2
29-20-2
29-21-2
28-29-2
15-01-3
15-29-2
15-28-2
15-27-2
15-26-2
15-25-2
15-24-2
15-23-2
15-22-2
15-21-2
15-20-2
15-19-2
15-18-2
15-17-2
15-16-2
15-15-2
15-13-2
15-14-2
14-03-3
100% Crown
14-02-3
14-01-3
14-30-2
14-29-2
14-28-2
14-27-2
14-26-2
14-25-2
14-24-2
14-23-2
14-22-2
13-28-2
13-27-2
13-26-2
13-25-2
13-24-2
13-23-2
13-22-2
14-21-2
14-20-2
14-19-2
3
15-07-2
15-06-2 15-05-2
15-09-2
0% Crown 0.1% to 99.9% Crown
15-08-2
14-18-2
14-17-2
14-16-2
14-15-2
13-18-2
13-17-2
13-16-2
13-15-2
14-14-2
14-13-2
14-12-2
14-11-2
13-13-2
13-12-2
13-11-2
12-13-2
12-12-2
12-11-2
14-09-2
14-08-2
13-10-2
13-09-2
13-08-2
12-10-2
12-09-2
12-08-2
14-10-2
14-07-2
14-06-2 14-05-2
Unknown Ownership - Not Available
13-03-3
13-02-3
12-03-3
12-02-3
‘Nuff said… l
13-01-3
12-01-3
13-30-2
13-29-2
12-30-2 12-29-2
12-28-2
12-27-2
12-26-2
12-25-2
0 5 10
12-24-2
20
12-23-2
30
12-22-2
13-21-2
13-20-2
12-21-2
12-20-2
13-19-2
12-19-2
40 Kilometers
Coordinate System: NAD 1983 CSRS UTM Zone 13N
12-18-2
12-17-2
12-16-2
12-15-2
/
13-14-2
12-14-2
13-07-2
13-06-2 13-05-2
12-07-2
12-06-2 12-05-2
Date: September 15, 2020 Lands and Mineral Tenure, Ministry of Energy and Resources Prepared by: ML
Disclaimer: Although the Ministry of Energy and Resources has exercised all reasonable care in the compilation, interpretation, and production of this item, it is not possible to ensure total accuracy, and all persons who rely on the information contained herein do so at their own risk. The Ministry of Energy and Resources and the Government of Saskatchewan do not accept liability for any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies that may be included in or derived from this item. NOT FOR REPRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTION WITHOUT WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE MINISTRY.
MAP COURTESY OF SASKATCHEWAN MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND RESOURCES – S007 SUBSURFACE MINERAL BLOCKS SHOWN IN GREEN, EXISTING SUBSURFACE MINERAL LEASES IN BLUE.
HALABURA
Potash Consulting Ltd. Stephen P. Halabura M.Sc. P.Geo. FEC (Hon.) FGC • Regional evaporite basin analysis • Early-stage exploration program design and management • Mineral Resource assessment (NI43-101 and JORC standards) • Class 5 Concept and PEA study management • Solution mining design and planning • Economic modelling
I can help you advance your potash project!
1.306.220.7715
steveh@conceptforge.ca 13
NUTRIEN DEPLOYS INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY TO HELP KEEP WORKERS SAFE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC Nutrien’s Vanscoy mine, home to the pilot site for the potash network.
Proximity monitoring and contact tracing technology is one way Nutrien is keeping employees safe.
A
t the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nutrien was deemed an essential service in its core markets for its role in the agriculture and mining industries. To help track and mitigate the spread of the virus at its sites, Nutrien implemented a proximity monitoring and contact tracing technology, Proximity Trace™ from Triax Technologies. To date, more than 8,000 Nutrien employees across the globe are using the technology, with an additional 6,500 expected to be part of the expansion in the coming months. The lightweight but robust Proximity Trace tags attach to workers’ clothing and produce an audio and visual alert to those who come within six feet of one another. These wearable sensors also automatically log data for leaders to quickly perform contact tracing if a positive case of COVID-19 arises, thereby preventing further spread at the site and reassuring those who are not at risk. Originally deployed at Nutrien’s nitrogen and phosphate sites in the United States, Proximity Trace is now being rolled out at the organization’s corporate offices in Alberta, Colorado, Illinois, and Saskatchewan,
14
and Nutrien’s Vanscoy mine, located near Saskatoon, Sask., was selected as the pilot site for the potash network. The team at Vanscoy saw the Triax system as a solution to protect the health and safety of employees and contractors. In mid-February of this year, the technology was implemented at the site and the tags became part of workers’ mandatory personal protective equipment (PPE), just like safety glasses and hard hats. Before introducing the technology, the team engaged local occupational health and safety committees and communicated with employees frequently and often, educating them about the devices and their benefits. General manager John Sundquist says that employees have been receptive and understand that the tool is part of Nutrien’s COVID-19 protocols to help protect its workers. If there is a contact-tracing requirement, the site nurse can quickly run a report that tells them who qualifies as a close contact. “Prior to this automated system, the con-
tact-tracing requirement included performing interviews to determine close contacts, a cumbersome process that left employees worried about being missed or forgotten,” says Sundquist. “The Triax system streamlines contact tracing and relies on technology rather than memory.” The tags are not used for location tracking – they do not track where employees are or what they are doing. They are used to communicate with other tags for proximity monitoring and contact tracing purposes. Ideally, the proactive element of proximity monitoring – a gentle beeping when employees’ tags come within six feet of one another – will render the contact tracing element largely unnecessary. “Our main concern is our employees’ safety,” says Sundquist. “Social distancing, mask wearing, hand washing, and staying home if you aren’t feeling well are key pillars in our approach to caring for one another. The Triax system complements these efforts with proximity monitoring to help employees remain a safe distance apart and providing a robust solution to contact tracing.” l
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THE ARTISTRY OF MOVING DIRT – BUILDING A BRINE POND
KELLY PANTELUK CONSTRUCTION LTD. Most potash mines in Saskatchewan are located within the glaciated fields of Saskatchewan and as a result, the mines have access to an abundance of till and other soil materials for constructing the civil structures required to operate potash mines.
W
hen passing by a highway project or a large civil project and observing the excavation and placement of some dirt, it appears like it is a relatively easy thing to do – dig here, dump there. However, in her infinite wisdom, Mother Nature did not make all dirt equal and as it turns out there is a vast amount of science and a good dose of experience and knowhow to get the desired characteristics and performance that the design engineer and contractor want from Mother Nature’s product. Unfortunately, for many project owners and design engineers of those projects they are typically relegated to using the soils found within the confines of the project to keep project costs in line. While this could be a bad thing given the highly undesirable nature of some soils for construction purposes, Saskatchewan project owners located in the mid- and southern half of the province have access to some of the best soils in the world for constructing earthworks. This building material is commonly referred to as
16
till and was formed through the movement and deposition of soils by glaciation. In its very basic form, till is a mixture of gravel, sands, silts, and clays in proportions that make it an ideal, stable building material for roads, dams, dykes, and relatively impervious containment cells. Most potash mines in Saskatchewan are located within the glaciated fields of Saskatchewan and as a result, the mines have access to an abundance of till and other soil materials for constructing the civil structures required to operate potash mines. Most of these civil earthworks can be found at the back of the plant or downstream of the processing operations and are necessary for containing fine and coarse tailings – a byproduct of processing the potash. Owing to the high salinity of the tailings, containing and controlling runoff and seepage from the tailings is one of the more important functions of these earthworks’ structures. Given the relatively important function
of the brine and tailings ponds, a lot of engineering science and construction know-how goes into the building of these structures to achieve the desired operating outcomes. The till materials found on most potash mine sites is the ideal material for achieving these outcomes. However, as related in the opening paragraph, Mother Nature did not necessarily place the till in an ideal state for constructing a brine pond or other structures for that matter, and that is where construction experience and good old knowhow comes into the equation. While design engineers will specify the construction materials they want used in the construction of a brine pond, it is up to the contractor to ensure that these materials are found and incorporated into the earthworks. It takes a well-trained eye to pick out silt seams and pockets within a unit of till to ensure that these are directed to a waste site and not incorporated into a fill area. Similarly, that well-trained eye needs to identify tills that contain too high a percentage of gravel, silt and\or clay
Like a conductor conducting an orchestra, the earthworks supervisor overseeing the fill operations must be highly organized and on top of their A game. which could cause havoc with fill placement operations or fill that is too wet or dry to get the density (compaction) specified by the engineer. In the former case, the material needs to be dried in the borrow area before being hauled for placement, and in the latter case, additional water has to be incorporated into material in the fill prior to being compacted.
must be sized correctly to match the con-
Like a conductor conducting an orchestra, the earthworks supervisor overseeing the fill operations must be highly organized and on top of their A game. It might seem like an easy task, dig the dirt up here and place it over there, but there are many variables at play to make fill placement operations work seamlessly. First the fleet of equipment constructing the brine pond
correctly to the earth-loading equipment
struction schedule. How much earth fill must be moved daily to ensure the construction schedule and the owners timelines are met, keeping in mind that some time will be lost in the schedule due to weather-related events; 5,000 cubic metres, 10,000 cubic metres/day? Next, the earth-hauling equipment must be matched based on the daily targeted fill volume and haul distance so as one truck is leaving filled, the next truck is just arriving. After the fill is hauled to the specified fill area and dumped, sufficient dozer power must be in place to spread the fill to the lift thicknesses specified by the engineer and subsequently packed with the correct type
and weight of packers. And if the fill is too dry, it must be sprayed with a water truck and the water incorporated into the material by a grader working the material from one side of the fill and back before being compacted. All this bearing in mind that this is an operation in series and if the series is broken, productivity comes to a halt. Good planning, good maintenance, and good people are the hallmarks of ensuring a continuous, productive operation. So next time you observe a contractor digging dirt here and placing it there, you know there is a little more to it. To be a successful and competent contractor in the earthworks business takes a great amount of knowledge, organization, and care to do it productively and safely. l
KELLY PANTELUK CONSTRUCTION LTD.
Building Today for Tomorrow Highways | Interchanges | Roads | Mining | Tailings | Rail | Site Grading | Water Control Structures
www.kpcldirtmovers.com 306.634.2166 17
SRC CONTINUES TO PROVIDE WORLD-CLASS POTASH SERVICES By the Saskatchewan Research Council
P
otash is an important mineral to Saskatchewan and the world. With Canada as the largest potash producer in the world, innovative technology and solutions are in high demand to meet new challenges that the potash industry faces. The Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC), Canada’s second-largest research and technology organization, has nearly 75 years of experience in providing real-world solutions for the mining industry. SRC’s world-renowned experience and research allow for continual innovation and improvement to potash exploration and mining companies, helping to ensure their success. SRC provides the full suite of services such as analytical testing, mineral processing, digital solutions, tailings management, and environmental services. We support potash mines in Canada and across the world, including in Australia, Africa, the Middle East, South America, and Europe. Our capabilities and expertise assist potash companies throughout the mining life cycle: from exploration, through design to plant operations, and finally decommissioning and mine closures.
MINERAL PROCESSING TESTING Mineral processing has emerged as a critical service needed in potash mining for all types of sources, from evaporitics, solution mines, or underground mines. SRC has the facilities, expertise, and experience to perform metallurgical testing for all types of ores, solutions, and processes. We provide custom tests from lab scale to pilot scale to support every stage of the potash mine development.
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GEOANALYTICAL SERVICES Since 1972, SRC’s Geoanalytical Laboratories have been providing quality analysis in potash, uranium, gold, base metal, and rare earth element analysis, as well as kimberlite indicator processing and macro/micro diamond processing and recovery services to the exploration and mining industries. SRC Geoanalytical Laboratories has a dedicated potash preparation and analysis laboratory that offers ISO/IEC 17025 accredited methods. The laboratory has also developed potash analytical standards that are used by the exploration industry around the world. SRC has done test work on ores from Russia, numerous places across North America, Africa, and South America, including Argentina, Chile, and Brazil.
ADVANCED MICROANALYSIS CENTRE™ SRC’s Advanced Microanalysis Centre™, along with SRC’s Geoanalytical Laboratories, supplies all of the necessary analytical tools for mineral exploration for everything from sample preparation right through to trace-element analysis – all in one convenient location. With an expansion completed in 2012 and a QEMSCAN® service added to the portfolio in 2013, the centre became a one-stop shop for clients both in the province and across the country. The AMC can provide critical mineralogy information in the form of automated mineralogy studies, such as mineral identification, size, and distribution to aid in prioritizing exploration targets and providing essential information for designing mineral processing most effectively. Services that the AMC
provides can be applied to potash resources for predicting mineral liberation characteristics and for identifying and quantifying the abundance of deleterious clay minerals to improve potash flotation and enhance recovery.
PIPE FLOW TECHNOLOGY CENTRE™ SRC’s Pipe Flow Technology CentreTM has historically performed work for the potash industry to better understand slurry transport of a variety of potash streams, as well as studying paste-backfill disposal of industrial tailings. In addition to extensive experience with slurry transport and tailings management, the centre also provides test work in the areas of pipeline wear, instrumentation, and pilot process trials.
DIGITAL MINING SOLUTIONS SRC’s development engineering group has provided digital solutions for some of potash mining’s toughest challenges. From autonomous vehicles, to sensor deployments on mining bore machines, and innovative data transmission systems, this group has developed – from concept to prototype – some advanced solutions for potash mines.
TROUBLESHOOTING ON OPERATIONS With its world-class scientists and engineers, SRC has the expertise and skills to solve problems for operations. Often operations experience equipment reliability problems that affect not only processing efficiencies, but also cause downtime and maintenance problems. SRC can go into an operation and help identify the root causes of problems and provide novel solutions to solve them. For a complete list of service offerings, visit www.src.sk.ca. l
CRITICAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SET TO ENHANCE MINE SAFETY AND PRODUCTIVITY Sask Polytech Digital Integration Centre of Excellence delivers underground beacon positioning system working prototype
program and the NSERC Applied Research and Development program. Through this program, NSERC aims to increase innovation by enabling Canadian polytechnics and colleges to increase their capacity to work with private sector companies. It supports applied research and collaborations that facilitate commercialization, as well as technology transfer, adaptation and adoption of new technologies. IMII, BHP and Nutrien have invested $314,000 in cash and in-kind resources to develop the technology. The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) has contributed $324,000 to the project through its Applied Research and Development program. The value of the final project is almost $638,000.
DICE team visiting an underground mine for a 3D positioning experiment. Photo was taken pre-COVID-19.
T
he International Minerals Innovation Institute (IMII), Nutrien, BHP, and Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Digital Integration Centre of Excellence (DICE) Technical Access Centre recognize that mine safety is top of mind for many Saskatchewan companies. While GPS-derived coordinates for surface assets is now commonly used by mining companies to improve safety and advance automation, tracking the positions of equipment in underground mines has remained elusive. A new underground wireless positioning system being developed by DICE to enhance mine safety is hoping to solve that problem. Thanks to support from IMII and mineral member companies BHP and Nutrien, Dr. Terry Peckham, the DICE director and research chair at Sask Polytech, is nearing completion on a prototype that uses a system similar to GPS technology to identify the positions of people and equipment in an underground mine, within 30 centimetres of their actual location. This technology will enable companies to operate more efficient-
ly by improving mine safety, process optimization, and automation. “Applied research projects continue to put Saskatchewan and Sask Polytech at the forefront of innovation in mine safety and optimization,” says Dr. Larry Rosia, Sask Polytech president and CEO. “Excellent progress has been made since this DICE project was launched two years ago. This technology will be a game-changer for safety in the mining industry.” According to Al Shpyth, IMII’s executive director, harnessing technology is central to making mining safer and more efficient, and this project is a building block to safely deploying digitally enabled equipment. “This project is an example of how we can align our digital innovation strategy with the needs of our members’ operations, engage and train tomorrow’s digital workforce, and strengthen the partnership we have with DICE – a win-win-win,” says Shpyth. This applied research project is supported through IMII’s Developing Innovations
“Despite the logistical challenges that COVID-19 has created for this project, the mining partners and Sask Polytech researchers have been able to continue their efforts to deliver a working prototype that meets our mining partners’ initial requirements,” says Dr. Peckham. “Our next steps are to work with our industry partners to continue to refine the technology and adapt it to various use cases.” With its focus on data-driven applied research, DICE works collaboratively with various industry partners, including mining companies, to help solve their data challenges, particularly those related to data integrity, data transmission, and data analysis and storage. By partnering with DICE, organizations have access to exceptional computational facilities, faculty expertise, and talented student researchers, along with research and development funding and a vast network of connections. The DICE team of specialists and technologists are all experienced in providing digital solutions focused on data across a spectrum of industries. To learn more visit saskpolytech.ca/dice. l
19
SUPERVISORY PROVISIONS AND THE SASKATCHEWAN LABOUR RELATIONS BOARD By Kit McGuinness, Partner, McKercher LLP (Saskatoon) and Stephanie M. Nemeth, Associate, McKercher LLP (Saskatoon)
A
recent decision from the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board could have far-reaching implications on collective bargaining units in Saskatchewan, particularly those where an irrevocable election is not in place.
In University of Saskatchewan v. Administrative and Supervisory Personnel Association (the “ASPA Supervisory Employees” PotashProducerWorks3.375x4.625.pdf 1 3/31/2021 10:08:48 AM decision), the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board (the “Board”)
recently revisited the interpretation of the supervisory exclusion provisions in The Saskatchewan Employment Act (SEA). Specifically, the Board considered the prohibition in subsection 6-11(3) against supervisory employees belonging to the same bargaining unit as employees they supervise.
BACKGROUND Provisions in the SEA with respect to supervisory employees came into force in 2014. Saskatoon Public Library Board v. Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local No. 2669 (Saskatoon Public Library) 2017 CanLII 6026 (SK LRB) was the original test case where the Board considered an employer’s application to have supervisory employees removed from an existing bargaining unit under the supervisory employee provisions in the SEA.
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The Board held that the SEA’s prohibition against supervisory employees being included in a bargaining unit with employees they supervise did not apply to bargaining units which existed prior to the legislative amendments becoming law. The Board noted that the prohibition is restricted to new applications made by a trade union for certification of a new bargaining unit, or in respect to applications made by a trade union to certify part of a current bargaining unit out of a larger bargaining unit. As a result, the Board dismissed the application of Saskatoon Public Library to remove those employees and this interpretation was utilized by employers and unions in Saskatchewan for several years. The University of Saskatchewan subsequently applied to the Board in ASPA Supervisory Employees and asked the Board to have another look at these supervisory employee provisions.
DECISION In the ASPA Supervisory Employees decision, the Board reversed its previous interpretation of the supervisory employee provisions from Saskatoon Public Library. Prior to the release of the Saskatoon Public Library decision, the University filed an application to amend the
ASPA bargaining unit for the purpose of removing those employees who supervise other members of the same bargaining unit contrary to subsection 6-11(3) of the SEA. The Board granted the University’s application and held that the Board’s interpretation of the supervisory provisions in Saskatoon Public Library was incorrect. In finding that supervisors cannot properly be included in a bargaining unit with employees they supervise, the Board concluded that the grammatical and ordinary sense of the supervisory employee provisions of the SEA illustrate that supervisory employees should be excluded from all bargaining units and contemplate the removal of supervisory employees from existing bargaining units. The Board proceeded to examine the underlying purpose of the supervisory provisions and the intent of the legislature in enacting the provisions, including removing the conflict-of-interest created when a supervisory employee has to discipline a member of their same bargaining unit. Ultimately, the Board concluded that the debates that occurred surrounding the amendments to the SEA and which were recorded in Hansard made it “abundantly clear that the intention of the Legislature was that the supervisory employee provisions were to apply to existing bargaining units.” Therefore, the proper interpretation of the SEA’s supervisory employee provisions is an equal application to all bargaining units regardless of when the bargaining unit was created. Supervisory employees can no longer be in the same bargaining unit as employees they
supervise, unless the employer and union agreed to an irrevocable election that this could occur. Upon application to amend an existing certification order to remove supervisory employees from a bargaining unit that includes employees they supervise, the Board will now apply the supervisory provisions. This involves a determination of whether the employees are properly classified as “supervisory”.
FUTURE IMPLICATIONS OF ASPA SUPERVISORY EMPLOYEES DECISION This decision will have broad implications for unionized workplaces in Saskatchewan where there are supervisors in the same bargaining unit as the employees they supervise. It means that where an existing bargaining unit has employees who supervise other bargaining unit employees, the employer can apply to the Board to remove the supervisors from the bargaining unit. Once removed, the supervisors are no longer unionized, though they may decide to apply for certification of their own bargaining unit. This may result in an increase in the number of bargaining units in the province to some degree. It is also important to note that if the employer and the union agree to leave supervisors in a bargaining unit, the employer and the union can enter into an irrevocable election to permit the supervisors to remain in the bargaining unit. However, it should be noted that this decision is currently under judicial review. l
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Indigenous environmental technician carefully recording an artifact during excavation.
Indigenous field technician during a Heritage Resources Impact Assessment.
S
HERITAGE RIGHTS AND INDIGENOUS INVOLVEMENT
hould heritage be considered an Indigenous right? This is an important question, and its answer has implications on the way that business is conducted around the world. Because potash mining in Saskatchewan is world class, the way in which heritage is handled should be carefully considered. With the emergence of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), there is increasing global awareness of Indigenous rights in relation to heritage. Specifically, Article 11, No. 1 of UNDRIP discusses “the right to maintain, protect and develop the past, present and future manifestations of their [Indigenous] cultures, such as archaeological and historical sites, artefacts, designs, ceremonies, technologies and visual and performing arts and literature”. If heritage is considered an Indigenous right, the next logical assumption would be that there should be Indigenous involvement and engagement in regards to the protection and management of their own heritage resources. A problem, however, arises when global awareness and provincial legislation/ regulation do not coincide. Unlike other countries, such as the United States where heritage falls under the jurisdiction of the federal government, there is no overarching federal legislation that looks after heritage resources in Canada. Our heritage resourc-
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es fall within the jurisdiction of provinces and territories. This lack of centralized heritage legislation creates a patchwork of rules and requirements throughout Canada, and while some predominant themes can be seen in legislation/regulation, the legislative/regulatory requirements for Indigenous involvement and engagement in heritage in each province and territory are quite different. Some provinces and territories, notably the Government of Northwest Territories, Yukon, Nunavut, and portions of Newfoundland and Labrador (i.e., Nunatsiavuk) have strong requirements for Indigenous involvement regarding protecting and managing their own heritage resources; however, at present there are no such requirements for Indigenous involvement found in The Heritage Property Act (1980), the governing legislation concerning heritage resources in Saskatchewan. While Indigenous involvement and engagement regarding heritage resources is not yet a requirement in Saskatchewan, it is evident through news outlets and social media (both globally and locally) that engaging with and involving Indigenous communities may not only be the right thing to do, but also makes good business sense. It is easy to see instances in the news where Indigenous communities have clashed with industry over their heritage (e.g., Red Pheasant vs. RM Winslow; Wet’suwet’en vs. LNG Canada; Puutu Kunti
and Pinikura vs. mining; Standing Rock vs. DAP). These clashes result in costly project delays and lowered public and investor confidence. Clashes such as these can be effectively avoided by involving and engaging Indigenous people with the management and protection of their own heritage resources. On the other hand, some projects in Saskatchewan have reached above the minimal requirements and have worked towards involving and engaging Indigenous people. Below are some recent examples from the heritage division at Canada North Environmental Services, a 100 per cent Indigenous-owned firm based out of Saskatchewan. A heritage resources impact assessment (HRIA) was completed for major pipeline construction and remediation projects in Saskatchewan and Manitoba where numerous archaeological sites were identified along and adjacent to the proposed pipeline routes. Indigenous crew members aided in archaeological mitigation/excavation, as well as construction monitoring. During construction, Indigenous monitors helped the archaeologist identify heritage resources, such as hearth features and artefacts in areas of high archaeological potential. These efforts resulted in the identification and collection of hundreds of artefacts, including a large amount of bone, fragmented bison skulls, and stone tools/artefacts.
Some of the finds are likely 2,000 years old. The sheer number of sites and types of artefacts discovered during the heritage monitoring was remarkable, and the dig would not have been as successful without the help of Indigenous assistants/monitors. In fact, many of the newly discovered archaeological sites were the result of artefacts identified by Indigenous community monitors in areas where sites were not expected. Community members also helped by advising the archaeologists on culturally appropriate protocol for handling some of the artefacts. Another project located near Cowan Lake, Saskatchewan involved two archaeologists working closely with an Indigenous monitor. Stone artefacts were discovered during the archaeological survey by the archaeologists and Indigenous monitor. In general, artefacts are usually collected and taken back to laboratories where they can be analyzed and recorded in detail. In this case, at the request of local Indigenous elders, archaeologists were able to conduct their
necessary artefact analyses in the field and then respectfully rebury the artefacts with tobacco, following the cultural protocol suggested by the elders. These respectful and culturally appropriate actions would not have occurred without the guidance of the on-site Indigenous monitor.
Changes to federal heritage legislation are
Archaeological projects can also be community led. An Indigenous community in northern Saskatchewan took the initiative to conduct its own archaeological research project ahead of potential development with the intention of locating and protecting a special site. This project was a collaboration between elders and community who drew upon traditional Indigenous knowledge and between archaeologists who drew upon scientific archaeological methods. The community led the project while the archeologist provided support by offering specialized and scientific expertise. Projects like this can provide a framework for future studies, and furthermore, they can help protect special and significant sites from inadvertent disturbance.
to take all of the measures necessary to
currently being addressed. Bill C-15, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act was introduced by the Canadian Government on December 3, 2020. When passed by parliament, the federal government will be required ensure that legislation is consistent with the declaration. While engagement and involvement with Indigenous communities regarding heritage projects may not be a requirement in Saskatchewan at this time, it is likely that the above Canadian act (when passed), and public/Indigenous opinion of this matter, will induce a change in legislation or regulation that will require Indigenous involvement with heritage in Saskatchewan. Heritage should be considered an Indigenous right, and Indigenous involvement in their own heritage benefits all involved and should be a consideration when planning projects. l
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