PotashWorks 2023

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TABLE OF contents

Message from the editor, Shayna Wiwierski – 10

Message from the Premier of Saskatchewan, Scott Moe – 12

Message from the Minister of Trade and Export Development, Jeremy Harrison – 14 Get to know Chris Reynolds, EVP and President of Potash at Nutrien – 16

Building a gender-balanced workforce at Jansen – 20 Robust and dependable solutions for Saskatchewan’s mining industry – 22

Looking back at 2022: A year in the potash industry – 24 IMII supports its potash members in the pursuit of EDI – 34

Thanks largely to potash, SIMSA providing 100x ROI for its members – 36

Change is a coming: 2023-2030 Federal Carbon Pricing Guideline and the Saskatchewan Output-Based Performance Standards Program – 42

Western Potash Corp. speeds up its Phase 1 project construction – 46

Helping industry produce premium potash to support the global agricultural community – 48

PotashWORKS

is published by DEL Communications Inc. www.delcommunications.com

Career ambassadors in a tightening mining labour market – 52

Leading at the forefront: Helping clients achieve their ESG goals – 54

Potash cooling comes full circle – 56

Net zero potash mining: Stantec – 60

Improving uptime when processing potash – 62

Allis-Chalmers’ legacy in potash roll compaction continues today – 66

Maintaining excellence through efficiency in the potash industry – 68

Canpotex invests in its world-class supply chain by acquiring 1,300 railcars from National Steel Car – 72

Mine Supply Company stays on top of supply chain challenges – 74

Mining expertise that runs deep – 76

Heritage management is a process – 78

Attraction and retention strategies for 2023 – 80

Power transformer experts for the mining industry – JA Tech Inc. – 82

Belt scraper innovation – 84

Comairco: 50 years of expertise, innovation, and service – 86

Supervisor – Sales & Marketing

MIC PATERSON mic@delcommunications.com

Production services provided by S.G. Bennett Marketing Services

Creative Director / Layout & Design

Sandvik secures order of underground battery electric vehicles for BHP Jansen Potash Project in Canada – 90

KPCL –Provisioning for our customers’ needs – 92 An engineered approach to solving dust containment problems at conveyor transfers – 94

Trust the experts – 96 The advantage of potassium acetate in de-icing operations – 98

Threeosix Industrial goes beyond expectations – 100

A committed partner to the potash industry – 102

PDAC 2023 Awards recognize five outstanding industry leaders – 104

Exceeding expectations: STRATO Inc. – 106

We are under attack! – 108

For your manufacturing needs – 110

Do you have old obsolete speed reducers? Sumitomo can help! – 112

Venables Machine Works is all about adapting to changes over time – 114

Mining the right fit – 116

Excellence in customer service – 118 Index to advertisers – 120

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President & CEO

DAVID LANGSTAFF

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SHAYNA WIWIERSKI shayna@delcommunications.com

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KATHLEEN CABLE

Contributing Writers ANDREW J. DUSEVIC

JIM FINNIGAN

TYLER K. GRAY

STEVE HALABURA ANDREA HANSEN, IGOR MAKARENKO

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MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR SHAYNA WIWIERSKI

It feels like just months ago where I was penning my last editor’s message for PotashWorks magazine… and in some cases, it was.

We are ending another successful year with our popular The Potash Producer e-newsletter, our online sister companion to the annual PotashWorks magazine. We started this newsletter last year after we saw a demand for more potash news on a more frequent basis. Of course, we have our potashworks.com website, which also promotes potash news across the globe, but our audience wanted a more journalistic approach to news, and hence, The Potash Producer was born.

The online newsletter is emailed directly to those working in and for the potash industry, much like the readership of this magazine. Although our sister companion is quite popular, we would never turn our back on the publication that started it all, the one you’re holding in your hands right now.

In this issue of PotashWorks magazine, we sit down with Nutrien’s new EVP and president of potash, Chris Reynolds, who initially originated from Australia and has been with the company for 20 years. He is making the move from Chicago to Saskatchewan for this new position.

On page 46, we hear from Western Potash Corp., who recently restarted Phase 1 of the Milestone Potash Project this past June. The project has been progressing rapidly since November 2022 and construction of the process plant is also progressing to plan.

Those are just a taste of what’s in store for you in this issue of PotashWorks magazine. If you want to keep up to date on more potash news, we invite you to check out potashworks.com and while you’re there, make sure to subscribe to The Potash Producer e-newsletter, which comes out three times a year.

We hope you enjoy this issue and 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 PotashWorks magazine or The Potash Producer e-newsletter, please contact myself at shayna@delcommunications.com.

Shayna Wiwierski

shayna@delcommunications.com s

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES

A conveyor that isn’t operating properly may result in costly repairs, productivity loss, and unnecessary safety risks for workers.

MISTRACKING, SLIPPAGE, AND CARRYBACK ARE THE THREE MOST COMMON ISSUES IN POTASH OPERATIONS.

Mistracking refers to a conveyor belt that pulls to one side and runs off its intended track. It’s a significant issue that can lead to additional problems — including belt damage, material spillage, and even damage to the conveyor’s overall structure.

Slippage occurs when there is inconsistent tension in the conveyor belt. Without a proper balance of tension, a belt can slip off the pulleys and cause serious problems, including belt or motor failure.

Carryback refers to material that doesn’t discharge from the bed, or gets caught in the bed, and is carried back on the return. If not controlled or eliminated, it can cause serious damage to belts and other critical conveyor components.

Take proactive steps to reduce the impacts of high repair costs, productivity loss, and safety risks for your people. Have your underground conveyor systems inspected by the experts at West River.

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MESSAGE FROM THE PREMIER OF SASKATCHEWAN SCOTT MOE

On behalf of the Government of Saskatchewan, I am pleased to provide an update on our provincial potash sector.

Saskatchewan’s potash industry contributes to the livelihoods of thousands of families, accounting for approximately 11 per cent of provincial GDP and directly employs roughly 5,400 people.

Saskatchewan potash hit all-time record highs in 2021, with production reaching 14.2 million tonnes K 2 O and the value of sales hitting $7.6 billion. Potash demand has remained very strong in 2022 with sales to date already well above the 2030 Saskatchewan Growth Plan target of $9B in annual potash sales. This is thanks to Saskatchewan potash being sold to over 40 countries around the world, including Canada.

Now more than ever, we are fortunate in Saskatchewan to have the food, fuel, and fertilizer the world needs. As the tragic events in Ukraine force the world to turn away from Russian and Belarusian potash, Saskatchewan’s industry is stepping up. Nutrien Ltd., The Mosaic Company, and K+S Potash Canada have all committed to significant production increases to help ensure Saskatchewan is a solution to the ongoing global food security challenges. They are providing high-quality, environmentally responsible, and sustainable products through a safe and reliable supply chain.

In fact, these companies are among the most innovative and competitive in the world. They exemplify the pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit that defines the best qualities of Saskatchewan’s people and businesses.

Our government is committed to creating a business environment that fosters and grows investment to create sustainable jobs and growth in our communities. Over the last 15 years, the potash industry has committed approximately $30B of investment toward new mines and expansions. Potash companies operating in Saskatchewan can count on the support of the Government of Saskatchewan every step of the way.

As the largest potash producer in the world and the sole producer in Canada, it is vital to reinforce Saskatchewan’s reputation with the global resource industry as a preferred place to do business. Even as the global economy continues to push through a challenging environment that has brought major changes to growth and activity worldwide, one fact has not changed, Saskatchewan will remain a destination where resource companies can find some of the world’s best prospects for development.

Premier Scott Moe

MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER OF TRADE AND EXPORT DEVELOPMENT JEREMY HARRISON

On behalf of the Government of Saskatchewan, I am pleased to have this opportunity in PotashWorks magazine to tell you about how important potash continues to be for Saskatchewan’s success.

Saskatchewan has the world’s largest potash industry, accounting for approximately 30 per cent of global production. It was Saskatchewan’s top export in 2021, with sales reaching a record $7.6 billion. The potash industry provides good jobs to 5,000 people in our province.

Over the last 15 years, the potash industry has committed approximately $30 billion of investment for new mines and expansions.

In response to the growing demand and escalating concern around global food security, Saskatchewan's potash sector has ramped up production.

Saskatchewan is positioning itself to fill the market gaps left as a result of the sanctions placed on Russia and Belarus.

Global interest in Saskatchewan is at an all-time high as countries look to us as an ethical and reliable producer for their resource needs. We are proud of our world-class potash sector for stepping up to meet growing global demand for decades to come.

The Mosaic Company, K+S Potash Canada, and Nutrien Ltd. have all announced planned potash production increases at their Saskatchewan facilities in response to global supply uncertainty, while BHP is looking to accelerate the timeframe for the construction of its $12 billion Jansen project. Several other companies also have new potash mine projects at varying stages of development.

Given our substantial potash reserves, the sector will continue to drive investment, create new jobs, and bring opportunity to the people of Saskatchewan.

Saskatchewan has worked diligently in the past several years to create one of the most competitive business environments in North America with competitive taxes and incentives and a responsive government.

We have opened eight international trade and investment offices in London, Dubai, Mexico City, Ho Chi Minh City, Japan, India, Singapore, and China. These offices are allowing us to develop established potash markets while also creating new opportunities for potash exporters in other countries.

As global investors focus on sustainable investments, our potash industry is delivering. Saskatchewan producers are taking steps to minimize environmental impacts and reduce water usage. Our potash is produced using 50 per cent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than potash produced in countries we compete against.

Saskatchewan has been in the potash business for 60 years. I am confident this key sector will continue to succeed for many more years to come, creating jobs, investment, and exciting opportunities for workers, businesses, and communities right across our great province.

In closing, I’d like to thank everyone in the potash industry for all their hard work and contributions to the growth of Saskatchewan’s economy. s

GET TO KNOW Chris Reynolds, EVP AND PRESIDENT OF POTASH AT NUTRIEN

Chris Reynolds is experiencing a full-circle moment in his new role as Nutrien’s executive vicepresident & president of potash.

“My paternal grandfather was a mill superintendent at an underground mine in Australia, and my maternal grandfather

was a farmer, so to be leading the potash business unit brings together the mining and agricultural sides of my family,” says Reynolds. “Growing up, my family and I spent a lot of time on the farm during school vacations, so I think that’s where I developed my love of agriculture.”

Pursuing his passion, Reynolds achieved a degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of New England in Armidale, a small country town located in Northern New South Wales, Australia. Straight out of school he began working in the fertilizer industry, landing a position at Agrow Australia in Sydney. At the time, Agrow Australia was a representative for a number of global fertilizer producers, including one of Nutrien’s legacy companies, and Canpotex, one of the world’s largest distributors of potash.

“It was really that connection that gave me the opportunity to move from Sydney to Chicago in 2003 and join Nutrien,” Reynolds explains. “At the time, it was going to be a two-year secondment, and the plan was to return to Australia, but here we are almost 20 years later.”

“Safety is incredibly important at Nutrien. It’s a mantra I’ll be keeping up and supporting unequivocally. Our second focus is our ability to safely ramp up production to meet demand. The world is turning to sources of potash that are more reliable and sustainable, and that’s obviously Saskatchewan, so we play a big part in that.”

From sales to potash

Reynolds got his start at Nutrien in international sales and also gained experience in industrial and agricultural sales over the years. In 2012, he was named vicepresident of fertilizer sales and continued that role post-merger in 2018. Later that same year, he became the senior vice-president of sales, and most recently served as interim co-chair of the potash business unit.

“While my previous roles have been focused largely on sales and marketing, I’ve also had the opportunity to sit on the leadership teams for both NPK business units, which has given me more appreciation for the production side of the business,” says Reynolds. “I’m embracing this as a learning opportunity to better get to know the potash sites, understand their challenges and how I can support them.”

In terms of priorities for the potash business unit, Reynolds maintains safety as number one.

“Safety is incredibly important at Nutrien. It’s a mantra I’ll be keeping up and supporting unequivocally,” he says. “Our second focus is our ability to safely ramp up production to meet

demand. The world is turning to sources of potash that are more reliable and sustainable, and that’s obviously Saskatchewan, so we play a big part in that.”

Always open to opportunities

When making the move from Australia to the United States back in 2003, it was because of a piece of advice that Reynolds received early on in his career: always be open to opportunities.

“When my wife and I moved to the U.S., it was for a job at a new company in a new country where we didn’t have any family or friends, but when opportunities like that come up, you just have to embrace them,” he says. “No opportunity comes without risks, so you’ve got to have a positive and open mindset. I’m so appreciative of receiving that advice because if we hadn’t taken the opportunity to move to the U.S., things would obviously look a lot different than they do today.”

Reynolds is looking forward to embracing another new adventure as his family prepares to relocate from Chicago to Saskatchewan, Canada for his new position where he’ll be leaning into the learning and leadership opportunities the role presents. s

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Rotex offers potash producers the total solution for their dry separation requirements, including screeners for raw ore preparation, standard, coarse and granular product sizing, glazing and post treatment, and reclaim/load-out. With over 1,000 installations worldwide, Rotex has the experience and proven record to understand your specific requirements. When it comes to potash, talk to the experts!

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Building a gender-balanced workforce at Jansen

Across its operations BHP has set an ambition to be gender balanced by 2025. PHOTO COURTESY OF BHP.

The mining industry often has the reputation of being male dominated. But that is changing – especially if BHP has anything to do about it. As a global resource company, BHP’s experience around the world shows a diverse and inclusive workforce which promotes safety, productivity, and wellbeing, and helps attract and retain employees. Across its operations BHP has set an ambition to be gender balanced by 2025. And, the company’s Jansen Potash Project is no exception, where it has an ambition to be gender-balanced from day one of operations.

“We know that diverse teams lead to better performance and promote better culture. This is why we are striving to ensure our Jansen operations workforce is gender balanced and is reflective of our communities,” said Simon Thomas, president, potash for BHP. “To achieve this, we actively work on mitigating bias in our hiring and recruitment processes, embedding flexible work, providing training, focusing on respectful behaviours and making BHP attractive to everyone.”

Construction on the $7.5 billion Jansen Stage 1 is a well underway, with first production expected to be achieved in late 2026. The first stage of the project is planned to deliver 4.35 million tonnes of potash per annum. Envisioned as a four-stage project, should the potash market support future expansion, Jansen has the potential to produce between 16 to 17 million tonnes of annual production. The company has already announced that it is accelerating studies to explore Stage 2 development.

“As the world’s population grows, so does the need for essential resources like potash to help secure sustainable global food production. And Saskatchewan has a big part to play in meeting this demand,” continued Thomas. “It’s hard to get your head around a century of production, but should all four stages go ahead, that is the scale of the opportunity. Locally this would mean hundreds of meaningful jobs for generations.”

To help reach workforce goals, the BHP Trade

Readiness program was created to provide apprenticeship programs focused specifically on women. BHP has partnered with Carlton Trail College and Women Building Futures to provide these programs. Carlton Trail College successfully held their first women-only cohort in Humboldt in 2022, and the first cohort with Women Building Futures began in January 2023.

“We had to ask ourselves, where are the gaps and how do we address them? One of those gaps is the number of women currently working in skilled trades and enrolled in apprenticeship programs. Our partnerships with Women Building Futures and Carlton Trail College are a fantastic way to address this locally,” shared Daniel Longman, specialist local procurement and apprenticeships with BHP.

Women Building Futures has a strong track record of providing training for women in industries that they have traditionally been underrepresented. The BHP Trade Readiness program launched in January will provide participants with the experience and training they need to enter a career in the mining industry, including safety certificates and hands-on skills in a variety of trades.

“Supporting women’s economic security has an incredible ripple effect for the community. When you uplift the potential of a woman, you uplift the potential of her children as well,” said Carol Moen, president & CEO of Women Building Futures. However, BHP knows that providing women with the skills and training they need is only the first step.

“We have looked across our business and operations to make adjustments targeted at inclusiveness. This has included creating an optional women’s dorm at camp to redesigning personal protective equipment and other work wear to offer more size and shape choices for women,” said Thomas. “It is imperative to us that women feel BHP, and the Jansen operations in particular, is a place they are welcomed, safe, and valuable members of the team.” s

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Robust and dependable solutions for Saskatchewan’s mining industry

With nearly 20 years in business, Precision Electro-Mechanical has grown from a small modest shop to a 40,000-square-foot facility tailored to servicing electric motors for Saskatchewan’s mining industry. Established in 2003, Precision remains a family-run business focused on the customer and their needs. From start to finish, they handle it all in house, which ensures that the customer is looked after and is getting the quality repair they expect. As an ISO 9001:2015 certified company, customers can be rest assured that their equipment goes through a rigorous process of assessment, repair, and quality checks that will leave them with surpassed expectations.

Small town service in a big city

The Precision team prides itself on finding quality, practical solutions that will make the customers’ life easier.

“We see quite the variety of work come through our door, but the one common theme is that a customer has an issue, and they need it resolved. Most importantly, they need it done well,” says Jonas Taillon, general manager of Precision Electro-Mechanical. “Our main focus is not only to get them the repair they need, but to address the root causes of the failure to make sure we can avoid costly downtime in the future. Partnership and trust in this relationship is key – if we know what the customer wants, and they trust in our expertise, we can get them exactly what they need.”

Investing in green, clean, and valuable tech

From the start, Precision has made a point of tailoring their equipment to suit the needs of the mining industry.

WEG miner head motor set up for a loaded test on PEM’s regenerative dynamometer.

Two Precision Electro-Mechanical employees performing a QC check on an outgoing motor.

“From our German-built Schenck balance stands, to our Schleich electrical testing system, to our custom-built regenerative dynamometer, the focus has always been on delivering the best-quality repair to our customer,” says Marc Taillon, CEO of Precision Electro-Mechanical. “How can we do better? What kind of data do they want to see? Can we do it in a green way? These are some of the main questions that led us to the place we are today.”

Precision’s regenerative dynamometer, a one-of-akind unit in Canada, is a key example of Precision’s commitment to delivering superior workmanship, and getting it done in an environmentally friendly manner. The dynamometer boasts 1750 available horsepower, all the while being up to 90 per cent efficient. Marc explains that the Precision team will bring the motor to its operating temperature, often running it for eight to 10 hours, and verify key performance data so that when the customer gets their motor back, reliability is not a concern. They also do it all using only 10 per cent of the power it requires in service. It’s just part of how they are environmentally responsible in their day-to-day operations without compromising their quality standards.

Unparalleled electric motor supply

Precision Electro-Mechanical has partnered with V.J. Pamensky Canada (WEG Canada) and has become Saskatchewan’s largest distributor of WEG motors and drives. WEG is well known for their ability to custom-engineer solutions to accommodate the harsh working environment the mining sector imposes. From head motors on mining machines, to conveyor drive motors underground, to wet milling applications, WEG handles it all with ease. With readily available stock on motors and drives, WEG has quickly become a reliable source when the supply chain has been under pressure. Most recently, WEG has supplied over 50 VFDs to Saskatchewan’s mining industry, all of which were delivered within three weeks of being ordered.

With reliable, quality repairs and tailor-made custom solutions, combined with knowledgeable staff who are determined to do it right, Precision ElectroMechanical is your one-stop local electric motor facility. s

LOOKING BACK AT 2022

A YEAR IN THE POTASH INDUSTRY

BY

FROM WHERE I SIT

One year ago, I sat at my desk and considered the year 2021 from the potash perspective. Coming up with news items was a challenge

because 2021 was a year during which potash supply and demand remained relatively stable, leading to overall price stability. Nevertheless, the effects of the COVID pandemic on supply chains

and some mine supply challenges led to significant increases in the global and “farmgate fertilizer” price.

In wrapping up the article, I smugly opined that “We also cannot ignore the impact of Acts of God”. For me, “Acts of God” were floods and landslides that curtailed Saskatchewan potash shipments to the west coast, as well as further sanctions against Belarusian potash exports. I closed by stating “several of these changes to the potash landscape will, in my opinion, make 2022 as bullish to producers as potash’s last ‘wave’ during the years 2005 to 2010. Will 2022 see record prices? I think so.”

In some sense, I take some minor comfort in seeing my prediction come true; however, I take no joy

STEVE HALABURA P.GEO., HALABURA POTASH CONSULTING LTD.

in the nature of the “Act of God” that has driven potash to prices not seen in decades.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has created a storm of change across the world. This act, when coupled to other “Acts of God”, including climate change, hunger, and financial turmoil, is forming a future that I think few of us are capable of discerning.

2022, unlike 2021, has given us new buzzwords, like friend shoring, critical minerals, and “conflict” versus “ethical” potash. When was the last time anyone in the industry had to expand their vocabulary in such a dramatic fashion?

So… where to begin?

Simply put, war has put the

export of million tonnes of potash normally supplied by Russian and Belarusian mines in jeopardy.

By the way, when I use the word “tonnes”, I mean “tonnes K 2 O”, except where I quote what I believe to be a number in “KCl” tonnes. There seems to be a consensus that Saskatchewan’s annual production as some 14 million tonnes, compared to Russia’s production of 8.1 million tonnes and Belarus’s production of

market demand from “conflict” to “ethical” potash and this swing leads to a 50 per cent decrease in demand for conflict potash. This creates a new market for ethical potash of eight million tonnes. If it’s a 75 per cent swing, it’s 12 million tonnes, which is almost equal to what Saskatchewan will produce by the end of 2022, which I estimate to be 14.5 million tonnes.

I’ve also been around long enough

One aspect of the year that I cannot argue against is the extraordinary movement in potash pricing. I will continue my practice of following the public reporting of the free world’s largest owner of potash resource – the Province of Saskatchewan. As always, check it out yourself at this link: https://dashboard.saskatchewan.

ca/business-economy/businessindustry-trade/mineral-sales#bycommodity-tab.

Let’s compare the month of September 2021 to September 2022 first. In 2021, Saskatchewan mines produced 1,361,108 tonnes (K 2 O), while in September 2022, those same mines produced 1,049,958 tonnes, a decrease of

22.9 per cent. September 2021 sales were $814 million, but September 2022, sales were $1.616 billion, an increase of 98.5 per cent.

Now let’s compare year-to-date production. During the period of January to September 2021, Saskatchewan mines produced 10,681,878 tonnes (K 2 O), however during the same period in 2022 those same mines produced 11,003,946 tonnes, an increase of 3.0 per cent. Sales during this same period in 2021 were $4.965 billion, but $13.494 billion in 2022, an increase of 171.7 per cent.

We can use the above to estimate an average per-tonne realized price. In September 2021, this was $598 per tonne versus a September 2022 price of $1,539.

When we look at year-to-date numbers, the average per-tonne realized price for 2021 was $451, however in 2022, it was $1,226. Year-to-date numbers are a more accurate estimate of overall production sales, so using these shows that price increased some 2.7 times.

With one more quarter to go, it is conceivable that Saskatchewan will see production of up to 15 million tonnes of potash in 2022, with revenues from sales up to $15 billion.

Yes, an enormous resource windfall to the province and to Saskatchewan potash producers, but as I mentioned this summer, this is almost entirely due to price, not an increase in production. This begs several questions: will prices fall if more “friendly” production hits the market? And, are friendly producers operating at 100 per

cent capacity, thus requiring the need for new mines? Let’s investigate this.

In a government release dated June 22, 2022, Ken Seitz, CEO of Nutrien, was quoted as saying that “In addition to increasing potash production by more than 2.0 million tonnes since 2020, Nutrien will invest in the province of Saskatchewan to accelerate potash production capability to 18 million tonnes (KCl) by 2025,

and continue evaluating a pathway to 23 million tonnes (KCl)”. Since the same article suggested

Nutrien produced about 13 million tonnes (KCl) in 2020, its present production capacity is therefore 15 million tonnes (KCl). This means Nutrien has the capability to add three million more tonnes by 2025 and an additional five million tonnes at some future date.

Similarly, in May, Mosaic’s president and CEO, James

O’Rourke offered that reduced supply could extend beyond 2022, opening the door for producers outside Russia and Belarus to consider boosting output. Mosaic said in May that shortfalls in Russian and Belarusian potash is impossible to replace, adding that “Belarus remains sanctioned and our previous assumption of those tonnes coming back mid-year appears optimistic as most or all of their exports will be curtailed

The future of global food security

As the world’s demand for food increases, BHP is building one of the world’s largest potash mines.

The BHP Jansen Potash Project will not only be the single largest economic investment in Saskatchewan’s history, it will create hundreds of millions of dollars in local procurement and employment opportunities, whilst providing the potash essential to help increase global food production.

The future is clear. It’s happening now.

To discover how, visit bhp.com/betterfuture

is clear.

It’s happening now in Saskatchewan.

due to logistics”. In a May 2, 2022, press release, Mosaic announced it was capable of 10.8 million tonnes (KCl) MOP production from its mines, however it “has the potential to grow by an additional 1.5 million tonnes (KCl) by the second half of 2023”. Despite these earlier sentiments, it announced temporary closure of its Colonsay mine, citing lower than anticipated demand as the reason for shuttering production.

Soon to follow was K+S Potash Canada (KSPC) announcement of a long-term growth plan, consistent with the K+S Group’s global strategy, based upon achieving a sustained increase of potash production at its Bethune mine. The final production capacity is intended to grow continuously over the next couple of decades and is currently targeted toward four million tonnes per year, effectively doubling the current production output of the operation. If K+S is presently at two million tonnes, this means it can add another two

million tonnes by the end of the decade.

BHP Billiton Canada Inc. (BHP) had earlier announced its decision to proceed with its Jansen mine, located in the heart of the Saskatchewan potash basin, and that it had budgeted US$7.5 billion for its Stage 1 buildout with production forecast to begin in 2027 and ramp up to full production of 4.4 million tonnes (KCl) per year by 2029. In May 2022, BHP announced that it is advancing its Jansen Project to achieve Phase 1 production in late 2026, which is planned to reach 4.35 million tonnes (KCl) with CAPEX of $5.7 billion.

Considering the above statements by the Saskatchewan producers, the bottom line seems to be this: the Saskatchewan “Big Four” presently produce 16.7 million tonnes (K 2 O) and indicate that expansions will bring an additional 1.6 million tonnes (K 2 O) by some point in 2025 to 2026, with an additional eight million

tonnes (K 2 O) by 2030. Rounding off means some 10 million tonnes by the end of the decade.

In summary, the eight-milliontonne ethical potash gap may be filled by the end of the decade, without accounting for normal demand growth and what surely must be declining production capability from Russia and Belarus. Unfortunately, the war in Ukraine is today, and sanctions are today, so if you agree with this scenario, demand will continue for the rest of the decade.

Decreases in wheat and other foodstuffs from Ukraine and Russia are driving farmers across Asia to increase crop production, which will lead to an increased demand for fertilizer, including potash. Assuming a modest one per cent growth in demand, there may be an additional two million tonnes of potash required over the next five years.

To summarize, what does the ethical potash gap mean to emerging producers like the “small mine” sector or countries with a potash deposit seeking to restart their homegrown industry?

Those who follow my columns know I am a proponent of what I’ve begun calling “small modular potash”, or “SMP”. This is a production methodology that seeks to develop smaller footprint potash mines that produce up to 500,000 tonnes per year, but that can be expanded as required through the addition of more mining modules. Examples include Saskatchewan-based companies such as my own enterprise, Buffalo Potash, and others such as Gensource,

Western, Karnalyte, and Beechy. If any group can lay claim to the moniker “ethical”, it is the SMP’ers.

In Canada, Western Potash Corp.’s Milestone Project was able to refinance its operation and is at last report restarting its caverns and resuming construction. The others, including Buffalo, continued their work to raise capital to advance their businesses forward. While sales markets are robust, the global chill winds of inflation, financial turmoil, and recession make fundraising a complex and time-consuming task. Nevertheless, the ethical potash gap offers significant opportunity for this group, as most are at the stage where they can begin construction once capital is obtained.

The compelling SMP story has not gone away; in fact, it is strengthened as the global situation has increased the demand for additional green and ethical potash today, which is a gap the SMP sector is more than capable of filling.

I can see two scenarios unfolding over the next several years. The first is that the events of 2022 are world-changing to the potash business, and that over the next five to 10 years, the ethical potash gap is created as buyers shift from suppliers of conflict potash to greener, friendlier, and more ethical suppliers, which roots itself as a major market force.

The second scenario is that despite these events, potash buyers remain capitalists and rely upon price as the sole

determinant for making a purchase. Therefore, the current price spike is an anomalous event driven more by fear and uncertainty than market dynamics. Furthermore, high prices induce demand destruction in the market, and overall sales volumes fall, which may be already occurring. Overall, while there will be some moral shifting in terms of buying patterns, over time this will abate.

Which scenario will play out?

I believe that the CEO of each potash producer across the globe is looking at the above scenarios and trying to make a rational

choice amidst the fog of war and uncertainty. Would I bet that the events of 2022 have permanently restructured the long-established industry network of buyers and sellers, and so I should make a big spend on new expansions, or is this an aberration, a black swan event that I must disregard and thus stay the course? A bad bet either way could be catastrophic to a company, resulting in either idled new capacity or loss of a unique opportunity.

Anybody got a coin I can borrow and flip?

‘Nuff said … s

IMII supports its potash members in the pursuit of EDI

Nation, and Zagmie Anishinabek First Nation; and

• Diggin’ Digital – Roving Discovery Centre and Two-Day Boot Camp, with Saskatchewan Polytechnic.

Each of IMII’s potash members –BHP, Mosaic, and Nutrien, have made commitments in promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in their workforces in Saskatchewan and beyond. IMII has supported these commitments to building workforces representative of the communities in which its members operate through a series of Diversity & Inclusion Challenges. Since 2017, IMII has issued 11 such challenges and funded 11 projects worth more than $2.2 million.

“IMII’s members are supporting EDI for a variety of strong business reasons – enhancing organizational strengths, supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, being a positive force for change in communities, encouraging innovation and new ways of thinking, leaving a legacy of employment and careers for generations to come, and economic reconciliation with Indigenous peoples,” says Al

Shpyth, IMII’s executive director. “IMII is pleased they have selected IMII as a strategic partner.”

IMII announced four new projects in 2021 with a focus on Indigenous peoples and the minerals industry’s digital transformation as part of its Diversity & Challenge Program. Two were meant to design and develop in collaboration with Indigenous communities adjacent to mines/mills, training and support opportunities in basic information, communications and technology (ICT) skills in support of new digitalized projects and operations such as BHP’s Jansen project, Mosaic’s K3 operation and Nutrien’s Rocanville expansion. These were:

• Innovative Digital Training –Modern Indigenous Potash Mining Curriculum Development, led by Morris Interactive in collaboration with Cowessess First Nation, Ochapowace

Both projects concluded in the first half of 2022. The Digital Transformation in Potash Mining: Cowessess Edition training program was delivered on Cowessess First Nation starting in January. Twelve students – four female and eight males, selected out of 60 applicants from Treaty 4, 5 and 6 territories, embarked on their journey towards building a career in the potash industry. They undertook an eight-week classroom portion, as well as a two week on-site work placement with Mosaic at their K3 mine near Esterhazy. Nine students graduated, and as of the summer of 2022, five had found positions in mining. The support the program received within not only the participating First Nations but the nearby communities as well through a supply chain company, contributed to a significant commitment. On August 17, Mosaic held a reception where CEO and president, Joc O’Rourke and board chair, Greg Ebel announced a long-term investment of $1 million to further expand the Digital Transformation in Potash Mining training program to more Indigenous students for the next five years.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MOSAIC COMPANY.

While challenged by COVID restrictions, the Diggin’ Digital project saw more than 250 Indigenous middle and high school students participate from nine mining communities in boot camps covering business information systems, natural resource technologies (such as water treatment), computer automated systems, civil and mining engineering, geographic information science, and computer engineering technology. More than half reported enhanced digital skills, knowledge of STEM

programs and careers, and of the minerals industry.

The two other projects are Building Minerals Literacy with STEM – Teacher Training Program, which has Mining Matters partnering with the Saskatchewan Mining Association and others, and a complementary Diggin’ Digital professional development project – An Educator’s Online ICT and STEM Resource Hub, also by Saskatchewan Polytechnic. These two projects were to help equip on- and off-reserve teachers with the resources, materials,

and professional development opportunities to allow them to incorporate ICT and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics into lesson plans for Indigenous youth in culturally relevant and appropriate ways.

“While these projects focused on Indigenous peoples and the industry’s digital transformation, the potash sectors’ vision for EDI is broader and includes other under-represented groups,” notes Al Shpyth. “IMII is honoured to help bring our members’ vision to life.” s

Thanks largely to potash, SIMSA providing 100x ROI for its members

In 2021, on average, the Saskatchewan Industrial and Mining Suppliers Association (SIMSA) caused or greatly assisted $930,000 in annual sales for each of its 309 members. How is that possible from a $500 to $2,500 membership fee? The answer explains why SIMSA has continued its rapid growth. Keep reading…

In July 2022, SIMSA conducted its annual member survey. The survey revealed that SIMSA’s 309 members represented 32,100 employees attributable to Saskatchewan, generating $13.7 billion in annual sales attributable to Saskatchewan.

But what about the member

value? SIMSA provides member value through two key avenues; (1) procurement’s use of our database, and (2) in-person events that feature bringing buyers and sellers face-to-face.

SIMSA’s member database has had significant use by various mining and energy producers, as well as industrial companies. In 2021, there were 14,961 searches, and 2022 is heading towards a similar result. Most of these searches are potash related.

SIMSA events include those conducted as partnerships – the annual Saskatchewan Suppliers’ Energy Forum and the annual Saskatchewan Mining Supply Chain Forum – as well as those conducted independently for SIMSA members only – such as our Nutrien Roundtables and BHP events. All of these events

Nutrien SIMSA Roundtable Event on October 20, 2022.

see buyers and sellers share information, as well as meet faceto-face for several hours. Most of these events are potash focused.

As an example of a SIMSA Roundtable event, on October 20th SIMSA held an event with Nutrien. At this event, over 225 SIMSA members met with over 60 Nutrien staff for an entire day. As with all SIMSA Roundtable events, attendees from the producer company (Nutrien) are assigned seating individually at a banquet table of six persons for the day. Upon entry, SIMSA members can choose with whom they sit.

However, over half of the event time was spent in free-flow networking around the room, giving SIMSA members ample access

to key Nutrien persons, and an opportunity to connect with fellow members.

Nutrien executives, directors, and managers presented on capital and strategic plans, as well as Nutrien’s Indigenous Engagement strategy and its impact.

In preparation for the event, SIMSA surveyed its members to gather questions, which were answered during the various presentations.

The survey also built a snapshot “state of the union” document. At the event, to provide some context to what they heard from their engineering, construction, and fabrication membership –SIMSA shared the results and had a SIMSA board member from each of those categories provide some context.

To further build communications, Nutrien shared its presentation decks with attendees after the event.

SIMSA has a similar event scheduled with BHP and has held similar events in the past with Cameco, Federated Co-operative Ltd., K+S Potash, Mosaic, and others.

SIMSA has also signed MOU’s with GE Hitachi, X-energy, and the OCNI to see us spearhead supply chain development in SMR deployments. SIMSA also provides value by publishing a Saskatchewan Opportunities list. This list portrays $29.4 billion in projects for review.

What do these efforts cause?

Per their annual survey, SIMSA’s database use and various events have resulted in, or contributed significantly to, significant business leads and then sales for their members.

In 2021, SIMSA’s initiatives resulted in $410 million in leads for their members – that is an average of $1.3 million in sales leads per member company.

These leads, as well as those from the past, have then resulted in

sales. Leads from previous SIMSA initiatives have caused, or greatly assisted in, $290 million in sales by their 309 members in 2021. That is an average of $930,000 in sales per member company.

This average of $930,000 in sales for each member company, from a membership-fee ranging from $2,500 to as low as $500, arguably results in an ROI ranging from 372x to 2,600x. Given SIMSA cannot take complete credit for any of these sales, the ROI from

SIMSA’s portion is arguably 100x.

This 100x ROI was during a pandemic, which explains how SIMSA grew by over 50 per cent through COVID. And, 2022 and 2023 are looking to have a significantly higher ROI.

Most of this is due to potash. SIMSA will continue to search for new avenues to create value for its members and adapt existing ones to fit the future. s

COMBUSTION

Process Combustion Systems Inc. is an industrial combustion solutions and integration company. We strive to be an industry leader, by leveraging our industrial experience, combustion expertise and our partnerships with leading OEMs and technology providers. With a long history of successful projects and customer service, our solutions span a wide range of industries that include potash, mining and metals, energy, chemicals, manufacturing, steam generation among others. Our project installations can be found globally.

Change is a coming: 2023-2030 FEDERAL CARBON PRICING GUIDELINE AND THE SASKATCHEWAN OUTPUT-BASED PERFORMANCE STANDARDS PROGRAM

BY MCKERCHER LLP LAWYERS, ANDREW J. DUSEVIC AND TYLER K. GRAY

In February of 2022, and in response to the 2023-2030 carbon pricing benchmark released by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), the Government of Saskatchewan announced a new output-based performance standards (OBPS) program for industrial emissions under the Prairie Resilience strategy.

The new Saskatchewan OBPS includes significant potential changes for Industrial Process Emissions, driven by the increasing cost of carbon in the coming years. From 2023-2030, the minimum carbon pricing schedule sees an annual increase of $15 per tonne per year, resulting in an increase from $50 per tonne CO 2 e in 2023 to $170 per tonne in 2030.

Significant changes to compliance programs pending

The federal government requires that provincial OBPS programs maintain the minimum federal carbon pricing signal in order for the provincial program to replace the federal carbon pricing backstop. Carbon pricing signal refers to the concept that carbon pricing systems should incentivize lowering emissions, or

in this case, moving towards zero emissions. Naturally, this incentive decreases proportionally to the amount of carbon credits available and that are applicable to one’s emissions. In response to the pricing guideline, the Government of Saskatchewan has proposed significant changes to its OBPS compliance program.

One potential impact of this direction is that the use of emissions credits will become increasingly expensive over the next eight years and nominally financially beneficial relative to paying per tonne of emissions. Further, the provincial government has signalled that offset credits will no longer be able to be used to meet compliance obligations. There is also concern about whether previously earned Offset Credits will be honoured and useable under the new OBPS program. Meanwhile, the provincial government has advised that they will work with industry to find alternative markets on which these offset credits may be sold.

A second impact under the new OBPS is that performance credits will be awarded on a 1:1 basis relative to per tonne reductions

in emissions, with performance credits able to be sold between regulated emitters. This is a departure from the previous approach of awarding credits where emissions were reduced by 10, 15, or 20 per cent (depending on the sector) below permitted limits in a given year.

Finally, the Government of Saskatchewan will continue to incentive carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technology by permitting individual regulated emitters to leverage CCUS against emissions incurred at facilities they own or operate in Saskatchewan, and across compliance years as part of their overall compliance strategies. These CCUS credits may not be sold or purchased between regulated emitters, and the Government of Saskatchewan has provided little information on how they will be awarded and what limitation, if any, on their use.

Impacts on industry

The signalled changes in the new Saskatchewan OBPS have the potential to create further pricing pressure and risk to the Saskatchewan potash industry

Resourceful

McKercher LLP has a specialized team of lawyers and professional staff dedicated to providing advice to Saskatchewan’s natural & renewable resource sectors. Our Resources Advisory Team provides value-added business and legal services including specialized mining agreements, acquisitions & dispositions, financing, regulatory & environmental issues, First Nations & government relations, and litigation.

With offices in both major cities in the province, we are strategically positioned to take advantage of all that Saskatchewan has to offer. We are proud of all that we have accomplished and consistently work towards serving our clients with innovation and integrity. With roots tracing back to 1926, we know our province and the intricacies of thriving in the business landscape of the prairies.

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relative to its competitors in the global marketplace and may cause significant disruption and redirection of compliance programs and investment decisions made by industrial emitters.

The removal of offset credits from use as a compliance option will have an obvious effect on internal compliance programs, but also eliminates a potential avenue for innovation. For example, industry may no longer pursue offset projects that have benefits to the public at large in addition to, and beyond, the generation of an offset credit. The Government of Saskatchewan has promised to support industry in finding alternative markets for the sale of its offset credits. Still, it remains unclear whether this support will

be able to meaningfully address the loss of offset credits in internal operations.

The proposed restrictions on CCUS credits, namely the inability to leverage CCUS credits through a hub of projects between various partners and across a number of facilities, may, without alteration, force regulated emitters to take a much more siloed approach to emissions reduction as opposed to collaborative efforts to reduce emissions across industry. This approach may create disproportionate challenges to regulated emitters depending on where they find themselves in the industry’s supply chain and based on their corporate footprint in Saskatchewan.

With no draft legislation available to the public, the lingering

uncertainty surrounding the ability of industry stakeholders to collaborate to meet compliance obligations may ultimately validate the concern that the new OBPS program will further intensify market pressure and competitive risk. What is clear is that regulated emitters must renew their focus on reducing their carbon footprint; less they pay the (increasing) price.

The McKercher LLP Natural Resources Advisory Group is the foremost Saskatchewan advisory team, achieving the best business and legal outcomes for clients participating in Saskatchewan’s natural resource sectors. Contact partner Bruce Harrison for potash matters and partner Chris Masich for environmental matters. s

Western Potash Corp. speeds up its Phase 1 project construction

After two years’ suspension of the Milestone Phase 1 Project construction, Western Potash Corp. restarted the project in June this year, with almost all the original main contractors and service providers returning, following the completion of Western’s payment of all outstanding dues. As of November 2022, the project has been progressing rapidly. To satisfy requirements of the newly optimized mining plan, the original pump house has been modified, allowing for the restart of the existing caverns and to develop them to the desired size. A disposal well has also been drilled and completed and is now

in operation. This will accelerate developing our existing caverns, ensuring we reach production in the shortest possible time.

Construction of the process plant is also progressing to plan. Main process plant buildings will be enclosed in the coming weeks so that installation of instrumentation and equipment can take place inside a heated environment, protecting the workers from the harsh winter weather. Over the past five months, we’ve maintained an average of 60 construction people on site in addition to the Western Potash team. Most of the equipment has been placed in drying, compaction, and product storage.

The work is progressing well and should be complete before Christmas.

Hiring continues and all our key positions have been filled, with focus now on operators and maintenance personnel. With our location close to Regina, Western Potash provides attractive employment opportunities. Once Phase 1 is in full production, we will have more than 50 full-time employees.

We recently gathered the world’s leading experts on solution mining for a week-long workshop to perform another review of the cavern technology and the best path forward to ensure our

Western Potash Corp. process plant in construction.

success using horizontally drilled selective solution mining. Major specialized service providers such as directional drilling experts were present in the brainstorming session, to provide the mining experts with a clear understanding of how the mining plan can best be executed. This exercise was a huge success, providing confidence in the future of the project, and our team is now implementing the resulting recommendation.

Work planned for next period

We will complete installation of all equipment, erection of all structural steel, and installation of cladding by the end of December. Focus will then shift to completing installation of ductwork, electrical equipment, and instrumentation. Construction of the loadout facilities is expected to be complete by the end of Q1 2023, which will coincide with mechanical commissioning. From an operations perspective, our focus is on developing the existing caverns to full production size, followed by drilling, and developing an additional cavern.

By Q2 2023, Phase 1 is expected to be achieving initial production, which will crown our success in being the first potash mine in Saskatchewan and Canada to successfully utilize selective horizontal potash extraction.

Western Potash aims high

It will have taken Western Potash 15 years to become a potash producer by mid-2023. The success of the project has resulted from the strong support from investors and key stakeholders

at different stages, and from the innovative ideas of our world-class mining team. With the success of the project pending, management is aiming higher to achieve 300ktpa+ MOP production by the end of 2025. This was recently approved by the board of Western Resources Corp., which wholly owns Western Potash and the Milestone Project.

Phase 2 will represent an expansion, utilizing the unique mining technology developed in Phase 1. It will also reduce the overall CAPEX of the Milestone Project by sharing existing Phase 1 infrastructure, which will make the project more economical and will pave the way for further expansion of the project in the future. s

The Milestone Process Plant buildings will be enclosed this winter.

CUSTOM MACHINE AND MECHANICAL SERVICES LTD

Helping industry produce premium potash to support the global agricultural community

BY ERIN MATTHEWS

The demand for potash is at an all-time high. While potash has some valuable industrial uses, most of the world’s production goes towards supporting the agricultural industry. As demand for a variety of food crops increases, farmers and industry are looking for premium fertilizer to maximize their yields.

As a world leader in potash production, Saskatchewan’s industry is rising to the challenge to meet global needs for 2022 and beyond.

The Saskatchewan Research Council’s (SRC) Mining and Minerals team has supported the industry since its early days in the 1960s. From developing analytical methods for the exploration sector to supporting processing, digital innovation, and emissions reduction, SRC has the expertise to help Saskatchewan’s industry expand potash production worldwide to meet growing demand.

Saskatchewan potash production is in the form of

potassium chloride (KCL) and is referred to as muriate of potash (MOP). MOP is the most common potash found in the world and is used to fertilize a wide variety of crops. It provides key nutrients to plants and enriches the soil, helping to satisfy the demand for increased yields of cereal crops, fruits, and vegetables.

While MOP is the most abundant potash in the world, it does have some drawbacks. Its high chloride content can be beneficial for chloride-tolerant plants, but its use can pose a problem for soils that are already high in chloride.

Sulphate of potassium (SOP) is considered a premium fertilizer that can deliver key nutrients to crops.

“SOP is a premium product because it contains potassium and also sulphate,” says Dr. Jack Zhang, associate vice-president of strategic technologies in SRC’s Mining and Minerals Division.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SRC.

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Innovating potash production at home and abroad

“SRC has developed a very broad range of potashrelated technologies to produce either MOP, SOP, or even by-products like magnesium chloride and sulphate,” says Dr. Zhang. “We have a wide variety of expertise and knowledge to support potash producers worldwide.”

SRC is working closely with several Australian mining companies to produce SOP from the salt lakes found in the southwest corner of the continent. Unlike traditional potash deposits, these lakes contain a mixture of minerals that can be purified and converted into SOP through a series of chemical processes.

To produce SOP, the brine from the salt lakes is pumped into a series of solar ponds. Renewable energy sources like solar or wind are used in the evaporation process that precipitates certain salts from the brine. This mineral mixture goes through a series of purification stages that are followed by a final conversion stage.

“Once it reaches the desired purity and we add water,

we can convert the schoenite to SOP,” says Dr. Zhang. Schoenite is a saline evaporite consisting of a mixed potassium and magnesium sulfate. “The remaining solution is still useful and will recirculate in the pond and in the process to maximize SOP production.”

Strengthening Saskatchewan’s potash industry

With demand for MOP and SOP steadily increasing, Saskatchewan has a lot to offer. Along with conventional and solution mining operations, the province can produce SOP through chemical processes.

SRC has developed different techniques to convert MOP to SOP—processes that enhance natural deposits of potash, helping Saskatchewan maintain a competitive edge in the global market.

By working directly with potash producers in over a dozen countries, SRC is helping to develop premium products, enhance potash recovery, improve mining operations, and anticipate future industry needs.

Read the full story and more like it on SRC’s website at src.sk.ca/blog. s

Career ambassadors in a tightening mining labour market

THE MINING INDUSTRY HUMAN RESOURCES COUNCIL

Mining is an essential industry in our modern day lives and the key to a safer, greener, and more connected world. Canada’s mining sector produces over 60 minerals and metals that are not only crucial to our way of life today, but to the transition to a clean economy. Yet Canada’s mining sector is facing a tightening labour market, compounded by an aging workforce, negative youth perceptions of mining careers, and shrinking post-secondary mining programs. Labour market analysis by the Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) shows that the unemployment rate in mining is historically low, with unfilled positions in the sector nearing 10,000 vacancies. Additionally, undergraduate enrollment in mining engineering programs has experienced the largest decline of any post-secondary engineering discipline, with a decrease of 42 per cent from 2014 to 2020. Geological engineering enrollment also decreased by 36 per cent in the same time frame, along with other mining-related programs.

Canada depends on mining and mining depends on its workforce. Canada’s minerals and metals sector must increase its labour pool and talent pipeline to meet the continuously increasing demand for critical mineral and metals needed for a clean economy.

MiHR is taking action to increase interest in mining careers and transform perceptions of the industry through the National Youth Mining Career Awareness Strategy 2021-2026 and subsequent We Need Mining. Mining Needs You. career awareness campaign.

Aligned with the national strategy, MiHR launched the We Need Mining. Mining Needs You. Career

Aligned with the national strategy, MiHR launched the We Need Mining. Mining Needs You. Career Ambassador Program in partnership with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) in September 2022.

Ambassador Program in partnership with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) in September 2022. The program aims to raise awareness among diverse youth and key influencers about the career opportunities mining offers and the sector’s role in environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and technological innovation. It connects knowledgeable and enthusiastic career ambassadors to youth through in-person and virtual speaking engagements to increase awareness, improve perceptions, and encourage pursuit of careers in mining.

Career ambassadors volunteer to participate in the program and are selected based on their knowledge of the sector and their passion and dedication to its innovative and progressive future. They receive benefits such as an enhanced profile within MiHR and CIM publications, websites, and social media platforms – and formal recognition on an annual basis in the CIM magazine.

Initiatives like the Career Ambassador Program and industry’s involvement in them are crucial to solving the mining industry’s labour market challenges. Attracting, recruiting, and developing the next generation of workers is vital to mining’s sustainability and growth. It is imperative that we as an industry work to correct historical perceptions and inform youth of mining’s role in a clean economy and what it means to be part of this rewarding and important workforce.

Join MiHR and CIM in this important initiative to inspire Canada’s next generation of mining workers by signing up to be a career ambassador today at MiningNeedsYou.ca. s

Leading at the forefront: Helping clients achieve their ESG goals

There has been a lot of attention on environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) recently. In the simplest terms, ESG is a framework within which organizations are starting to assess and measure the impact of their existence, almost like corporate performance management. Most potash producers and global mining companies have released their ESG and sustainability plans and metrics. So how can March Consulting Associates Inc. (March) help you realize your ESG goals?

Environmental

During the past few years, climate change and the environmental footprint of a mining operation has received more attention that any other metric. Clean energy technologies like co-generation and nuclear, as well as green energy technologies like wind and solar are currently being considered as decarbonization options by most mining producers to reduce their environmental footprint. Specifically for potash production, given that power

and heat requirements of each potash operation are unique, one solution will not fit all of them.

March has the capability to assess the unique requirements of each mining and process operation and provide an assessment of relevant technologies. An example of a similar study can be found here: www.imii.ca/applications-of-cleanpower-generation-technologiesto-saskatchewan-mineralsindustry/.

Social

The recent pandemic has brought to the forefront the social impact of all corporations. Specifically, in the ESG context, the type of the support provided by mining companies to their own teams, consultants, contractors, and communities is being constantly reviewed.

March is a Saskatchewan-based employee and Indigenous-owned organization. March is pleased to work with local and global mining operations to ensure the tangible benefits for local and Indigenous communities are realized in all our projects. Depending on the

scope and geographical location of the project, we collaborate with other Indigenous groups to ensure local community engagement and procurement is realized in all our projects.

Governance

The diverse nature of cultures, perspectives, gender, and backgrounds of our team are our greatest strength. We firmly believe in good governance practices, which is reflected in our gender-balanced and diverse board and management structure. Our action-based approach to best practices in governance has served us well, and we are always pleased to share these strategies with our clients.

In summary, as organizations start to make ESG a priority, our team can assess the current state of your organization, map the ESG impact of your strategic plan, and can help to determine key priorities, goals, and metrics to monitor corporate performance. Contact us today to learn more: www.marchconsulting.com/ contact-us. s

Potash cooling comes full circle

HOW MOVING BED HEAT EXCHANGE TECHNOLOGY CAN HELP

YOUR OPERATIONAL ENERGY CLIMATE

BY IGOR MAKARENKO

Potash operations worldwide are in the midst of widesweeping modernizations that are being increasingly fueled by producers’ collective pursuit of a net-zero future.

Cleaner, more sustainable alternatives to traditional practices are emerging throughout the potash production process chain, ranging from sustainable extraction methods to water recycling and everything in-between.

As such, today’s technologies are being expected to do more – and how they do it is just as important.

Moving bed heat exchangers (MBHEs) based on vertical plate technology have long been prevalent at the cooling stage of potash operations around the world – favoured for being robust in their design, efficient in operation, and consistent in producing a high-quality finished product.

More recently, these MBHEs are providing potash producers with an important opportunity to recover energy for use elsewhere in the plant. And in doing so, they are further cementing a compelling OPEX case at a time when the industry needs it the most.

How it works

MBHEs based on vertical plate technology start by accepting free-flowing potash into a tower-like unit at temperatures around 120°C or higher. The material, granular or fine, then slowly passes between a series of parallel plates that contain water or other heat transfer fluids flowing counter-current to the potash.

The plates transfer heat from the potash to the heat transfer fluid, cooling the potash as it slowly and uniformly flows downward, controlled by a discharge feeder. The potash exits the MBHE at a temperature of around 60°C or lower.

As the potash is cooled, the MBHE produces a hot transfer fluid that can provide low-grade thermal energy to be used

In this example, the hot transfer fluid produced in an MBHE can be used to pre-heat combustion air, via a preheater, in equipment such as a fluid bed or rotary drum dryer. Photo courtesy of Solex Thermal Science.

IMPROVE

elsewhere in the plant. For example, the fluid can be used upstream to pre-heat combustion air via an air-to-fluid preheater used in equipment such as a fluid bed or rotary drum dryer – significantly reducing the amount of natural gas needed.

Alternatively, that thermal energy can be used to pre-heat air that is used to trim dry the potash. This trim drying stage – which occurs after the potash has been processed within a rotary drum or fluid bed, and within the upper section/s of the MBHE – allows producers to meet moisture targets more efficiently.

Lastly, the MBHE does not rely on ambient air for cooling and does not need a lot of energy to get the job done. It’s estimated that it takes just 170 kW to effectively cool 100 tph of potash.

In comparison, direct-contact cooling methods such as fluid beds or rotary drums require significant air-handling equipment such as high horsepower fans, air chillers, and air pre-heaters. That translates into an energy requirement of as much as 1.7 MW to cool 100 tph of potash – 10 times more than an MBHE.

Final thoughts

Reducing primary energy consumption, such as natural gas, is at the top of many potash producers’ wish lists. In Canada, for example, it’s estimated that natural gas represents almost 80 per cent of total energy consumed annually within the potash industry – energy that generates both direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions.

As such, industry players in Canada such as Mosaic Company, K+S Potash Canada, and Nutrien have all pointed to ongoing investments into many different energy-use and emission-reduction initiatives meant to reduce their operating costs, improve efficiencies, and decarbonize their operations.

MBHEs based on vertical plate technology offer an OPEXfriendly solution that can significantly improve a plant’s overall energy climate. In addition to cooling potash with greater efficiency, these MBHEs offer a convenient, straightforward process of reutilizing low-grade energy that would otherwise be wasted.

Igor Makarenko is the global director, fertilizers at Solex Thermal Science. To contact Igor, email him at igor.makarenko@solexthermal.com. s

Net zero potash mining

Climate change and its adverse effects are driving the mining industry to turn to renewable sources of energy. How does an owner company decarbonize their mine or mining portfolio? How does that owner make major business decisions in an age of evolving technologies and regulations, whilst all the time keeping production capabilities high and working cost effectively? Each potash mine is unique in its energy needs. The path to net zero mining is a complex endeavour with each site requiring its own unique roadmap to achieve these goals.

Many believe that achieving net zero goals need the support of four key pillars:

• Energy transition

• Digital transformation

• Innovation scaling

• Culture change

These pillars are areas of focus from which many mine owners have grappled with varying degrees of success. Operators can design and deliver on their

Typical SMR layout.

net zero mining strategies by leveraging expertise within these pillars to develop a plan which integrates these areas to achieve scaled deployment.

Renewable zero carbon-emitting energy to offset grid-supplied electricity is a viable path to net zero mining, and has many proponents and supporting funding opportunities within Canada; but what if you didn’t have to offset the grid electricity with renewables, the grid electricity was zero emitting, or an operator wanted to control all aspects of their energy production and consumption? Small and micro-modular nuclear reactors (SMR) should be considered by utilities and major industrial users as part of their decarbonization plan.

SMRs produce thermal energy, 24/7, which can then be converted to reliable electricity if desired. SMRs are small, starting at about the size of a typical stacked washer/dryer, with a power capacity of up to 300 megawatts (MW) per unit. Smaller units, known as micro modular nuclear reactors, provide up to 50 MWs and can work in remote settings.

Stakeholders will be able to locate SMRs

For more information, visit https://www.stantec.com/en/markets/mining/net-zero-mining.

into brownfield mining sites or in place of decommissioned coal-fired and natural gas-fired plants. We all live and work in a more holistic world which is far more interconnected than ever. By siting SMRs on or near potash mine sites, not only can 100 per cent of that mine site’s energy needs be fulfilled, but the potential reputational advantages of supporting local communities in electric and non-electric applications such as district heating, water desalination, green house heat, hydrogen fuel production, or a combination of functions as the need arises, is vast.

Many pundits have forecasted it would take 12 years from inception to operation for the first SMRs to be in operation. We are now in year four of that process and well on track to see the first SMRs up and running in Canada and in the US between 2028 and 2030. These dates are well within most potash mine operator’s net zero committed time frames.

But we can’t do this alone. We all need to help each other understand, identify, and collectively support our net zero journey. This is a generational opportunity to change our communities for the better and calls for a very compelling Indigenous consultation process in fulfilling the TRC call to Action #92 and meeting the spirit of the treaties signed in the areas that we work and play.

In summary, there is no one silver bullet, but net zero potash mining is an achievable goal. It will require a unique plan for each operation and will involve the entire local community and a community of experts. Potash mines progressing through this transition will be one of the key drivers of change in our communities, our economy, our workforce, and our future.

No pressure. s

Improving uptime when processing potash

BY CRAIG PEPPIN, CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER | FEECO INTERNATIONAL

With potash production booming, improving uptime and minimizing inefficiencies in production equipment has become more important to producers than ever before. And while welldesigned equipment is the first step in building a reliable and efficient process, equipment maintenance is just as important, particularly when it comes to potash, where challenging material characteristics and demanding operating conditions have the potential to quickly degrade equipment.

Essentials for improving uptime when processing potash

In addition to keeping up on OEM-recommended maintenance and lubrication schedules, the

following maintenance procedures are often essential for potash producers. While some apply specifically to rotary drums, many of these principles apply to all types of potash production equipment, including dryers, mixers, disc pelletizers, bucket elevators, conveyors, and more.

Implement inspections & audits

The easiest and most costeffective way to ensure uptime is through maintenance and regular inspections. Operators and maintenance personnel must be thoroughly trained not only in operational and maintenance procedures, but also in inspecting the equipment. Personnel should be familiar with normal operating conditions and be able to quickly

identify abnormalities and potential issues.

Inspections should be conducted daily, weekly, monthly, and biannually to catch problems at their onset, before they have a chance to escalate into a process upset or serious damage. Depending on the potash source, as well as site-specific operating conditions, each inspection interval should focus on different components, based on their potential for wear.

The plant manager or maintenance planner should also bring in the OEM or a third-party service provider to conduct a more thorough inspection of the equipment on an annual basis, particularly in the case of rotary drums, which are

FEECO Rotary Dryer for processing potash.

Tire grinding in progress.

used to accomplish everything from scrubbing and drying, to granulation and coating when it comes to potash. In addition to early identification of issues, annual inspections provide valuable benchmark data.

Producers with multiple drums on site can take advantage of FEECO International’s Monthly Dynamic Inspections, in which only a single drum is shut down and given a static inspection, while the remaining drums receive a dynamic inspection as they continue to operate. Each month (or quarter, depending on the unique scenario), a different drum is shut down for a thorough inspection. This systematic approach to preventive rotary drum maintenance streamlines maintenance planning and procedures.

FEECO also offers process and equipment audits for helping potash producers troubleshoot issues, optimize production, and train operators on their unique production environment. Such efforts can often mitigate inefficiencies, eliminate unnecessary downtime, and quickly contribute to the bottom line. This is particularly useful in plants employing a pin mixer-disc pelletizer setup, where operators

must have a solid understanding of the principles behind tumblegrowth agglomeration (wet granulation).

Keep up on rotary drum tire & trunnion grinding (reconditioning)

As load-bearing surfaces of the rotary drum, trunnions and tires are often the first to exhibit wear when an underlying issue is present. This may be the result of misalignment, excessive wheel skewing, poor housekeeping, or any number of other potential problems.

Grinding is carried out on tires and trunnions in order to recondition the surfaces of the components for smooth and proper operation. Combined with a trunnion wheel laser alignment, this minimizes mechanical stress and circumvents more severe damage down the road.

Monitor tire creep

Tire creep is a function of the gap between the tire inside diameter (ID) and mounting block outside diameter (OD). A good rule of thumb for a dryer is to have less than half an inch of tire creep per drum revolution. When creep is greater than half an inch, the drum

should be monitored quarterly (or more frequently). It’s also a good idea to have a shim kit on hand; when tire creep reaches or exceeds three quarters of an inch, plan to re-shim during the next scheduled outage.

When creep becomes excessive, it can cause wear on filler bars and tire keepers (tire keepers hold the tire in its axial position and if allowed to wear, can cause the tire to exhibit excessive axial movement).

Evaluating or measuring tire creep is an important indicator of the tire mounting system and should be measured annually at a minimum. Tire re-shim projects vary in scope from simply adding or replacing the thin shims under floating blocks, to replacing all the floating blocks. If there is significant wear on the shell under or on the floating blocks, the whole tire mounting system may need to be replaced. When planning a re-shimming job, the drum shell temperature needs to be taken into account to determine the proper gap and creep.

Keep up on rotary drum alignment

Proper alignment of mechanical components, and most notably the trunnion bases, is also essential to rotary drum longevity, as a misaligned drum puts undue stress on all components.

Wear on tires or trunnions, or chattering noises, may indicate that a drum has fallen out of alignment. Further, rotary drums must be realigned after any major repairs or changes to the base conditions, as this will cause the drum to become misaligned.

Software provides a visual representation of the rotary drum during laser alignment.

FEECO recommends plant managers take advantage of laser alignment techniques, which offer faster, more precise alignment compared to manual methods. The laser tracking system can also be used in other production settings, such as alignment of offset-mounted machines, power transmission alignment, conveyor pulley and frame alignments, and more.

Encourage regular cleanout

Potash’s corrosive nature means that if allowed to build up and sit in equipment, the material is likely to cause corrosive damage.

While this requires a preventive approach during the initial design stages, it’s also critical to regularly clean out production equipment in order to circumvent any corrosive action.

This is made even more important because of the fact that potash is a hygroscopic material, which makes it prone to clumping and buildup.

Regular cleanout also gives operators and maintenance personnel the opportunity to more closely inspect the equipment’s internals.

Additional retrofits such as liners, knockers, or alternate materials of construction are helpful to slow degradation with existing equipment.

Equipment should also be fully seal-welded to prevent potential places where material could collect and begin corroding the unit.

Monitor drum wear

Measurement and evaluation of the wear on rotary drum internals and shell thickness should be logged annually. Having a trend of wear is critical in evaluating the lifespan of a rotary dryer or cooler, especially in a potash application.

Critical rotary drum areas to evaluate are at the infeed end, where the material moisture tends to accelerate the material’s corrosiveness, as well as where material velocity is greater. These locations are typically high-abrasion areas. Areas that combine abrasion and corrosion risks are the highest-risk areas requiring the most attention.

Keep wear-critical parts on hand

While not a direct maintenance requirement, it’s a good idea to work with the OEM to keep an inventory of wear-critical parts on-hand. This might include mixer shafts, trunnion wheel assemblies with bearings, tire-mounting kits, thrust rollers, sprockets/pinion gears, or otherwise.

Keeping these parts on-hand helps to prevent excessive costs on

critical components and extended shutdowns due to long lead times.

Conclusion

Reliable production equipment is the foundation of a successful potash production facility. By keeping equipment properly maintained, be it a dryer, mixer, elevator, or otherwise, producers can maximize process uptime and mitigate inefficiencies and excessive maintenance costs.

In addition to keeping up on OEM maintenance and lubrication recommendations, a preventive maintenance program should implement a rigorous inspection program, ensure equipment is regularly cleaned out, and pay particular attention to the specific maintenance needs of rotary drums, such as monitoring key measurements and wear, as well as conducting regular grinding and alignment as needed. Additionally, keeping wear-critical parts on hand can save significant time and cost by allowing for a fast change out in a bind.

With over 70 years of experience, FEECO is the potash industry’s preferred provider for custom potash processing equipment and extensive parts and service support, including all of the services mentioned here. For information on how we can keep your potash operation running its best, visit us at FEECO.com.

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Reliable production equipment is the foundation of a successful potash production facility.

By keeping equipment properly maintained, be it a dryer, mixer, elevator, or otherwise, producers can maximize process uptime and mitigate inefficiencies and excessive maintenance costs.

Allis-Chalmers’ legacy in potash roll compaction continues today

Industries Model No. 2826 Roll Compactor(s).

In 1956, heaping salt fine piles filled potash mines. Producers understood it was uneconomical to ship salt long distances by land, so Allis-Chalmers engineers, working in these mines, saw an opportunity to turn it into salable granular product. All they needed was a machine to accomplish that feat. They surmised a 2020 Flaking Mill would compress and shear the fines, like it had for over 75 years, being a household name in the cereal flaking business. However, the force of the machine could not compact the salt enough. Therefore, engineers determined a larger 2424 machine with greater horsepower would be necessary to satisfy customers’ demand. The first roll compactor (also known as a roll press) received its name after producing stellar results in both salt and potash trials.

After inventing the first roll compactor, Allis-Chalmers received tremendous amounts of business, selling over 60 machines in the first five years of the product’s life. The original Allis-Chalmers compactors

had 24-inch diametre rolls with a 24-inch face (roll length). These machines consisted of smooth rolls, powered by 200 horsepower (150 kilowatt) motors, with one floating roll applying required hydraulic pressing force. A gravity-feed chute fed potash into the compactor. This setup pioneered drastic improvements in industry profitability. Sustained compaction business led to greater gains in process improvement and quality.

Ludman Industries acquired Allis-Chalmers’ Mining and Food Divisions, including various product lines, such as compactors, granulators, briquetters, and flaking mills in 1986. Prior to the acquisition, Ludman Industries manufactured Allis-Chalmers machines for close to a decade. Since that time, Ludman Industries has engineered, manufactured, and serviced well over 100 roll compactors for potash customers globally.

The latest roll compactor includes elements from the original 1950s design; however, technology

Ludman

and continuous product improvement significantly improve performance. Roll patterns, such as corrugated roll faces, have replaced smooth rolls. Roll corrugation increases the nip angle, allowing production of a thicker cake and provides capacity increases. In addition, corrugation prevents slippage between roll surfaces and minerals, lessening wear and lowering energy consumption. Slippage can cause “glazing” on rolls, in which potash fuses to the roll surface. Timing corrugated rolls produces uniform flake thickness and quality. Uniformity results in less fines generation in the downstream crushing process, increasing production and reducing material recycled to the compactors. Corrugation patterns vary based on size distribution of material feed.

Despite immense product improvement over 66 years of potash compaction, a number of roll compactors supplied by Allis-Chalmers as long ago as 1959 continue to operate in potash mines. However, most of these machines have been retrofitted or rebuilt to improve performance. Many of the improvements include managing temperature of the roll face and bearings through utilizing coolants and lubricants, improving roll wear resistance and structural integrity, operating machines with single- or twin-force feeders, multiple bearing designs, variable speed motors, and planetary reducers. The future of roll compaction appears bright with a number of new projects underway in the potash industry, showcasing the most advanced compaction technology. s

Maintaining excellence through efficiency in the potash industry

SUBCOM® BY INPROHEAT INDUSTRIES

LTD.

For more than 50 years, SubCom® – a patented Submerged Combustion technology by Inproheat Industries Ltd. – has been a leading industrial liquid heating and evaporation solution.

SubCom® can offer process liquid and slurry heating thermal efficiency approaching 100 per cent. As a distinguishing feature, heat transfer via SubCom® is accomplished by direct contact between combustion product gases and the liquid. There are no heat transfer surfaces to foul, allowing SubCom® to heat scaling liquids without loss of performance due to exchanger surface plating.

With unrivaled efficiency and cost savings, SubCom® maintains a forward-thinking environmental approach that is compliant with the strictest emissions regulations.

For potash producers, SubCom® offers quality, performance, and critical advantages.

SubCom® has been integral to potash solution mining projects and for heating fresh water for amine flotation reagent mixing, and heating brine and process water for crystallizers.

Central to the potash industry appeal of SubCom® is its ability to handle highly corrosive and abrasive process streams.

A 60 MM Btu/h SubCom® Process Water Heater for sulphate of potash production from Great Salt Lake brine.

A 182 MM Btu/h SubCom® to heat a potash solution mining brine.

Fur thermore, SubCom® units operate at atmospheric pressure, meaning that certified boiler operators are not required.

SubCom® can treat wastewater through evaporation, with capability to recover the evaporated water and heat. The higher thermal efficiencies from SubCom® will also reduce overall GHG emissions.

The value of SubCom® in the potash industry is exemplified through two notable Inproheat projects.

Following a flood at the Potash Corporation of America’s Patience Lake underground mine, a new

SubCom® brine heater enabled successful potash recovery.

In 2011, a new owner, Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, contracted Inproheat to modernize the installation and increase the heating capacity.

Four burners, all-new modular fuel trains with automated controls, and a new process control and burner safety management system were added. Now operated by Nutrien, this SubCom® system continues to support low-cost potash production.

In 2016, Compass Minerals commissioned a second SubCom® unit to expand Sulphate of Potash (SOP) and Magnesium Chloride

production from brine taken from Utah’s Great Salt Lake. This newer system offers twice the capacity through two parallel SubCom® tanks, four low emissions burners of 15 MM Btu/h capacity each, and heat recovery units for high thermal efficiency.

Inproheat Industries Ltd. welcomes the opportunity to connect with potash producers, and work towards innovative SubCom® solutions for future and existing projects.

For more information, please contact Osama Shenouda, CEO of Inproheat Industries Ltd., at oshenouda@inproheat.com. Visit them online at inproheat.com. s

85 YEARS OF SOLUTIONS.

Canpotex invests in its world-class supply chain by acquiring 1,300 railcars from National Steel Car

Canpotex Limited is investing in its world-class supply chain to increase its efficiency, reliability, and safety by acquiring 1,300 custom railcars from National Steel Car (NSC) in Hamilton, Ont. These new custom railcars from NSC will be added to Canpotex’s fleet of existing railcars, increasing the total fleet to 8,000 cars by June 2023. The railcars will be used to help transport potash to overseas customers by delivering potash from landlocked Saskatchewan to three main terminals on the east and west coasts of North America.

“This acquisition of railcars demonstrates Canpotex’s commitment to investing in our world-class supply chain and in global food security,” says Gord McKenzie, president and CEO of Canpotex. “By adding capacity within our railcar fleet, we have greater flexibility in shipping options. This increased railcar capacity ensures our potash is reliably delivered to our customers overseas, ultimately helping the world’s farmers grow higher-yielding crops on each acre of land.”

The new railcars from National Steel Car, valued at over USD $155 million, are a continued evolution of Canpotex’s custom design which is meant to maximize

productivity, enhance safety, and minimize maintenance. One notable feature on the new railcars is the enhanced steering system that reduces overall fuel consumption, maintenance, and enhances safety.

“We are proud to supply Canpotex with these custom railcars that are manufactured right here in Hamilton, Ontario at the largest ‘single site’ railcar plant in North America,” says Gregory J. Aziz, chairman and CEO of NSC. “With NSC’s commitment to engineering excellence and innovation, we are confident that these quality railcars will help Canpotex deliver on its reputation as a reliable supplier of high-quality potash.”

Over the past 20 years, Canpotex has invested over USD $3 billion in its highly integrated and sophisticated supply chain. In addition to its fleet of railcars, which allows it to operate some of the longest, heaviest unit trains in North America, Canpotex also operates three North American terminals in Vancouver, Saint John, and Portland. As well, Canpotex has a state-of-the-art railcar maintenance facility near Lanigan, Sask. which allows it to maintain its fleet of railcars, enhancing its railcar delivery system through increased

performance and operational efficiencies.

About Canpotex Limited

Since our first sale in 1972, Canpotex has become one of the world’s largest suppliers of potash and a vital link in helping the world’s farmers grow more food. On behalf of its shareholders, Mosaic and Nutrien, Canpotex responsibly markets and delivers Saskatchewan potash, a valuable fertilizer nutrient, to global customers.

About National Steel Car

Founded in 1912 and headquartered in Hamilton, Ont., National Steel Car is the world leader in railroad freight car design, engineering, and manufacturing. National Steel Car is known throughout the industry for superior quality, reliable and innovative designs, and industry-leading engineering and manufacturing capabilities. The company has repeatedly received the prestigious TTX Excellent Supplier Award, and is North America’s only car builder certified to ISO 9001-2015 and AAR M-1003. National Steel Car is the largest single-site railcar manufacturing plant in North America, and the only railcar manufacturer in Canada. s

4045 & 4300 C ubic Feet COVERED HOPPER C AR S 

Specially designed for potash, soda ash or other medium density commodities 

Robust design able to withstand the harsh product characteristics and operating environment associated with these commodities. 

Since our founding in 1912, National Steel Car has continued to manufacture and deliver class-leading railcars and a positive ownership experience for our customers in North America and around the world.

Our 4045 and 4300 cubic feet covered hopper cars are no exception. They boast the shortest car lengths, lowest light weights and highest carrying capacity in the industry. Unrivalled in their design and performance and with over 14,000 hoppers in service, these cars continue to dominate the track.

Short car length, low light weight and maximum cubic capacity ideally suited for efficient unit train service.  Available with multiple hatch cover and outlet gate options to suit your specific loading and unloading requirements. P. LEIGH SCOTT

Mine Supply Company stays on top of supply chain challenges

INNOVATIVE, RESPONSIVE APPROACHES TO SUPPLY

Mine Supply Company has become well known for its commitment to quality, on-time service – a core value that sees the Saskatoon-borne supplier prioritize innovative solutions to meet clients’ needs in an industry in constant flux.

“We take an end-to-end view of the supply chain,” says Marc Collette, vice-president and general manager. “This influences our approach to things like procurement and vendor management, inventory, and logistics.”

Around the world, mining operators are struggling to manage supply chain disruptions caused by higher demand for metals and minerals, labour shortages, and events like the pandemic, natural disasters, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. These disruptions mean longer delivery times at all links of the chain and significant increases related to freight and storage costs. Supply chain resilience has become a

SC VP/GM Marc Collette testing parts underground.

top priority for operators and suppliers alike, resulting in a shift away from just-in-time approaches to those that help mitigate major disruptions in the chain.

“At Mine Supply, this means working with our clients to determine critical inventory and adjusting our approach to procurement and warehousing to keep those in stock,” says Collette. “It also means communicating any anticipated risks in the supply chain that might impact a client’s critical inventory. That’s been a real value-add for our clients, especially considering supply chain fluctuations in recent years.”

One of Mine Supply’s advantages is that most of its products are made by premium North American-based manufacturers or international producers with accessible inventory on the continent. The Mine Supply line card includes a range of premium product offerings covering multiple categories, including crushing and conveyor systems, industrial doors, lubricants, mobile equipment, MRO, mine ventilation (Saskatoon-based ABC), rock tools, safety products, and tech and instrumentation tools. The company is also

expanding its custom and in-house manufacturing and assembly capacity.

“We’re adjusting operations to control more links in the supply chain, which ultimately minimizes cost and enables us to be more accurate when predicting lead times for the client,” says Collette. “It’s not just stocking higher levels of those critical path products; it’s also shifting our model to include replacement parts for critical equipment at far higher volumes and adjusting our processes to enhance the capacity for in-house assembly whenever possible.”

With experience on all sides of the life cycle from planning to procurement, warehousing, material management, operations, maintenance, and replacement, Mine Supply’s team takes pride in its ability to provide solutions for client challenges, and to influence product design and production to best serve the operations of each unique operating environment.

To find out more about Mine Supply and its premium product lines and service options, visit www.minesupplyco.com, email sales@minesupplyco.com, or call 306-653-1056. s

MSC Operations Manager Kevin Carriere troubleshooting with a client onsite.

Mining expertise that runs deep

Mining construction is for those who like to think deep.

Mining projects are generally large, complex, and often built in some of the world’s most remote and challenging regions. Ideally, a mine owner’s needs should match the general contractor’s capabilities. That’s why PCL is chosen for all kinds of mining and industrial construction projects, big or small.

PCL has an entirely flexible and scalable business model that can deliver projects of diverse scope and size, ranging from hundred-thousand-dollar shutdown and maintenance contracts to multi-billion-dollar fullscale projects. And as the largest general contractor in Canada, PCL can draw upon a deep bench of experts for every project.

“Our local teams speak the language and know the client’s people, but we also have national and international subject-matter experts,” says Paul Franklin, who leads PCL’s mining team in Sudbury, Ont. “If a client has a problem with ventilation, for example, we call on our ventilation experts from across the company to find the answer.”

He emphasizes the influence that employee ownership has on mining work. “Being employee owned means we are motivated to find solutions,” he says. “Our clients benefit – and so do we.”

Jeff Holt, director of business development for PCL’s industrial arm, agrees with Franklin.

“Employee ownership instills a culture within our organization that we will be successful when we help our clients be successful,” Holt says. “We’re not looking for quick wins. We want to build longterm relationships and do this consistently through our solution provider approach. Being 100 per cent employee-owned means that every employee has a vested interest in the success of every project whether they are directly involved or not.”

Safety and quality all the way down

PCL builds lasting relationships and does this partly through a whole-hearted commitment to safety. Mining work does come with unique risks and PCL is well-equipped to adapt and manage these for clients. When joining a mining project, the team starts

with a gap analysis that compares a client’s safety program to PCL’s. They work with the client to align all standards and expectations and ensure every controllable risk on the job site is identified, tracked, measured, and managed.

“We have about 15 million hours of direct labour in mining on the books, and our safety stats speak for themselves,” Holt says. “We’re very proud of our safety culture, which is ingrained at every level of our operations.”

PCL’s approach to quality control is similar. Quality monitoring and control doesn’t just start when construction starts. It is integrated into every phase, from preconstruction planning to commissioning and start-up. PCL is developing and implementing industry-leading processes and technology to support its overall quality program. The use of Job Sites Insights®, a cloud-based platform that uses data analytics through smart sensors to control quality and risk, enhance productivity and track progress in realtime. It allows us to spot positive or negative trends quickly and implement them in other parts of the job or adjust them quickly if it isn’t working.

PCL redefines full-service and brings expertise across all project types, at all scales and under all procurement models. As innovative solution providers and construction specialists, they leverage their expertise to customize the right approach for any project, maximizing value for the best price. s

BUILD A PROJECT WITH US.

Capex | Large Projects Early Contractor Involvement Maintenance & Turnaround

PCL.com Regina: 306-347-4200

Saskatoon: 306-931-3322 Edmonton: 780-733-5000

Sudbury: 705-995-2225

Heritage management is a process

BY JIM FINNIGAN Surveying near glacial erratic.

While attending the Central Canada Mining Exhibition and Conference in Winnipeg this past November, a number of companies complained to me about the sudden appearance of heritage regulations in their activities and the unreasonable timelines required to receive approvals. There is some truth to these complaints, so let’s look at them.

The protection of heritage is not new

Most of the legislation around the protection of archaeological sites and objects date between the

mid 1970s to early 1980s, so they have been in place for some 40ish years. Over that time period, through interactions with industry, Indigenous communities, the general public, and archaeologists, the approach to heritage management has evolved along with our understanding of where archaeological sites are most likely to be found.

Traditionally, if a development considered to have a low potential to damage archaeological sites was located in an area considered to have a low potential to contain archaeological sites, the regulators would not issue any archaeological

requirements. With the hindsight of 40 years of archaeological work, our understanding of these potentials has shifted over time. The observation that “we never had to deal with archaeology before” reflects the fact that we now understand that there are very likely archaeological sites in the area you intend to work. It is not a new requirement, but a new understanding.

Heritage regulators are under resourced

Heritage legislation is powerful, but staff were not included. Managing all of the interactions between industry and archaeology, archaeologists and archaeology, the public and archaeology, and Indigenous communities and archaeology, takes people. At various times and due to multiple causes, provincial staffing levels for heritage regulators have dropped to as low as one, but even two or three staff for a province is too low. Having insufficient staff is not the same thing as being lean.

The first public signs of low staff levels are delays in process and communications. It takes time to review industry submissions, and it takes time to issue permits and clearance letters. It is frustrating for everyone and costly to

industry. Manitoba’s regulatory staffing levels were quite low this fall and everyone was feeling the effects (including the regulatory staff).

What’s the solution?

First, developers should expect archaeology/heritage requirements and include them in their timelines. As noted, the requirements have been in place for 40ish years and they apply to most types of developments.

Second, inform the process. Contract a professional to assess the heritage potential of your development and how it can be managed, and include it in the submission to the regulatory authority. This works better than waiting for the regulatory authority to receive, review, and set the requirements.

Third, communicate your development timelines to everyone. Everyone works better towards common deadlines. The regulator and your contractor will let you know upfront whether a timeline is reasonable.

Fourth, winter is not a friend. Most archaeological requirements come with the caveat that the work must be completed under snow-free/ unfrozen ground conditions. These constraints are not absolute, but if you are notified in November that your project will require an archaeological study, it will be very difficult to complete that work until the spring of the following year. This is why the first three steps are important: expect, inform, and communicate. If you must construct in the winter, then you must have approvals in place by early fall.

For over three decades Western Heritage has provided the potash industry with comprehensive solutions in Indigenous consultation and engagement, cultural heritage and environmental mapping and monitoring.

Fifth, many of the delays result from inadequate staffing levels at the regulatory agencies. Let the minister know that their department does not have the staffing levels required to respond to industries’ needs.

An acknowledgement

This short discussion is coming from a very western regulatory world view. Most of the historic/ heritage resources protected by legislation are Indigenous resources. Incorporating Indigenous knowledge and recommendations into the process adds time but leads to more comprehensive decision making. The extra time needs to be included into all of our timelines going forward. s

Attraction and retention strategies for 2023

MAXIMIZING YOUR PENSION STRATEGY FOR A MULTIGENERATIONAL WORKFORCE

BY ANDREA HANSEN, B.COMM, CFP, GBA, PRESIDENT AND BENEFITS ADVISOR AT SUTTON BENEFITS & PENSION

According to the Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce’s annual Saskatoon Business Barometer, the forecast for Saskatoon’s business community is bright. The survey revealed confidence in the economic opportunities for businesses to thrive but cited challenges that have Saskatchewan employers reevaluating their attraction and retention strategies for 2023.

• Growth: The challenge most frequently mentioned in the survey was labour supply (27 per cent).

• Hiring: 52 per cent expect their workforce to increase over the next year, but only 34 per cent are confident they can hire the employees they need.

• Workforce strategies: Top strategies to meet business needs and address labour shortages included focusing on retaining existing workers (56 per cent).1

Benefits and pension are essential in any attraction and retention strategy, but the preferred features of the total rewards program differ across the multiple generations in today’s workforce.

What do employees want?

At right, our Sutton Employee Engagement Wheel™

demonstrates the key components of a total rewards program. One critical component is pension –it’s more important than ever. While many businesses offer a group retirement savings plan, communication about it is often generic, which can diminish the value employees perceive.

• It’s tax-effective: You can increase compensation without additional payroll taxes.

Clearly, both the employer and the employee benefit when a pension is part of total rewards. The critical question facing employers is how to make their pension or group savings plan stand out as a competitive advantage.

For the first time ever, the workforce consists of five generations. A group savings plan offers advantages at every stage of life in addition to saving for retirement. But how do you communicate the value of the plan to empower employees with financial and lifestyle change readiness?

Role of pension in attraction, retention, and productivity

• It’s critical: 84 per cent of Canadian employees consider an employer-sponsored retirement plan critical; 60 per cent would be unlikely to work for a company without one. 2

• It improves productivity: 60 per cent said they worry about personal finances at work at least weekly;3 46 per cent say they spend 3.5 hours per week on financial issues.

What employers highlight in their group plan communications should be different for Generation Z employees than for Baby Boomers. The retirement concerns of the oldest group, the Traditionalists (b. 1922–45), should be addressed one-onone with a financial advisor, but below are examples for the others of common financial concerns, along with topics for employee education and options to include in your group savings plan.

Communication is key

Tailoring communication to the different generations in your workplace and offering financial

GENERATION

COMMON CONCERNS EDUCATION TOPICS AND GROUP SAVINGS PLAN OPTIONS

Baby Boomers (b. 1946–65) Retirement readiness

Generation X (b. 1966–80)

Millennials (b. 1981–95)

Generation Z (b. 1996–2012)

education to employees enhances value and maximizes the results of your investment. You, the employer, provide the plan and should be a trusted resource for information. Keep employees informed about online features and financial tools, and provide various forms of communication. Sending emails, posting information on bulletin boards, and including details in newsletters is good, but holding plan information meetings with your trusted pension advisor and following up with webinars, videos, and printed materials will help reach employees with different learning styles.

Pension plans are important for attracting and retaining valued employees. Communication strategies that effectively engage employees in their plan will help mitigate financial concerns, strengthen the employee experience, and improve employee productivity. As Saskatchewan employers re-evaluate their strategies to address labour shortages, they can leverage existing benefits and pension plans without spending more by developing a thoughtful, intentional marketing and communication plan. s

1 Bright forecast: Chamber’s annual ‘Saskatoon Business Barometer’, The Chamber, Oct. 25, 2022.

2 84% of employees consider retirement plan a critical benefit: survey, Benefits Canada, Jan. 25, 2002.

3 84% of employees consider retirement plan a critical benefit: survey

Power transformer experts for the mining industry – JA Tech Inc.

Since our inception in 2003, JA Tech has established relationships in the potash industry built on trust. Our clients trust that we have the experience and expertise to keep their facilities operating day and night. As a provider of field, technical, and engineering services and products which form an electrical power system, our mining customers have come to know and trust our capabilities on their sites.

JA Tech is a certified Aboriginal Business with the CCAB, as well as a member of the First Nations Power Authority (FNPA) and Indigenous Manufacturing and Contracting Network (IMCN) of Saskatchewan.

Power Transformer Experts

JA Tech takes pride in our customers’ satisfaction of a transformer that is offloaded, assembled, with oil processing and testing done the right way. As part of our services offered for substation construction, we also offer assembly and oil filling, internal inspections, repair, oil regeneration, and degasification of power transformers. We own

our own degasification trailer and picker trucks. Our customers appreciate the level of monitoring and trending data that we can provide for vacuum, temperature, moisture, and oil volume. We also have an onboard air dryer replacing traditional bottled air for assembly and internal work.

Instrumentation and Automation Solutions

Over the last few years, our instrumentation and automation capabilities have grown to include 12 to 15 technicians. Our technicians perform project management, on-site services such as calibrations, testing and final commissioning. We specialize in plant shutdowns as well. If your PLC/DCS systems requires an upgrade from legacy to current products we can help.

High-Voltage Cable installation and Jointing

JA Tech performs specialized installations of high-voltage cables in addition to terminations and testing. We have been involved in several 230kV and 138kV cable termination analysis and

replacements, as well as full installation, termination, and testing of new high-voltage cables. Our in-house representatives are certified in PFISTERER© brand high-voltage terminations, including the EST style and Connex up to size 6S. As we own all the specialized tools to perform this work, there is no need for us to subcontract any equipment. This allows us more flexibility with the client to ensure they are getting the quality and safety standards they require. Our cable jointers are experienced in many different brands of medium- and high-voltage cable preparation techniques. References are available, contact our office for more details.

Engineering Services and Substation Automation

From feasibility all the way through to commissioning and start-up, we have the ability to support any electrical project through its complete life cycle. JA Tech offers engineering and design services covering all aspects of an electrical system, including high-voltage greenfield

JA Tech takes pride in our customers’ satisfaction of a transformer that is offloaded, assembled, with oil processing and testing done the right way.

and brownfield electrical design, power system studies, protection relay upgrades, and everything in between. Leveraging the latest technologies such as IEC 61850, we are proud to offer unique, custom-tailored solutions for our customers, and take special design consideration for safety, constructability, maintainability, and reliability of the final product. For substation automation, we use IEC 61850 design and implementation, along with multivendor IED configuration and GOOSE messaging. We specialize in RTAC configuration and HMI design with support for DNP3, Modbus/RTU, Modbus/TCP, Ethernet/IP, and SEL protocols.

Partial Discharge Testing

Knowing and understanding the condition of your assets is vital to controlling the risks presented

to your business. As part of our predictive maintenance offering, JA Tech performs both online and offline partial discharge (PD) testing. We have also completed permanent Radio Frequency Current Transformers (RFCT) installations on medium-voltage cable shields for customers so their cables may be monitored at regular intervals. This is especially important on aged cables and feeders that cannot easily be isolated for offline testing. We have worked closely with companies like EA Technologies to ensure a quality installation that is functional on a variety of different switchgear brands.

Permanent Radio Frequency Current Transformers

Partial discharge is a known killer of medium-voltage switchgear and cables. Online, non-invasive

PD testing of switchgear is easily accomplished from outside closed cubicles through ultrasonic and transient earth voltage (TEV) sensing. Testing of cables is a bit more invasive. Cable testing is typically done through the use of split-core clamp-on RFCT. These are connected around the ground straps of the shielded cables to measure the PD current as it returns from its source.

Each RFCT has a coaxial cable that needs to go to a connector accessible outside the switchgear. These connectors provide an attachment point for the test gear after re-energization. The connectors should be convenient to access and can often be mounted in the relaying/metering panel. If you have MV applications you would like to discuss give us a call. s

Technical Field Services

Electrical Field

Services

Overhead Crane Services Instrumentation Field Services

JA Tech is a provider of construction and technical service for all equipment and apparatus that form an electrical power system. We provide some of the most skilled labour and up-to-date equipment in the mining, industrial and utility sectors. Through integrity, quality and commitment

Engineering Services

Belt scraper innovation

On the important topic of reliability, we want to address the maintenance and protection of the conveyor belt system. When optimized, conveyor belts are the standard for moving bulk material around and out of a mine, through the processing plants, and out the loadout. However, when not optimized, they are subject to sticky material adhesion issues, material spillage at transfer points, and generate dust underground.

For years, these troubling conveyor issues were observed by our personnel here at Bit Service when underground and visiting sites, and in many cases the mines had just evolved to deal with it in creative ways. In an effort to improve and even solve these conveyor maintenance issues, we came to meet and partner with STARCLEAN® as we were amazed by the technological advances the company had made in the areas of conveyor tending equipment.

Most impressive in STARCLEAN®’s innovative collection are its clever versions of belt scrapers and cleaners. Finding these were fortunate, as the biggest issue maintenance planners and engineers had reported to us was that the mine site did not employ belt scrapers for removing adhered material. There were legitimate reasons for not doing so, such as existing damage to belt coverings of the use of mechanical belt splices. In either case, the predicament remained: These workers had tried a scraper in the past, and the aggressive nature of the scraper would compromise the splice or peeled belt cover, risking tearing the belt.

This is exactly why we were so impressed with the unique design of the STARCLEAN® belt scraper. Not only does the scraper employ a variable tensioning system to keep the scraper blades on the belt, but the individual scraper segments on each scraper blade provide their own tension and

articulation. This allows for the required flexibility to both remove adhered material from the belt, as well as articulate over and avoid damaged areas and splices. A feature loved by maintenance staff is that the worn scraper blade segments do not require any tools when replacing, which reduces the time for the job, and increasing safety.

A recent and further innovation on the belt scraper from STARCLEAN® is the Smart Scraper. This unique system with electric drive, in combination with their smart cloud dashboard, enables early detection of damage to the conveyor belt and predictive repair of the segments through automatic wear detection. Thanks to the digital innovation, the scraper has the ability of self-regulating wear behaviour, and at the same time, enables an optimized pretensioning force, completely automatically.

What this means to the mine’s maintenance program is that it provides continuous monitoring of the conveyor belt. The information collected can classify any discovered damage to the belt in terms of severity, detect the position of the belt damage, and initiate user-determined functions based on alarm level. The collected data of damaged belts, wear status, and other information will share via cloud services, accessible from any browser via log-in.

This represents the next level in belt monitoring, and with it, empowers the site operators to predict conveyor belt issues before they cause extensive downtime from a failure.

At Bit Service, we are excited to

bring innovations like these to the potash mining sector, and are eager to discuss how we can help apply this innovative technology to your material handling system. Contact our technical

representatives to see how we can apply this to begin providing advanced protection to your existing and upcoming conveyor systems. s

Comairco: 50 years of expertise, innovation, and service

You can tell a lot about the passion and commitment behind a business when the retired founder still loves to discuss technical details with its current owners.

At 77, Comairco’s cofounder Roland Nadeau enjoys giving a hand to his three sons, who now run the compressed air solution company.

This commitment to service has profoundly shaped the 50-year-old company and how it has partnered with the potash industry.

Experience in potash mines

“We have a lot of compressed air equipment in potash mines,” says Comairco’s president, David Nadeau, who leads the Canadian operations and who has lived and worked in Western Canada. “It is a harsh and corrosive environment for any equipment. Compressed air industrial equipment needs to be strong and reliable. Thankfully,

we have a lot of expertise in those environments, and with Sullair rotary screw air compressors, which we have sold and maintained since our beginnings, we know we can help any business meet their production goals.”

Along with his brothers Daniel and Eddy, David Nadeau oversees a team of 300 employees in 23 Canadian and U.S. locations.

A history of commitment

Comairco has come a long way since Roland Nadeau and a business partner launched the company in 1972. Through innovation, acquisitions, and a steadfast dedication to customer service, Comairco has established itself as the leader in the field of compressed air (and nowadays, other gases such as nitrogen).

Today, it sells, rents, and maintains new and used equipment for thousands of companies in the

food, mining, and manufacturing sectors. All have benefited from Comairco’s know-how and steadfast commitment to offering solutions that work in each clients’ context, respectful of local laws and requirements.

Over 50 years, Comairco’s value package has dramatically diversified. It now offers a wide range of specialized services, such as managing complex projects, constructing custom units, indepth analysis of compressed air networks and supporting applications for energy subsidies.

The strength of a team

“My brothers and I were raised to love and work with mechanical gear,” says David. “We grew up on a Quebec farm and spent summers working at our father’s business. We were raised surrounded by equipment, and we still love working on it, like rotary screw air compressors!”

Daniel Nadeau and David Nadeau as kids. From L to R: Daniel Nadeau, Roland Nadeau (father), David Nadeau, Eddy Nadeau.

David adds that he believes their passion for compressors is one of the driving factors of their success. He also says that another strong reason they are the leaders of compressed air solutions is their dedicated team.

“Our parents taught us our strength comes from working together,” he says. “My brothers and I work closely with a team

of truly passionate people. Like us, they love our equipment and helping people.”

A

promise

Comairco’s growth and strength are fueled by the company’s commitment to investing in innovation.

“I don’t believe any other company

in our industry is reinvesting as much as we do in our future,” says David.

Another distinguishing factor is Comairco’s long and deep relationships with its business partners.

“Most distributors will often switch product brands. At Comairco, we have been selling and working with Sullair for 50 years. Our clients can count on us to know the products and provide adequate solutions tailored to their needs. And we’ll always be there in the years to come to make sure their compressed air equipment works well.”

After 50 years, Comairco has proven itself to be agile and responsive to the needs of its clients in the potash industry and others. It has demonstrated its commitment to expertise, innovation, and service.

“Our 50-year history is really a promise to our clients that we have the know-how and passion that will help them achieve their goals,” he says. s

From L to R: David Nadeau, Eddy Nadeau, and Daniel Nadeau.

Sandvik secures order of underground battery electric vehicles for BHP Jansen Potash Project in Canada

Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions has secured an order of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from BHP for the Jansen Potash Project, located in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada. Jansen Stage 1 is being designed with a focus on sustainability and technology, and the battery-electric loaders will be used in the most advanced potash mine in the world.

BHP has ordered 10 underground battery electric loaders along with one electric tethered loader for use at the Jansen Potash Project located approximately 140 kilometres east of Saskatoon, Sask. The Jansen project has the potential to be the largest potashproducing mine in the world with an anticipated initial capacity of 4.35 million tonnes of potash per annum, the mine is expected to operate up to 100 years and first production for the project is targeted for calendar year 2027.

“Electric mining equipment is essential to meeting our goals to reduce emissions, improve productivity, and

most importantly, protect the health of our employees underground. Jansen will have the lowest carbon emissions per tonne of product produced compared to any potash mine operating today in Saskatchewan,” said Simon Thomas, president, potash.

Delivery of the battery electric loaders and other equipment is scheduled during 2023 through until 2025.

“We are excited to partner with BHP and proud to contribute to the sustainability and productivity of this project. Sandvik electric loaders have been designed to best utilize innovative technology of its battery pack and electric driveline, and maximize the capabilities of our battery technology,” says Alex Willows, business line manager for Sandvik Canada.

Sandvik battery electric equipment is designed to be adaptable to underground mining. Infrastructure needs are minimal and reduce the needs for overhead cranes or other heavy handling equipment. s

KPCL – Provisioning for our customers’ needs

In a previous article we explored the artistry of moving dirt with manpower and machines. In this article we elaborate on the behind-the-scenes planning and arrangements KPCL undertakes to secure heavy equipment in this capital-intensive industry and the staff dedicated to ensuring that it’s available when required. Having a safe and reliable fleet of heavy earth-moving equipment with high availability

is fundamental to the operation of an efficient and effective earth moving company that is ready to meet the needs of its clients. One of the more critical aspects of operating a reliable fleet of heavy equipment is knowing when to rebuild, replace, or upgrade various pieces of equipment in the fleet. This requires the owner-operator needing to have a command of the new and used equipment market. Operators must be in-tune with the equipment market and know when to take advantage of opportunities that the market may or may not afford. Case in point, in today’s current market, because of COVID-induced supply chain issues, it’s almost impossible to find new earth moving equipment to purchase with quoted factory wait times of a year to a year and half out. This has had the knockon effect in the used equipment market significantly pushing up the prices of used equipment. It’s an ideal time to sell heavy equipment but not to buy. So, in the near term, unless an operator

is planning to go out of business and sell off the heavy equipment fleet, operators are only left with one choice, and that is to rebuild tired and high hour equipment to ensure equipment is available to work the next construction season. These investment decisions are not inconsequential as the cost of rebuilding one piece of heavy equipment, such as a larger dozer, can typically run in the mid-six figures and that’s if parts are available. Multiply this by the 10 to 15 pieces of equipment that may be rebuilt over the winter shutdown period, and you get the point. Longer term, an owner operator may speculate on the need to update some pieces of equipment and place an order with a supplier, knowing that it could be up to two years before new pieces of equipment are available for delivery.

With over 200 pieces of earth moving equipment to maintain, KPCL has on staff a complement of both journeymen and apprentice mechanics. These

16M Motor Grader Frame Up rebuild.

Assembly of 400,000 lb. excavator on job site.

D10T Dozer Under Frame Up rebuild.

mechanics are resident on its construction sites during the construction season to ensure that scheduled maintenance is completed, emergency repairs performed, and the equipment has high availability. In the off season these mechanics move into KPCL’s maintenance shops located in Estevan and Clavet, Sask. Over the winter period they complete thorough inspections of each piece of equipment and undertake all necessary repairs to ensure each piece of equipment is in tip-top condition for the next construction season. And as noted previously, the mechanics spend a considerable amount of time in the off-season rebuilding select pieces of heavy equipment.

Record keeping plays a vital role in KPCL’s reliability centered maintenance processes. Using a computer-based data-

management system, the system pushes out scheduled maintenance for each piece of equipment based on the equipment’s hour metre. Once a service or repair has been completed, the mechanics log the services and\or repairs performed on each piece of equipment. This is not only important for confirming that the equipment receives required maintenance on a timely basis, but if a replaced part fails while under warranty, it’s readily identifiable and KPCL can go back to the supplier for cost recovery.

While ensuring that KPCL has reliable, current model construction equipment complete with the latest pollution abatement systems may not be the most exciting part of the heavy construction business, it is a critical component to ensuring

Scheduled maintenance performed in KPCL facility.

that our clients’ needs are fulfilled on a timely basis. Knowledge, experience, and a modern, wellmaintained fleet enables KPCL to build today for a brighter tomorrow. s

An engineered approach to solving dust containment problems at conveyor transfers

Material and dust containment.

Safety and health hazards make containing dust and fines nonnegotiable in today’s mining environment. Additional problems associated with dust include environmental risks, increased house-keeping, and damage to equipment, as well as loss of product.

Identifying root causes is the first step to successfully solve the problem of airborne dust. Any time conveyed product is in motion it has the potential to generate dust. Dust and fines can be assumed if the product is moving, if there is an area of material free fall, and at any conveyor transfer areas. Our focus will be on dust that is specifically created at transfer areas where the conveyor is receiving material.

Engineered Passive Dust Containment is a system design that allows airborne dust to “settle” into the main stream of product

without auxiliary equipment or additives to suppress or collect the dust particles. The Passive System does not require traditional methods of dust suppression such as water or chemical sprays or vacuum dust collection.

A Passive Containment System keeps material on the belt throughout the length of the conveyor transfer. It employs a series of chambers that are designed to reduce air velocity and allow dust particles to settle back down to the belt before exiting the transfer area.

The Passive Dust Containment System uses guidelines from CEMA (Conveyor Equipment Manufacturer’s Association) to determine the recommended time and distance for material settling at the load zone. This helps determine the general length of the skirtboard beyond the impact zone.

This engineered system is built on three essentials:

1. Establish correct belting elevation for consistent support. The impact-resistant cradleshaped Impact Saddle® with seal bar is recommended along with the use of Cushion Arc® impact idlers placed before and after the Impact Saddle bed. According to CEMA standard 575, Impact Saddles are directly interchangeable with impact idlers and have the benefit of providing full trough support. The full support surface eliminates pinch points or gaps to provide the best foundation for sealing characteristics. Correct belt support and elevation are fundamental to a successful material containment system.

2. Next, a multi-layered approach that contains bulk material with internal wear liners and

external skirting media to seal dust. Additional components including skirtboards or skirt clamps in a variety of configurations and rubber. Ceramic or rubber/ceramic matrix Canoe Liners® can be recommended based on the needs of the application.

3. And lastly, once a solid base is in place and bulk materials and fines are contained, additional dust control components such as entry and exit dust curtains, dust-settling chambers, and end pieces are added to effectively create a total system design.

When fitted with an Engineered Passive Dust Containment System, busy transfer areas can be well equipped to handle the demands of efficiency, productivity, and safety that are required.

Reliable, worry-free transfer areas are engineered every day at Richwood. To learn more about

dust and material containment solutions, visit www.richwood.com. s

Protect your Investments from Load Zone Impact

Damage.

Richwood Impact Saddles® are the original belt support system with full curved trough design.

Efficient load zones depend on properly designed, reliable support. The continuous impact bed formed by the Impact Saddle® provides unequaled protection against belt punctures, rip and tears. This foundational component provides the ideal base for safe and contained load zones. What would it mean for your productivity if worry-free load zones were a part of your belt line? Call today +1 (304) 525-5436.

Rely on

RICHWOOD IMPACT SADDLES ®

www.richwood.com

Richwood dust containment.

Trust the experts

IWL Steel Fabricators was originally established in the 1950s in Saskatoon, Sask.

We are proudly 100 per cent Aboriginal owned by the Clearwater River Dene Nation of LaLoche, Sask. Clearwater River Dene Nation is the fourth generation of ownership at IWL, and is committed to growing and expanding the company to meet its full potential. In return, profits are returned to ownership to be used at the band level to fund community needs, including housing, infrastructure, and social programs.

Through the core competencies of the Clearwater River Group of Companies, we are able to provide fullservice, cost-effective customer solutions for a wide array of projects, large or small. With three fabrication facilities, we have a multitude of options to best facilitate project execution.

IWL is certified to Canadian Welding Bureau CSA Standard 47.1 – Division 2. We employ Level 2 and Level 1 CWB Welding Inspectors, as well as CWBcertified welding supervisors. All welding personnel hold valid CWB tickets for various procedures and material alloys.

Our Quality Management System is third-party audited by Quasar via the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction. The cornerstones of the system include material traceability, dimensional verification, ITP implementation, project execution, and subcontractor management.

By being signatory to Mission: Zero we support the goal of a workplace with zero injuries. With a focus on safety first to prevent injury, and elimination of unsafe work practices, we provide our employees with a safe work environment. In addition, we are ISNetworld certified as a subcontractor, consistently maintaining an “A” rating with our clients.

With professional engineers on staff working in conjunction with external engineering firms, we provide an integrated approach to project solutions. Our CAD/CAM department uses 3D modelling technology to provide detailed fabrication drawings for both shop and field use; as well as input data for our robotic fabrication equipment.

3D modelling provides a seamless transition from

the design concept to the reality of fabrication. The direct interface of modelling software to automated fabrication ensures the additional benefit of increased productivity, integrated project management, scheduling accuracy, reduced field cost, and maximum site efficiency.

By continuing to invest in new equipment and the latest technology, more efficient material processing is an ongoing goal. A recently purchased, fully automated five-axis processing machine is able to cut, bevel, and cope pipe and tubing up to 12 inches in diametre. The accuracy and efficiency of this process will ensure decreased delivery times for processed material. In addition to pipe processing, the new technology is able to bevel, weld prep, and countersink plate up to a maximum of two inches.

Material is traceable throughout the fabrication process. At time of drawing issue, all pieces are assigned a unique barcode. This barcode forms the basis of all documentation moving forward. Barcode scanning ensures accurate shipping documents and eliminates the possibility of delivery delays or missing components. Through cellphone technology, we are able to facilitate barcode scanning on site to further assist in material receiving, tracking, and site storage.

We can perform work as a supplier to a project owner or general contractor, or act as a general contractor and manage several subtrades.

We are a multi-dimensional fabricator with capabilities to do a wide range of steel fabrication projects:

• Structural steel, pipe supports, pipe skids, and modules;

• Platework – tanks, chutework, pump boxes, surge bins, hoppers, and launders;

• Material handling – conveyor galleries, belt conveyors, cross conveyors, mechanical soft drop system, and bucket elevator casings;

• Splitter gates, grizzlies, material gates, motor bases, and pipe spools;

• Platforms, stairs, handrail, and mezzanines;

• ASME welding, sandblasting, painting, galvanizing, and installation services are available through our qualified subcontractors. s

Reinforcing

Follow

us on

The advantage of potassium acetate in de-icing operations

Many industrial operations need freeze prevention agents but cannot tolerate chlorides reducing the life of their capital assets or any deicers that will adversely impact the local environment. Nachurs-Alpine Solutions offers the environmentally benign chemistry of potassium acetate 50 per cent that fits the needs of these industrial customers across North America. The chemistry is almost identical to liquid fertilizers that are used widely throughout the continent. The product works to temperatures that are well below zero degrees Fahrenheit / -20 degrees Celsius. Our products are produced in our Belle Plaine, Sask. manufacturing facility under

the trade names of Alpine Ice Melt (clear) and Alpine RF-11 (tinted blue).

Some of the relevant product applications where customers have used the product to improve product handling, to reduce unfavourable environmental impacts, are:

• Through an application arm for the liquid product to apply a fine mist on top of the covers of outbound potash railcars to prevent the formation and accumulation of snow and ice during transit.

• On conveyor belts moving ore, coal, and other aggregates.

• As a replacement for glycerinbased products to eliminate negative environmental impacts.

• Spraying the sides and bottoms of hopper railcars and large dump trucks that hold industrial aggregates to prevent the freeze bond while not corroding the vehicle body.

• Spraying a light mist on top of the vehicle after loading to prevent ice caps on top of the vehicle.

• Applied as a dust suppressant.

• Applied as a light mist (like the product application on airport runways) on paved walking and working surfaces in many industrial facilities specifically to prevent slips, trips, and falls in the workplace to meet safety objectives and reduce insurance claims.

Stay Curious.

• Many industrial facilities also use the product on internal roadways to prevent snow and ice accumulation, particularly where the local environment or costly infrastructure would be compromised by the use of chlorides for this purpose.

engcomp.ca

As a trusted engineering firm, Engcomp is driven to provide clients with innovative solutions to meet their complex project needs. Proficient in overseeing and completing projects from conceptual design and feasibility studies to detailed engineering, we specialize in risk analysis, cost estimating, and project planning.

As a trusted engineering firm, Engcomp is driven to provide clients with innovative solutions to meet their complex project needs. Proficient in overseeing and completing projects from conceptual design and feasibility studies to detailed engineering, we specialize in risk analysis, cost estimating, and project planning.

As a trusted engineering firm, Engcomp is driven to provide clients with innovative solutions to meet their complex project needs. Proficient in overseeing and completing projects from conceptual design and feasibility studies to detailed engineering, we specialize in risk analysis, cost estimating, and project planning.

Mining Engineering | Mechanical Engineering | Structural Engineering | Electrical Engineering | Process Engineering Cost Engineering | Risk & Decision Analysis | Project Management | Specialty Services

Mining Engineering | Mechanical Engineering | Structural Engineering | Electrical Engineering | Process Engineering

Mining Engineering | Mechanical Engineering | Structural Engineering | Electrical Engineering | Process Engineering Cost Engineering | Risk & Decision Analysis | Project Management | Specialty Services

Cost Engineering | Risk & Decision Analysis | Project Management | Specialty Services

Please call us 1-800-622-4877 ext. 300, or contact us at nasi_cs@nasindustrial.com so that we may have the opportunity to discuss how our products can help you operate more smoothly, safely, and sustainably. s

Threeosix Industrial goes beyond expectations

Threeosix Industrial is a professional and progressive multi-discipline industrial solutions provider operating in the four sectors of infrastructure, mining, industrial, and energy. Based in Saskatoon, Sask., with offices also located in Calgary and Edmonton, we pride ourselves on safety, quality, and service first. At Threeosix we consider every project as our most important. From start to finish, and everything in between, we will ensure your entire project is completed as required and on time.

As a civil engineering technologist with roots in Saskatchewan, it made sense for Scott Longmuir to create something that could help the province and one of its largest resources, potash. Now heading Threeosix Industrial as acting CEO, Longmuir and his team has grown Threeosix from focusing on underground mining equipment and facilities to several other sectors that benefit our country. Some of these include steel, manufacturing, and energy,

whether it’s conventional oil and gas or renewables and hydrogen. We strive to be at the forefront of innovation and to bring success to our clients’ needs.

Whether you require EPC (engineering procurement and construction) services, construction management, fully integrated civil services in brownfield or greenfield environments, safe and efficient state-of-the-art structural steelerection services, or vertically integrated mechanical and piping services, we can successfully lead or support your project. We will ensure we meet expectations relating to safety, environmental responsibility, quality, and schedule. Our objective is to continually develop these long-term and meaningful relationships with project owners by providing prompt service and an undisputed commitment to transparency.

Our ventures speak to our team’s work ethic and drive. Having recently signed on to a public-

private partnership, Threeosix is proud to say we are working with the City of Edmonton on their $1.8 billion transit line, the Valley Line LRT. This new train line will run 13 kilometres, helping to connect downtown and will include 11 stops with a short tunnel. Another joint venture we are excited for is with Marcel Colomb First Nation and their Lynn Lake Projects. We will be in charge of all contracting for the redevelopment of two gold mines on their territory, the Gordon site and MacLellan site. As well, we are now a valuable partner in the renewable natural gas industry. Having partnered with CEM Engineering, we will help engineer and construct an RNG plant out of Delta, B.C. to bring natural gas to the city of Vancouver.

Being a top-tier organization also means a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and hiring from the communities in which we work. As such, we recognize the importance of bringing Indigenous and female employees into non-traditional

Structural and infrastructure installation for LRT project.

Structural and concrete remediation on existing mill infrastructure.

and leadership roles within the company and assuring them an environment in which they can thrive.

We are also very proud of our Indigenous partnerships that we have developed over the years. Threeosix takes into consideration the environmental well-being of traditional territory, as well as culture and traditions during and after the negotiation process. We operate at an industry-

standard level of respect and cooperation among all parties involved, which has allowed us to acquire partnerships and joint-venture agreements with several Indigenous communities. Supporting and giving back to all our communities in every aspect is vital to us at Threeosix.

As a company, we are innovative and on the cutting edge, but we realize it’s not only what we do but also how we do it. Our well-

rounded team shows up with a strong work ethic and can be counted on to do the right thing regardless of the situation. We build our business on a foundation of integrity, and it shows up in our people, our culture, and the work we do.

Our daily goal is to collectively provide a professionally managed and safety-conscious approach that is easily recognized as the new standard. s

— BEYOND EXPECTATIONS —

Threeosix Industrial is based in Saskatoon with offices located in Calgary and Edmonton. Operating in the four sectors of Infrastructure, Mining, Ag Industrial and Energy, the company provides professionally managed services with a safety conscious approach. Threeosix has a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, and has successfully entered into several Indigenous partnerships. Innovative and on the cutting edge, Threeosix takes pride with their continued focus on safety, quality and service first.

From left to right: Excavator cutting and profiling floor for concrete placement; Workers installing preventative ground support; Skids steer cutting the roof for infrastructure installation.

A committed partner to the potash industry

the early planning stages in 2019, through execution and commissioning in 2020 as our world was turned upside down. Tapping into Belterra’s resources from across the country, this project remains one of the company’s most successful ever.

Belterra remains a committed supplier and partner of the potash industry in Saskatchewan. With two branches located in Saskatoon and Regina, Belterra is strategically located to serve the industry.

With over $4 million in inventory between the two branches alone, and over $35 million nationwide, odds are that we’ll have the parts or products on hand to keep your plant running.

As well, both branches are outfitted with fully functioning service crews, designed to service the potash industry 24/7, 365 days a year. This, combined with our other 19 branches across Canada, means that no job is too big or too small for Belterra to handle.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected us all; Belterra and its employees included. But the fact that Belterra was able to complete the 2020 Mosaic K3 to K1 overland conveyor project during this crisis is a testament to the commitment that Belterra has to the potash industry. The project lasted 10 months in total, from

Coming out of COVID, Belterra has continued our investment into the region in general and the potash industry specifically. Partnering with ICL to help facilitate in the production and supply of an underground PVC belt to two of the main producers in Saskatchewan has helped them reduce production costs during these unpredictable times. Belterra has also increased its commitment to transitioning from just-in-time deliveries to just in case, by keeping dedicated inventory in the province to better support our potash customers.

As well, Belterra continues to expand our Mechanical Services division, enabling us to better help maintain your entire conveyor systems and material handling equipment.

From our days as Mid-West Belting and Hose, to whatever the future may bring, Belterra remains a committed partner to the potash industry. s

PDAC 2023 Awards recognize five outstanding industry leaders

The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) is honoured to announce that five top international and domestic performers were selected for their distinctions, contributions, and successes in mineral exploration and development.

Now in its 45th year, the annual PDAC Awards showcase individuals, teams, and companies who are exceptional leaders of the industry.

Congratulations to the following PDAC 2023 Award recipients for their outstanding accomplishments.

• Chris Taylor and the Great Bear Resources Exploration Team (Bill Dennis Award)

For the discovery of the Dixie gold deposit when others believed all the multi-million ounce deposits in Ontario’s Red Lake camp had been found.

• Glenn Nolan (Skookum Jim Award)

For his leadership in fostering economic opportunities for First Nations on their traditional lands, and for his long history of volunteerism.

• The Lundin Foundation (Sustainability Award)

For creating an organization funded by mining revenue with the sole purpose of providing lasting benefits for communities surrounding Lundin Group of Companies’ operations.

• Chalice Mining’s Kevin Frost & Morgan Frejabise (Thayer Lindsley Award)

For the Julimar Nickel-Copper-PGE discovery under cover near Perth, Australia in 2020.

• Alamos Gold’s John A. McCluskey (Viola R. MacMillan Award)

For showing leadership and a willingness to take risks in the acquisition and development of the Island Gold Mine in Northern Ontario.

“PDAC Awards can be considered the Golden Globes of mineral exploration and development, and I am proud to announce the five deserving recipients that were selected for 2023,” said Alex Christopher, PDAC president. “We know that our industry is vital for the social and economic strength of Canada, and by honouring excellence through PDAC Awards, we can showcase the responsible ways that mineral exploration and mining makes modern life possible

PDAC 2023 will take place in person in Toronto, Canada from March 5-8, 2023. Photo

today, tomorrow, and into the low-carbon future we are headed.”

Recipients will be celebrated at a prestigious Awards Gala in Toronto on Tuesday, March 7, during the PDAC 2023 Convention. Tickets can be purchased in December once the PDAC Convention registration is open.

PDAC’s Board of Directors select award recipients based on recommendations of the association’s Awards Committee. More information about PDAC 2023 Award Recipients is available on our website at www.pdac.ca/about-pdac/awards/2023-awardrecipients.

Please visit the website for information about PDAC Awards and 2024 nominations.

About PDAC

The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) is the leading voice of the mineral exploration and development community, an industry that supports 719,000 people in direct and indirect employment, and contributes $106 billion to Canada’s GDP every year. Representing over 6,000 members around the world, PDAC’s work centres on supporting a competitive, responsible, and sustainable mineral sector.

PDAC 2023 will take place in person in Toronto, Canada from March 5-8, 2023. Please visit www.pdac.ca for more information. s

courtesy of the PDAC.

Exceeding expectations STRATO Inc.

STRATO Inc. (www.stratoinc.com) is solely focused on designing superior railway products to exceed customer expectations of performance. We recognize that our customers need products that are engineered to perform better than current AAR minimum standards for today’s railroad operating environment. Our 54-year culture of innovation and improvement enables our customers to run longer and heavier trains efficiently and with confidence.

Unit Train Focus

STRATO understands the critical value of transporting your product to your customers via rail in a dedicated unit train. Very much like a chain, a unit train is only as productive as the weakest component allows it to be. STRATO is committed to continuously researching, testing, and improving the products we manufacture to provide our customers with the

greatest level of reliability and performance, second to none.

Knuckle Performance Study

In 2018, a Canadian Class One Railroad replaced all the existing knuckles on its dedicated unit train fleet to StratoMAX® AAR M-216 knuckles. The in-service performance of the fleet using 100 per cent StratoMAX® knuckles exceeded expectations in speed and reliability by virtually eliminating undesired train stoppages related to knuckle breakage. The railroad has realized lower operating costs and higher productivity on the unit train fleet creating greater service value to its customers.

The same performance advantage and productivity improvement that has been achieved by similar customers can be obtained by all unit train owners who specify StratoMAX® M-216 knuckles for their entire railcar fleet.

StratoMAX® knuckles, couplers, and yokes are designed for longer and heavier trains in unit train service. STRATO designed the StratoMAX® M-216 knuckle to exceed the fatigue service life of all other knuckles making it the most reliable, longestlasting knuckle on the market.

Truck performance

In 2020, STRATO introduced its line of railcar truck Bearing Adapters with Shear Pads. STRATO’s Shear Pads improve curving performance and rolling resistance, translating into significantly extended wheel life. Extensive testing of the STRATO Shear Pads shows the STRATO design to have a 2:1 longer service life, resulting in greater wheel protection and lower maintenance costs. The shear pad also possesses a superior resistance to high temperatures created by friction within the bearings that often causes other pads to melt. Trucks fitted with STRATO Bearing Adapters and Shear Pads stay in service longer, providing the owner with higher productivity and greater return on assets.

Transportation strategy

As the cost of transporting cargo continues to rise, increasing rolling stock productivity is critical to the success of your business. No other rail systems partner understands this more than STRATO. The most effective strategy to achieve the greatest efficiency and return on assets is to specify StratoMAX® Couplers and Knuckles, and STRATO Bearing Adapters and Shear Pads to maximize the in-service performance of your railcars. s

We are under attack!

In late October of 2019, the FBI and Homeland Security joined the IT community at a well-attended IT conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. The annual conference is called IT Nation and is intended to keep IT service providers up to speed with the ever-changing IT landscape.

The message the FBI gave the IT service provider community was clear. They simply stated that billions of dollars are leaving North America and the money is

going to areas in the world where they can’t go. Places in China and Russia where the FBI can’t simply waltz in and capture hackers stealing our hard-earned money.

IT hackers are more sophisticated and organized than the mafia was back in the ‘40s and ‘50s. These cyber criminals have nineto-five jobs and work in shifts around the clock. They are using the most sophisticated tools and training. They are relentless and remorseless.

So what companies are hackers attacking?

I used to tell people that it was the bigger companies that were at most risk… then a statistic came out showing 43 per cent of attacks are on the small- and medium-sized companies. Now I simply say that they are attacking every business. The successful attacks are simply on companies that are not prepared – big or small, it doesn’t matter.

How do I know if my company is safe?

No companies are safe. The ideal company for a hacker is one that pays no attention to their computers and how they are used for their business. Companies that haven’t made serious changes recently (over the past two years) are most likely to get hacked. Companies used to be safe with three levels of security; they had a decent firewall, some pretty good anti-virus, and a solid backup. These three things kept most businesses secure for decades. That’s not enough with today’s IT threats. Employees are blurring the lines between work and personal. Work from home has added to this as well. What this means is that people use their work devices for personal use, and vice versa. So why is this bad?

Here is a typical example. Let’s say Jerry is an employee at Acme Company. He decides to get a membership at a local gym and uses his work email to create an account, and he uses his work password because he hates remembering so many passwords. Now, let’s say the hackers end up hacking that gym company and now has Jerry’s username (work email) and password. The hackers will take this username and password combination and start trying them everywhere they can until it unlocks the doors at Acme Company and they walk right in

through the front door with no alarms!

So, what can companies do?

Go find an IT partner that attends these conferences and find one that cares about and won’t stop talking about IT security. Find one that talks about all the new layers of security… layers like cyber awareness training, password management, AI-driven anti-virus, endpoint detection and response, and security operations centres. Bigger IT companies don’t necessarily mean they are better. It may even mean the opposite as

large IT companies are too large to adopt all these changes into their services portfolio. Smaller companies, if driven well, can accommodate the new threat landscape and make necessary changes over night. Look for an IT partner that spends a lot of time analyzing and planning rather than providing ad-hoc break-fix services. Band-aid reactionary services are more expensive in the long run.

For more information, contact Pat Kolysher, chief experience officer at Anchor Managed Solutions Ltd., at info@anchorms.com. s

For your manufacturing needs

Right: S120-4x4, 12,000 lb capacity, low profile –

From humble beginnings over 50 years ago, Sellick Equipment Limited has built a reputation as a custom manufacturer of material handling. This ability to build customized machinery has enabled Sellick to meet the needs of the mining industry. With a close proximity to salt mines in both Windsor and Goderich, Ont., Sellick was called upon early in the company’s history to be involved in developing various underground equipment. This included personnel carriers, capable of carrying 12 workers and doubling as an emergency vehicle, and various adaptations of a rough terrain forklift to

deliver ANFO material used for blasting.

Sellick has also supplied many of the potash mines in Saskatchewan with a variety of both surface and underground material-handling solutions.

The company also found success in the United States supplying mines in Louisiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Nevada with equipment.

In recent years, Sellick, along with distributor Brandt Tractor, have developed low-profile, 8,000-

and 10,000-pound capacity four-wheel drive forklifts for use underground. These machines are equipped with ROPS overhead guard protection, fire suppression systems, LED lighting, fully automatic transmissions, and optional hydraulic fork positioners.

On surface, the Sellick line up of rough terrain forklifts range in capacities from 5,000 to 16,000 pounds. Machines can be equipped with fully enclosed air-conditioned cabs, four-wheel drive, and lift heights to 22 feet. s

Left to right: S120 4x4, 12,000 lbs. capacity, full ROPS Cab, Surface; SLP60 4x4 chassis conversion to a rock bolter; Sellick model PC-120 Personnel/Ambulance Underground.

Above: SLP-100 4x4, 10,000 lbs. capacity low profile (75-inch) ROPS canopy.

85 inch.

When your products are handled in adverse conditions then Sellick has a forklift for you. Built to meet the heavy demands of North American industries, Sellick’s over 50 years of manufacturing experience provides designs to enhance profitability, productivity, and safety. These include hydraulic fork movement, a variety of fork lengths and attachments, solid and pneumatic tires, air conditioned cabs, and a wide range of lift heights with capacities from 5,000 to 16,000 lbs. Sellick products are supported by a nationwide dealer network providing superior support for parts and service needs. Call toll-free or e-mail us today for complete information. 1-877-SELLICK (735-5425) sales@sellickequipment.com

Pumps are at the heart of fertilizer production, and correct equipment selection that takes into consideration hydraulic design, materials, application knowledge, duty point and maintenance regime are critical to achieving reliable long-term pumping operation and maximum plant production. As an expert in solutions for corrosive and abrasive liquids, or those with high gas content, Sulzer offers a complete range of pumps, agitators, mixers and compressors for the fertilizer industry. Our innovative products are suitable for the production of potash, phosphate and NPK compound fertilizers as well as acids and industrial chemicals.

Sulzer’s global presence provides local support and expertise through a network of manufacturing facilities and service centers. Our solutions combine energy efficiency, low lifecycle costs, reduced environmental footprints and excellent reliability.

Contact us today to learn more.

Sulzer Pumps (Canada) Inc. Phone (514) 836-3796, salah.attie@sulzer.com www.sulzer.com

Do you have old obsolete speed reducers? Sumitomo can help!

Paramax reducer with side motor mount, kidney lube system and rigid output coupling.

Paramax reducer with bottom motor mount, kidney lube system and rigid output coupling.

The potash industry in Canada dates back to the early 1960’s, that’s over 60 years. Over this time, a lot has changed with multiple generations of speed reducers being installed. Some, but not many, are still in service and need to be replaced or repaired. Parts and direct replacements are no longer available.

Sumitomo Drive Technologies (SM Cyclo of Canada, Ltd.) and Hansen Industrial Transmission have worked with all the potash mines in Canada, primarily Saskatchewan. We have been very successful in replacing some of these old obsolete units with current units that offer higher mechanical ratings and higher efficiencies than the old obsolete ones.

We pride ourselves in thinking outside the box, talking to the customer to understand their challenges and finding out what they would like to see in their new drive arrangement.

Many times we are asked to replace old units that have large chain drives on the head shaft to eliminate that chain drive and mount the reducer directly on the shaft. We can do that! You don’t want the motor on top of the reducer as it will be too high for the maintenance team. We will work with you to find the perfect solution.

Do you have a drive that has no head room or bottom room to mount a motor? We can help design

Paramax reducer upright mounted with motor lantern and transition base to offer drop in replacement.

a side-mount motor mount and work with the space you have available. Sumitomo is ready for any challenging application and will fully explain how our drive system will work in your application. We will never leave you guessing how things will be installed or operated.

Do you have an application where you want to keep that chain drive but want a drop-in replacement? We can help with that as well. We have many different drive styles: inline, right angle, parallel, offset parallel. Not to mention our electrical division includes motors, VFD’s, and condition monitoring systems.

Sumitomo Drive Technologies (SM Cyclo of Canada, Ltd.) and Hansen Industrial Transmission have been working with the potash companies in Canada since the early ‘70s with the Hansen product. Those potash companies have grown with the Sumitomo product lines since we opened in Canada in 1984. We currently have well over 1,000 Paramax and Hansen drives installed and running. We are very proud to say we help produce the potash in Canada that helps feed the world.

If you have a tough critical piece of equipment that you need to run trouble free, please call Sumitomo Drive Technologies and let us show you what we can do. s

Venables Machine Works is all about adapting to changes over time

Far left: Venables manufacturing facility is located in Saskatoon, Sask. and includes 56 employees.

Venables has gained a wealth of experience and knowledge through their involvement in many industries over the years, including mining, oil and gas-powered generation, and agriculture.

Machine shop

It has been Venables Machine Works’ goal since 1931 to become an all-around multi-service industrial manufacturer by vertically integrating and expanding. Specializing in large-scale custom and production services for local and global markets, through the addition of new manufacturing capabilities, the adoption of new technology, and the expansion of our in-house services and equipment, we are proud to say we have continued to meet the needs of a changing market.

Venables manufacturing facility is located in Saskatoon, Sask. and includes 56 employees. The 40,000-square-foot manufacturing facility includes the following:

• *New machine alert* JT15 YCM

High-Performance Vertical Machining Centre

• 40-foot side walls

• 30-foot-by-30-foot overhead door

• Three 10-tonne, two seven-anda-half-tonne, four five-tonne, and one 25-tonne overhead bridge cranes

We have gained a wealth of experience and knowledge through

our involvement in many industries over the years, including mining, oil and gas-powered generation, and agriculture. With our commitment to listening to clients’ needs and solving problems, we have built a long-lasting relationship and provided them with products of exceptional value. We are known industry wide as the shop that is committed to conducting business with honesty, integrity, and quality while exceeding expectations of a vast customer base.

As a company that is employee owned and operated, we have a great sense of care for our community. These core values ensure our customers spend more time working on what is important and less time searching for a shop they can trust.

Services

Welding & Fabrication

• Large-scale fabrication

• Custom & production fabrication

• Equipped welding & fabrication shop, supported by an experienced team of CWBcertified journeyman welders and fabricators

• Conventional and latest in CNC equipment

• Production and custom machining

• Large-diameter and weight capacities

• Expert journeyman machinist and skilled operators

• Prototype testing and design validation

• Portable INSITU machining and welding

• Mobile and on-site equipment repairs

• Emergency repair services

Mechanical Repair & Assembly

• Team of millwrights & mechanics experienced in all facets of the steel manufacturing industry and the unique repair requirements

If you do not know where to start, our engineering and design capabilities can assist in taking a project from concept to reality with ease. Once a product is designed and manufactured, we can also assist in prototype testing and authentication using in-house testing combined with a comprehensive quality management system.

Engineering & Design

Our team of highly trained and industry-experienced engineer technologists uses the latest in design software and provides valueadded solutions to take the project from concepts to reality with 3D CAD modelling, design analysis, and finite element analysis simulation.

Pump services

With over 90 years of experience in professional pump rebuilds and repairs, we offer a comprehensive range of pump services, including:

• Design and application consulting, including reverse engineering of pump parts

• Pump-related material application, improvement, and recommendations

• In-house service capabilities covering all facets of machining and welding to yield expert pump

rebuild with quick turnaround back to OEM or better tolerances.

• Application of industrial coatings to extend the life of your pump

• Provide full quotations with detailed as received inspection reports

Through many years of experience, we have collected a variety of expertise in a variety of pumps and components, including, but not limited to:

• Deep well turbine

• Vertical turbine pumps

• Submersible turbines

• Wastewater pumps

• Multi-stage centrifugal pumps

• Rotary gear pump

• Sump pumps

• Vacuum pumps

• High-pressure pump and components

• Impellers, volutes, and stuffing boxes

• Pump columns and shafts

• Discharge housing

2023 commemorates our 92nd anniversary. Though we are extremely proud of this accomplishment, we are humbled to be among the few companies to reach such a significant milestone. This longevity is a testament to the employees, customers, suppliers, and community we have worked with over the years. s

Mining the right fit

performed by women. Much work is still needed to reach that goal, but their efforts ought to be commended, as it is the most women we have outfitted within a single organization.

Having the opportunity to communicate with a diverse group of women was both exciting and enlightening. The majority of their feedback was positive in regards to the fit, function, style, and fabric. However, many pointed out areas in which our clothing could be improved, specifically the fit of our women’s pants.

Recently, the MWG team had the privilege of visiting Canada’s newest – and soon to be largest –potash mine.

As production of the mine site began to ramp up, the workforce expanded, and there was a need for new arc-resistant workwear. With years of experience supplying mines with arc- and flame-resistant apparel, MWG was the brand of choice to help manage this project.

We were proud to be selected as the clothing supplier for this site. Our lightweight and breathable blends served as the perfect fabric for working in hot environments, both above and underground, and our dedication and commitment to diversity in the workplace aligned with the company’s internal mandate

to have at least 50 per cent of technical roles performed by women.

To ensure a smooth rollout in the early stages of the program, our safety, design, and customer experience experts were invited on-site to conduct one-on-one fittings and tailoring for the men and women working on site.

What had us surprised – and excited – was the number of women, both in trade and office positions, who were required to wear our flame- and arc-resistant apparel.

The number of women working in trade and technical roles still remains low across industries.

At this mine site, the company’s mission is to have at least half of their trade and technical roles

Listening to these comments, we redesigned our women’s pants. The hips and thighs were relaxed to allow for ease of movement, and the rise has been raised for a more modern fit and feel. We designed and manufactured these pants prior to their initial delivery, only months after receiving their feedback.

Upon delivery of these newly designed pants, the women at the mine site and offices were thrilled with the outcome of the design. More so, they were grateful we took the time to actually listen and incorporate their ideas into our new pant.

Ultimately, our goal is to keep everyone safe and comfortable while at work. The more we hear from you, the closer we come to achieving that goal. Hearing from you helps us create clothing that really works and that you’ll really enjoy wearing. s

Excellence in customer service

FINDING THE RIGHT SOLUTION FOR THE JOB KEEPS DSG CUSTOMERS COMING BACK

There are many aspects to excellence in customer service, but finding the right solutions for customers pays dividends in critical applications.

In 1983, Percy Hoff, then a 32-yearold immigrant from South Africa, landed in Saskatoon and soon began applying his family-learned business model to market his broad knowledge of diesel engines and equipment. His actions became the foundation for a successful business model.

“The right application for the job is critical to our customer’s success,” explains Hoff. “To do this, we use an internally coined term called ‘customer interrogation’.

Customer interrogation means asking probing questions about the specification and/or needs of every solution they are seeking.”

For example, if a customer in the mining industry is purchasing a diesel engine, it would be essential to know whether they plan to use it underground or on the surface. If it goes underground, what regulations apply to exhaust emission controls? How dusty are the working conditions? What considerations are there for corrosion or dust ingestion?

The principle of asking the right questions before proposing a solution applies across DSG’s product lines. When discussing chemical fuel treatments, it is critical to understand the customer’s problem or potential problem. Diesel fuel, when it leaves refineries, meets all specifications and works well. Most customers do not know that the heat and high pressure in modern diesel engines play havoc with good clean fuel, and fuel systems get contaminated from the inside. Again, the right formula for specific use is massively essential.

Power generation is another area where the skill of asking questions and listening carefully is essential.

“We field requests for quotations every day, which are very general,”

Percy Hoff, CEO of DSG Power Systems.

When discussing chemical fuel treatments, it is critical to understand the customer’s problem or potential problem.

says Hoff. “A salesperson can easily mislead a customer with a low price for a generator set that will not do the job or prove durable enough.”

DSG Power Systems’ business model has proven successful over a long time, helping customers across the country with engines, parts, fuel treatments, generator sets, and switchgear. DSG customers include mining, agriculture, oilfield, construction, and fuel jobbers.

DSG offers parts and repair services for all diesel engines, including factory-certified support for Perkins, Kubota, Yanmar, and

Kohler engines. DSG builds its PowerPro brand of generator sets at the Saskatoon plant and provides specialty options from Blue Star Generators and others.

DSG blends and packages the 4+ line of diesel fuel additives and conditioners at the 31,000-squarefoot facility in Saskatoon.

4+ additives are marketed internationally and have carved out a reputation for robust performance.

For more information on DSG Power Systems, please visit DieselServices.com, or call 800-667-6879. Email Sales@DieselServices.com. s

The principle of asking the right questions before proposing a solution applies across DSG’s product lines.

DSG offers parts and repair services for all diesel engines, including factory-certified support for Perkins, Kubota, Yanmar, and Kohler engines.

INDEX TO advertisers

A Year in Review

....................................................................................... 24

AMI Supply 58

Anchor Managed Solutions 109

Applied Industrial Technoligies IBC

Armour Safety Consulting & Training 25

Belterra Corporation

.................................................................................. 103

BHP 29

Bit Service Company 85

Cando Rail Services ..................................................................................... 58

CanNorth Environmental Services 35

CODC ............................................................................................................... 16

Comairco 87

Commercial Sand Blasting & Painting 3

Continental Conveyor ................................................................................... 99

Continental Mine & Industrial Supply Ltd. 39

Custom Machine and Mechanical Services Ltd. ....................................... 47

Deca Industries OFC, 32 & 33

Derrick Corporation 4

DSG Power Systems ................................................................................... 119

DSI Underground 97

EECOL Electric 88

Engcomp 98

Feeco International, Inc. 63

Fletcher Mining Equipment .......................................................................... 71

GE Environmental Solutions Inc. 99

Graham OBC Hardrock-Vertex ........................................................................................... 38

HD Engineering & Design 70

Hoffman Group ............................................................................................... 31

Inproheat Industries Ltd. 69

International Brotherhood Of Boilermakers – Local 555 113

IWL Steel Fabricators Ltd. ........................................................................... 97

JA Tech Power Systems 83

JRL Consulting 103

Kelly Panteluk Construction Ltd. 93

Kennametal 103

Kristian Electric Ltd. .................................................................................... 107

Littelfuse Inc. 9

Ludman Industries 67

March Consulting Associates Inc. ............................................................. 55

McKercher LLP 43

Mine Supply Company ................................................................................... 27

MWG Apparel Corp. 117

Nachurs Alpine Solutions Industrial

.......................................................... 44

National Steel Car .......................................................................................... 73

Northern Resource Trucking 37 Nouryon 6

Nutana Machine 121

Nutrien 17

PCL Construction Manangement Inc. 77 PDAC ............................................................................................................. 105

Pebco, Inc. ....................................................................................................... 25

PICA

.............................................................................................................. 103

Pocono Fabricators 28

Precision Electro Mechanical 23

Process Combustion Systems Inc. 40

ProcessBarron 53 Q-Line Trucking 41

RESPEC

............................................................................................................. 5

Richwood ........................................................................................................ 95

Ross Machine Shop ...................................................................................... 30 Rotex Global LLC 18 & 19

RS Breakers & Controls 51

Saskatchewan Research Council IFC SaskTel 7

SaskWater 26

Sellick Equipment Ltd. .................................................................................. 111 Sentrimax Centrifuges Inc. .......................................................................... 41 ServcoCanada 91 Solex Thermal Science 57 Standard Machine 21 Strato Inc. 15

Sulzer Pumps Canada Inc. 111 Sumitomo Drive Technologies 113

Sutton Benefits & Pension .......................................................................... 81

The Mosaic Company

.................................................................................... 13

Threeosix 101

Timberland Equipment Limited 106

Ulma Conveyor Components 78

Venables Machine Works Limited 115

Voith Canada Inc. 50

Welco

.............................................................................................................. 49

West River Conveyors & Machinery Company

......................................... 11

Western Heritage .......................................................................................... 79

Westpro Machinery 45