The Provincial Government has announced the first Subsurface Mineral Right Public Offering. It involves a competitive auction process for rights to potash and brine mineral exploration and development. The first offering will be held December 18th. The rights allow the holder to explore for all natural mineral salts and their compounds occurring more than 60 metres below the land surface. Energy and Resources Minister Bronwyn Eyre says, “The competitive bid process was prompted by the need to modernize the province’s procedure for disposing of subsurface mineral rights.” Subsequent offerings will be held every April, August and December. The ministry says that Saskatchewan is considered to be one of the most favourable jurisdictions in the world for investment in mineral exploration.