BHP is moving up its schedule for the Jansen potash project in Saskatchewan. CEO Mike Henry says in BHP’s operational review for the year that ended on June 30th, “Our $5.7-billion Jansen potash project in Canada is tracking to plan and we are working to bring first production forward to 2026.” That’s a year earlier than originally scheduled.

Henry considers potash a significant growth opportunity for BHP and he expects it will become a significant part of the BHP business over time. The report states that the Jansen shaft project is 98 per cent complete and the Jansen Stage 1 project, which is the design, engineering and construction of the potash mine and the surface infrastructure, is three per cent complete, with $1.2-billion U.S. in contracts awarded so far. Stage 1 of the mine is expected to produce 4.35-million tonnes of potash a year, with room for expansion in later stages.