MOOSE JAW — Saskatchewan’s mining sector is ramping up for the future — and Moose Jaw had a front-row seat to the discussion last week, as K+S Potash Canada shared details of its long-term expansion strategy during a breakfast event at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites.
The presentation, titled “Ramp-Up: Expanding Capacity for Growth,” was held in partnership with the Moose Jaw and District Chamber of Commerce as part of Saskatchewan Mining Week. Keynote speaker Darren Hrynkiw, general manager of the company’s Bethune mine, offered insights into how K+S plans to significantly increase production over the coming decades to meet rising global demand for fertilizer.
Located about 50 kilometres north of Moose Jaw, the Bethune mine is already a major contributor to Saskatchewan’s resource economy — but the Ramp-Up initiative aims to elevate that role. According to Hrynkiw, the project involves technical upgrades, long-term investment in infrastructure, and a renewed focus on workforce development to support sustainable growth.
The multi-decade strategic program aims to increase production from approximately 2.3 million tonnes of potash per year to four million tonnes annually — nearly doubling the mine’s output to better meet global fertilizer demand.
For Moose Jaw and surrounding communities, the implications are wide-reaching.
Hrynkiw’s remarks highlighted the importance of partnerships with post-secondary institutions, including Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Moose Jaw campus, to help address the industry’s growing need for skilled workers. With the Saskatchewan Mining Association projecting that 15,000 new employees will be needed in the next decade, local training programs in trades, engineering, and environmental science are poised to play a pivotal role.
Conversations touched on the province’s critical mineral capacity and how potash — a key fertilizer ingredient — continues to anchor Saskatchewan’s role on the global mining stage.
Beyond labour, the Ramp-Up strategy also represents opportunities for contractors, equipment suppliers, and transport companies in the region. As K+S increases activity at the Bethune mine, businesses in Moose Jaw are well-positioned to support logistics, maintenance, and procurement needs.
This year’s provincial campaign aims to highlight the innovation, investment, and workforce development driving the industry forward and keeping the province competitive on a global scale.
According to the provincial government, mining directly or indirectly employs over 30,000 people in Saskatchewan and generates billions of dollars in private investment. In 2024, potash production hit a record high of 15.1 million tonnes of potassium oxide — a number that could climb even higher with expansion efforts like those underway at Bethune.
That growth is reflected in the momentum at K+S’s Bethune facility. Since opening in 2017, the site has steadily increased production and now plays a critical role in meeting global fertilizer demand. Industry observers say the company’s efforts to expand capacity not only enhance Saskatchewan’s competitiveness but also support a range of downstream benefits — including jobs and contracts for southern Saskatchewan communities like Moose Jaw.
For more information about Saskatchewan Mining Week and the province’s mineral development plans, visit Saskatchewan.ca or the Saskatchewan Mining Association at SaskMining.ca.
