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Saskatchewan.
Mining in Saskatchewan centres around two major commodities: potash and uranium. Saskatchewan is the second largest producer of potash in the world and, according to the Saskatchewan Mining Association, the province is the world leader in...
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New Procon CEO John McVey is ready to tackle Canada’s toughest mining challenges
John McVey has been appointed as the new CEO of Procon, a 700-employee mining services company focused on underground mining and industrial solutions across Canada. The company is diversifying geographically and expanding its service offerings to weather challenging commodity price conditions, with strong performance in diamond and potash mining sectors.
Saskatchewan’s Cameco sets production outlook for Cigar Lake operation
Cameco announced that its Cigar Lake uranium operation is expected to produce 16 million packaged pounds of uranium concentrate in 2016, with Cameco's share being 8 million pounds. The production target is subject to regulatory approval to increase the McClean Lake mill's licensed production capacity from 13 million to accommodate the higher output.
A leaner mining life cycle: How integrating sustainability up front can lead to future savings
Karen Chovan founded Saskatchewan-based Enviro Integration Strategies to help mining and energy companies adopt a 'Lean' approach to mine closure planning. By integrating sustainability and reclamation planning from the exploration stage, companies can reduce long-term costs and environmental risks while streamlining regulatory approval processes.
Geothermal—Canada on the brink of sustainable energy?
The Canadian Geothermal Energy Association is working through Alberta's Energy Futures Lab to promote geothermal energy as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. The article highlights how skills from mining and oil extraction can be directly applied to geothermal projects, creating significantly more permanent jobs than natural gas production.
Legacy Potash project 50% complete, 150 more people to be hired.
K+S Potash Canada's $4.1 billion Legacy Project in southern Saskatchewan has reached 50% completion with startup scheduled for summer 2016. The company plans to hire 150 additional employees and expects to reach 2.0 million tonnes of production capacity by end of 2017.
NexGen Energy reports positive uranium results in northern Saskatchewan
NexGen Energy reported positive radioactivity results from nine drill holes at its Rook I uranium property in Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin, with hole AR-15-59c2 intersecting dense pitchblende accumulations that expanded the known high-grade A2 sub-zone. The company plans to complete 50,000 metres of drilling in 2016 and expects to publish a resource estimate in Q1-Q2 2016, followed by a pre-feasibility study by 2017.
Brandt Tractor set to open new state-of-the-art facility
Brandt Tractor Ltd. is opening a new state-of-the-art facility in Saskatoon after 23 years at their previous location on Millar Avenue. The larger facility is designed to accommodate John Deere's full range of construction and mining equipment and represents the company's confidence in Saskatchewan's economic strength.
Kineticor Resource Corp. finalizes flare gas to power partnership in Saskatchewan
Kineticor Resource Corp. has partnered with Surge Energy Inc. to convert flare gas from Surge's Shaunavon oil operations into electricity for sale to SaskPower. This represents the first project of its kind under new Saskatchewan regulations that impose strict guidelines for reducing gas flaring.
Ulmer Contracting is the Canadian Ultimate Crew Finalist!
Ulmer Contracting has been selected as the sole Canadian finalist among 8 North American crews for Vermeer's Ultimate Horizontal Directional Drilling Crew contest. The winner will receive use of a new Vermeer D24x40 Series II drill for twelve months and other prizes following a skills competition at ICUEE 2015.
Finning International Inc. makes a landmark deal with Kramer Caterpillar
Finning International Inc. acquired Saskatchewan's Caterpillar dealership from Kramer Ltd. for approximately $230 million, expanding eastward from Alberta for the first time. The acquisition gives Finning access to Saskatchewan's potash and uranium sectors, with major customers including Mosaic, Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, Agrium, and Cameco.
Report says K+S $8.7B takeover bid by Potash Corp rejected
Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan's $8.7 billion takeover bid for German company K+S AG has been rejected, with K+S saying the offer is too low and undervalues their Saskatchewan Legacy potash project. The acquisition would have given PotashCorp control of about 30% of the global potash market and access to the Legacy project which is set to begin production next year.
Finning officially takes over the Kramer Cat® dealership in Saskatchewan
Finning International Inc. completed its $230 million acquisition of Kramer Cat dealership in Saskatchewan on July 1, 2015, expanding Finning's Western Canadian operations and adding 475 employees across seven locations. The acquisition provides Finning with access to Saskatchewan's potash and uranium sectors while maintaining Kramer's 70-year legacy of equipment service in the province.
Canpotex selects National Steel Car to manufacture 700 railcars for potash shipments
Canpotex has selected National Steel Car to manufacture 700 new potash railcars in a $70 million investment that will provide employment for over 400 people for seven months. The custom-designed railcars will transport Saskatchewan potash to coastal ports, continuing a 20-year partnership that has produced over 7,000 railcars since 1999.
Cameco’s Cigar Lake uranium project now in commercial operation
Cameco announced that its Cigar Lake uranium mine in northern Saskatchewan has achieved commercial production as of May 1, after overcoming significant technical challenges. The operation is expected to produce 6-8 million pounds of uranium oxide this year, ramping up to full production of 18 million pounds annually by 2018.
NexGen Energy announces winter drilling results
NexGen Energy reported exceptional winter 2015 drilling results from its Arrow Discovery at the Rook I property in Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin. Drill hole AR-15-44b intersected 190.70m of total composite uranium mineralization including 40.45m of off-scale radioactivity, substantially expanding the high-grade core of the A2 shear. The company plans to deliver an initial resource estimate by end of 2015.
Safety award for Boart Longyear
Boart Longyear won the 2014 Saskatchewan Mining Association safety award for achieving a zero injury rating in its Saskatchewan uranium drilling operations. The company operated 11 rigs with 90 crew members for 170,000 man-hours without injury, significantly outperforming the industry average of 2.2 injuries per 200,000 man-hours.
Saturn Minerals’ unique approach to partnering with First Nations
Saturn Minerals CEO Stan Szary pioneered an innovative partnership approach with Saskatchewan First Nations, forming the jointly-owned Inowending Exploration and Development Corporation in 2011. The company contrasts this collaborative model with traditional patronage approaches, emphasizing shared ownership and decision-making in coal and oil exploration projects near the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border.
Frac sand business is still booming; Select Sands develops fine mesh project close to wellheads
Select Sands has optioned a 520-acre Tier 1 frac sand property called Sandtown in Arkansas, strategically located 650 miles closer to Texas and Louisiana oil basins than competing Wisconsin operations. The company plans $30 million in capex for plant construction starting in 2016, targeting the premium fine-mesh sand market where demand has increased significantly due to new fracking techniques.
Brandt begins transit of 300-ton coal dragline boom
Brandt Engineered Products completed manufacturing a 300-ton, 330-foot replacement boom for a coal dragline excavator, marking the company's largest project ever undertaken. The boom, destined for a U.S. mine, is being transported in phases from Brandt's Regina facility, with the top section scheduled to depart February 3rd.
Canada Apprentice Loan recognizes critical role of tradespeople
The Canadian government launched the Canada Apprentice Loan program providing up to $4,000 per technical training block as interest-free loans to Red Seal apprentices. The program addresses financial barriers that prevent skilled tradespeople from completing their technical education, which is critical for Canada's mining and energy sectors that rely heavily on certified trades workers.
U of Waterloo team emerges victorious at National Mining Competition
A University of Waterloo engineering team won the third annual National Mining Competition held at the University of Saskatchewan from October 30 to November 2, 2014. The competition involved 16 teams from Canada and internationally developing strategies for a fictional mining company's assets, with challenges including expert consultations, public relations scenarios, and business presentations judged by senior mining executives.
B&W PGG Canada ships one of the largest components ever in Saskatchewan
B&W Power Generation Group Canada delivered massive evaporator units for K+S's Legacy Project potash mine in Saskatchewan. The units, measuring 98 feet long and weighing over 208,000 kg each, represent one of the largest components ever shipped on Saskatchewan roads. Two additional units are scheduled for delivery in February 2015.
Coal Association of Canada holds a successful conference in Vancouver
The Coal Association of Canada held its 2014 conference in Vancouver, featuring presentations on Saskatchewan's groundbreaking Boundary Dam carbon capture and storage facility. The world's first commercial-scale CCS project at a coal plant captures one million tonnes of CO2 annually, equivalent to removing 250,000 cars from the road.
Aecon awarded AB and Sask mining and energy contracts worth $275 million
Aecon Group has been awarded approximately $275 million in mining and energy contracts for major projects in Saskatchewan and Alberta. The contracts include $200 million for K+S Potash Canada's Legacy mining project and $75 million for the NWR Sturgeon Refinery project.