Canada is the world’s largest exporter of potash and Saskatchewan is home to nearly half of the world’s potash reserves. Large deposits of potash were first discovered in the southern area of the province by an oil crew in the 1940s.
Saskatchewan’s first underground potash mine opened in 1962, kick-starting a long history of potash production. SRC was a leading research contributor to mineral exploration programs and also supported ongoing research into solution mining as the industry grew. New potash assay methods for samples were developed at SRC in the early 2000s and SRC Geoanalytical Laboratories is now one of the world’s largest potash assay laboratories.
With 22 million tonnes of potash exported in 2020, Saskatchewan continues to be a powerhouse producer.
While potash has some valuable industrial uses, 95 per cent 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.
SRC’s Mining and Minerals team is supporting the potash industry as it generates premium fertilizer for the global agricultural community. 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.
