Potash
As the world’s population rises, access to arable land decreases and diets improve, potash is essential for more sustainable farming. At a time when fertilisers enriched by potash are critical for food security, BHP is well positioned to play a role in addressing global demand.
What is potash?
Potash, specifically Muriate of Potash (MOP), is a potassium-rich salt used to improve agricultural production. Potassium is essential for plant health as it increases yields, improves water efficiency and improves pest and disease resistance.
Why is potash needed?
Potassium naturally occurs in soil, but farming depletes this mineral faster than naturally occurring sources can replenish it. Regular use of potash helps maintain the productivity of fields that have lost nutrients from years of repeated nutrient removal through harvest.
An essential nutrient
Potassium is the seventh most abundant element in the Earth’s crust. Potash fertilisers are a critical source of the potassium that crops need to grow.
Increasing production footprint
Around 70 million tonnes of potash is produced globally each year, predominantly in Canada and the Former Soviet Union (FSU).
Jansen potash
Jansen is designed to produce red standard and red granular MOP with a guaranteed minimum 60 per cent potassium oxide (K2O).
Jansen potash project
Our CAD$14 billion (US$10.5 billion) investment in the Jansen project will deliver a potash mine in Saskatchewan designed to maximise sustainability. The Jansen site is located approximately 140 kilometers east of Saskatoon.Jansen's construction will take place over several years with first production planned for late 2026. Once fully ramped up, Jansen is expected to have an initial production capacity of approximately 8.5 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa), with the potential to produce 16 to 17 Mtpa in future stages.
Feeding the World: the case for potash
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Potash is a critical mineral
As populations rise and diets improve, potash contributes to more sustainable land use and food security. In Canada, potash is included on the federal government’s critical minerals list, as an essential input to support agricultural production.
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Where is potash found?Three large deposits in Canada, Russia, and Belarus host about 70 per cent of the world’s potash production by volume.
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How is potash mined?Globally, over 70 per cent of potash is extracted through conventional underground mining, like the mine we are developing in our Jansen potash project. The remainder comes from solution mining and the processing of natural brines.
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What is potash used for?Together with its role as a fertiliser, potash is used to decrease the acidity of soils which helps to improve the water-holding capacity of soil, which can help to conserve water and reduce erosion.
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Who purchases potash?The market includes a diverse range of buyers, including farmers, industrial users, and others so the scope and applications of potash are incredibly broad.
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What is the environmental footprint of potash?Compared to other fertilisers, potash has environmental benefits, specifically when it comes to its consumption and production footprint.
During production, potash results in lower carbon emissions compared to other fertilisers. The method of mining to be used at our Jansen site when production commences is less energy-intensive and involves very low levels of water consumption and other land resources compared to other types of mining.
When processed downstream, potash is not energy-intensive, does not release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and does not present the seepage risk to waterways or aquatic life of other fertilisers.