Major projects at local mines, manufacturer
- Vaderstad hiring 60 production workers, adding second shift at Langbank
- Contractors to peak at 1,000 this year as Nutrien Rocanville refits mill
- Mosaic Esterhazy K3 expansion a year away from completion
May 31, 2021, 7:49 am
Kevin Weedmark
The two local potash mines and manufacturer Vaderstad are cornerstones of the economy in southeast Saskatchewan, and are about to become even bigger parts of the local economy.
Vaderstad, with 200 employees in Canada, is undergoing a major ramping up of production, adding 60 production employees and a second production shift at its Langbank production facility. Additional support staff will be added as well.
“This production ramp-up will add an additional 60 production staff and then some support staff around it,” said Jason Wasylyk, Director of Operations.
He said production is ramping up because of booming sales.
“We’re adding a second shift because we are at capacity on the single shift. 2020 wasn’t a great year because of harvest 2019. Our volume from 2020 to 2021 increased almost 90 per cent—88 per cent—and then we’re expecting another 40 to 45 per cent increase this year.”
Nutrien Rocanville will see large numbers of contractors on site over the next three years as parts of the original mill are replaced and as work continues on a power generating plant at the site.
“Throughout a big part of the year we’re carrying probably 200 contractors per day on average and as we ramp up closer to our turn around, which will happen in mid September and October this year,” said Nutrien Rocanville General Manager Shannon Rhynold. “We’ll likely peak around 1,000 this year.”
Meanwhile, the K3 expansion continues at Mosaic Esterhazy, and is about a year from completion.
