General Information

 

May 2011

 MINERAL PRODUCTION

• Saskatchewan is a significant player in the global mining scene.  In 2010, it continued to be the world's largest producer and exporter of potash, and one of the world's leaders in uranium production.

• Canada supplies about one third of the world’s potash. Most of this production comes from Saskatchewan with a small portion coming from a PotashCorp mine in New Brunswick.

• Saskatchewan is Canada’s only producer of uranium accounting for 20% of world production in 2009, a decrease from 28% in 2005.

• The global recession of 2008/09 affected Saskatchewan's and Canada's mineral production in 2009.  The total value of minerals produced in Canada dropped to $32.2 billion, a 31.5% decrease from $47.0 billion in 2008.

• Saskatchewan mineral production was also affected by the recession.  In 2009, Saskatchewan mineral production was valued at $5 billion, down from the record $9.7 billion achieved in 2008.

• The primary reduction was related to the amount and value of potash production.  In 2009, potash prices fell steadily from bnear US$900/t to $400/t.  Many potash mines reduced production in 2009; the quantity produced declined from 10.4 Mt to 4.3 Mt while the value dropped from $8 billion to $3.4 billion.  In spite of the temporary closures, the potash industry in Saskatchewan continued to make multi-billion dollar investments in their expansion operations.

• Potash was Canada's second leading mineral by value of output in 2009 at $3.4 billion.  

• Uranium metal produdtion was a bright spot in 2009, with an increase in its proeduction value, up from $954 million to $1.39 billion onthe strength of increased volumes (which rose from 8.7 million kg to 10.1 million kg) and higher prices.

• Mining companies operating in Saskatchewan produced 15.6% of Canada's total mineral output in 2009.

• In 2008 Saskatchewan was Canada's #1 mineral producing purisdiction with mineral production valued at a record $9.7 billion.

• Saskatchewan has the largest high grade reserves in the world for both potash and uranium .

• Saskatchewan coal, burned in thermal plants at Estevan and Coronach, accounts for about 60% the province’s base load capacity electrical power generation.

• Saskatchewan has over 25 operating mines.

• Saskatchewan mines produce potash, uranium, coal, gold, salt, meta-kaolin, silica sand, sodium sulphate, clay and bentonite.

• In addition to potash, uranium and coal, Saskatchewan has a wealth of developing mineral resources including diamonds, gold, platinum & palladium, rare earth elements, copper, zinc, nickel, sodium and potassium sulphates and mineralized brines.

• The provincial mining industry is recognized as one of the most technologically advanced in the world.

MINING AND SASKATCHEWAN'S ECONOMY

• Mining is a major contributor to Saskatchewan's economy, directly contributing almost $2 billion in revenue to the provincial government in 2008.  These revenues support government programs and services such as health care, education, and infrastructure development.

• Overall in 2008, mining (direct, indirect, and induced) accounted for $7.7 billion in GDP of 12% of the total provincial economy.

• Direct, indirect and induced mining employment accounted for 30,500 jobs or 6% of total employment,m almost 1 in every 16 jobs with a payroll of $1.5 billion.

• From 2008 - 2028,     

1. The Saskatchewan mineral industry will invest over $43 billion in expansions and new mines.  This translates to nbew investmentes of $6 M a day.
2. Mining employment (direct, indirect and induced) will see its contribution rise to 17% of total employment or almost 1 in 5 jobs.
3. Mining will generate over 286,000 person years of direct employment in construction in operational activitiy. 
   
4. Mining will contribute an additional $9.5 billion per year to provincial GDP.
5. Mining will generate a further $28 billion in provincial revenues or $1.4 billion per year,l for a total of over $50 billion.  

 MINERAL EXPLORATION

• Exploration, considered as a key R & D (Research and Development) component of our industry, is the key to sustainability in the mining industry, ensuring that we identify new resources to replace those that have been mined out.

• The mining industry supports government investment in geoscience to ensure that we continue to attract new investment capital to the province.

• Exploration expenditures in 2010 are projected to be $293 million, similar to 2009 levels.

• In 2010 and 2009 exploration for industrial minerals, including potash and coal, has overtaken both uranium and diamonds to become the focus of mineral exploration in Saskatchewan.

• In the past 3 years, over $1 Billion has been invested in mineral exploration in Saskatchewan, primarily for uranium and potash.

• Exploration expenditures in 2008 were a record $474 million, well above the historical 10 years average of around $30 million.
  

• The exploration cycle from the time of initial discovery until all the regulatory permits are in place and the property goes into production has increased to 15 to 20 years.
  

 CAREERS

• Saskatchewan’s mining industry creates direct and indirect employment for approximately 30,500 people.

• The Saskatchewan Mining Industry will require an additional 18,000 workers in the next 10 years. This includes 4000 tradespeople and over 500 engineers. 

• The average weekly salary of an employee in the mining industry is almost twice that of the average weekly salary of employees in other sectors.

• There are over 120 different occupations in the mining industry.

• Saskatchewan’s mining sector is a leading industry employer of aboriginal people.  In 2009, the northern mine sites averaged 1548 employees from northern Saskatchewan; 1368 of these employees were of aboriginal ancestry.

• One of the fastest growing career areas in the mining industry is information technology. 85% of the mining work force presently uses advanced technology.

 SAFETY

• Saskatchewan’s mining industry has a strong commitment to safety and consequently is one of the safest industries in the province. For the past 17 years the industry has averaged about one lost time accident (LTA) for every 200,000 hours worked [this would be equivalent to an individual working for 100 years before he has a LTA].

• The Saskatchewan mining industry is a safe industry – WCB statistics illustrate that the mining sector has a lower lost time frequency rating than either the health or government worker sectors.

• The time loss claims for workers in open pit mining is 9.50%; underground hard rock is 1.36% and underground soft rock is 1.62% compared to 3.44% for all industry classes and 6.12% for Health Authorities, Hospitals and Care Homes.

• There are over 130 Safety professionals employed by the mining companies in Saskatchewan and an additional 1000 emergency responders trained at the minesites.

• Cameco's McArthur River mjine was awarded the Regional John T. Ryan Safety Trophy for the metal mine category with the best safety record in 2010. 
  

 ENVIRONMENT

• Environmental stewardship and sustainability are important to the mining industry.

• Environmental practioners are an important part of the workforce at all mine sites.  The Saskatchewan mining industry directly employees dozens of dedicated environmental professionals at mine sites throughout the province.

• The Saskatchewan mining industry invests considerable human resources and millions of dollars every year in environmental stewardship activities, including the monitoring of environment stations at sites, prevention and mitigation of environmental impacts, and in decommissioning and reclamation efforts.

• The industry actively participates in research, development and implementation of new technologies to improve combustion efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase resource conservation and further reduce environmental impact.

• Mining and exploration are temporary uses of the land.  Saskatchewan’s mining industry has a very small footprint utilizing only 0.1% of available land in the province (less than the size of the city of Saskatoon).

• All new mining projects are required to incorporate reclamation and decommissioning plans as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment Statement that is submitted to Saskatchewan Environment when applying for a Mine Operating License.  Financial surety for decommissioning and reclamation costs is required from industry as part of the Mine Operating License. 

• Leading edge technology not only contributes to the cost efficiency and productivity of mines but also to their safety. Advanced technology is also applied by mines in areas of environmental responsibility.

 Conclusion:

• The future for the mining sector is very bright and our industry will continue to be a foundation for Saskatchewan’s growth.