HUMBOLDT — Representatives from BHP gave an update on the Jansen Project to Humboldt council during their October meeting – clarifying that they expect 3,500 workers to be employed during peak construction.
“It is not 3,500 tomorrow, please don’t worry, we’re not going to be inundating you with a bunch of new people or a transient workforce,” said Lindsay Brumwell, BHP’s corporate affairs manager with potash, to council.
Chris Whorton, BHP’s construction manager for potash, said the peak construction is expected to only last about six months.
“It will start at 1,000 people in the middle of next year. It will ramp up to the peak around 2024, and then it will ramp down again,” Whorton said. “As construction ramps down, operations will ramp up.”
Once mine operations begin, BHP is planning for 600 permanent jobs, with 400 based at the Jansen site, and another 200 from their Saskatoon Discovery Plaza office.
BHP has various employment targets for operations which includes the goal of having about 50 per cent women and 20 per cent Indigenous workers.
A lodge has been built to house the workforce, with the idea that it will minimize any impacts with the transient workforce. The lodge features permanent accommodations for 2,586 workers at BHP’s Jansen Potash Project, with fitness facilities and theatre-style seating.
Workers that live within 85 kilometres will have the option of commuting.
Mayor Michael Behiel said that he felt the meeting was positive with nothing negative arising.
“They’re just fantastic examples of corporate Canada and we’re looking forward to having them in our region and working together with them on an ongoing basis to improve the quality of life for everyone – not just their employees but all citizens.”
Behiel said the city along with other communities within the region are working with BHP on developing a regional survey that will determine the status of the infrastructure for the surrounding area.
Employment methods were also shared for the project. Registration for Saskatchewan based companies can be done at simsa.ca/join/, registration for First Nation or Métis owned businesses can be done at exportdata.ca, registration for companies located in the Mid Sask Municipal Alliance region can be done at members.msmaregion.com/register, and registration for any company located outside of Saskatchewan can be done at jansenproponent.hbjv.ca/home.
Individuals can find opportunities on BHP.com or with one of the active contractors.
The economic contribution over BHP’s five to six year construction period is planned to lead to a $1.8 billion direct and indirect contribution to the provincial GDP.
