Name of the Project
Jansen potash project.

Location
About 140 km east of Saskatoon, in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Project Owner/s
Multinational mining company BHP.

Project Description
The Jansen potash project has an estimated measured resource of 5.17-billion tonnes and an inferred resource of 1.27-billion, both grading 25.7% potassium oxide, 7.1% insolubles and 0.07% magnesium oxide.

Jansen Stage 1 (S1) will produce about 4.15-million tonnes a year, and has a basin position with the potential for further expansions, subject to studies and approvals.

Jansen S1 includes the design, engineering and construction of an underground potash mine and surface infrastructure, including a processing facility, product storage building and continuous automated rail loading system. Jansen S1 product will be shipped to export markets through Westshore, in Delta, British Columbia.

BHP reported in November 2023 that it would not initiate a formal capacity extension for the Westshore port terminal yet and would evaluate the extension closer to S2’s reaching first production.

The Jansen S1 project will convert about 20% of the 5.23-billion tonnes in measured and indicated mineral resources into ore reserves. Jansen S1 is expected to produce 4.15-million tonnes a year of potash.

The project is expected to operate for about 100 years. It includes a separate scope of work for the excavation and lining of the production and service shafts, while the installation of essential surface infrastructure and utilities will continue.

BHP approved Jansen Stage 2 (S2) of the project in November 2023. The project will include the development of additional mining districts, completion of the second shaft hoist infrastructure to handle higher mining volumes, expansion of processing facilities and the addition of more rail cars to facilitate production of an incremental 4.36-million tonnes a year of potash. This will transform Jansen into one of the world’s biggest potash mines, doubling production capacity to an estimated 8.5-million tonnes a year.

Jansen could support two further expansions, lifting capacity to 16-million to 17-million tonnes a year, subject to studies and approvals.

Potential Job Creation
Jansen will create at least 3 500 jobs during peak construction and 600 in operation. The project will have a gender-balanced workforce and about 20% of employees will be local First Nations members.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
At consensus prices, BHP has indicated an internal rate of return (IRR) for Jansen S1 of 7.9% to 9.1%, with payback expected within 11 to 15 years from first production.

At consensus prices, Jansen S2 has an IRR of 11% and expected payback of eight years.

Capital Expenditure
BHP reported in July 2025 that it expected capital expenditure (capex) for JS1 to increase from $5.7-billion to between $7-billion and $7.4-billion, including contingencies. The company increased capex once again in January 2026 to $8.4-billion, after a review of JS1.

BHP completed a detailed review of cost and schedule estimates for Jansen S2 in June this year, and confirmed that the total investment estimate for the project would increase from $4.9-billion to $6.9-billion, including contingencies.

The majority of the cost increase for Jansen S2 is from additional construction hours and quantities of materials and escalation, identified as part of the comprehensive review.

Planned Start/End Date
BHP is targeting first production from S1 in mid-2027. 

BHP announced a two-year extension of Jansen S2 in June 2026, shifting first production from the 2029 to 2031 financial year.

Latest Developments
Key underground construction activities and engineering continue to progress. At the end of May 2026, Jansen S2 was 16% complete, with engineering at 83% complete, derisking the estimate for remaining work.

Once Jansen S2 ramps up, BHP continues to expect that the combined Jansen mine will be the lowest unit-cost Canadian potash mine at $114/t to $130/t.

Jansen S1 is achieving its critical path milestones set in the updated January 2026 cost and schedule estimate, and first production remains on track for mid-2027.

BHP expects its group capital expenditure guidance for the 2027 financial year to remain at about $11-billion.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
DMC Mining Services (development of two new mine shafts); SNC-Lavalin (feasibility study for Jansen S1, as well as engineering, procurement and construction management services for S1); Cementation Americas (post-liner excavation and steel and equipping); Wicehtowak Frontec Services, a joint venture partnership between ATCO Frontec and George Gordon Developments (camp support services at BHP’s Jansen Discovery Lodge); 2Nations Bird, a partnership between Bird Construction, Beardy & Okemasis Cree Nation's Willow Cree Developments General Partner, and Fishing Lake First Nation's Development Corporation, FLFN Ventures (works on the Jansen Stage 1 and site services); KDM Constructors comprising the Kawakatoose, Day Star and Muskowekwan Nations, along with the Saskatchewan-based SECON Group of Companies (subcontractor to 2Nations Bird); and George Gordon Developments (subcontractor for the site services agreement); and ABB (friction hoists and electrical system).

Contact Details for Project Information
BHP, tel +61 3 9609 3333.