Rocanville, Saskatchewan – PotashCorp today marked the successful expansion of its Rocanville operation, now the world’s largest potash mine.

The nameplate capacity of the mine is 6.5 million tonnes, up from three million tonnes pre-expansion. Workforce has doubled to more than 750.

“We are very proud of our employees for their accomplishments here at Rocanville – they were truly dedicated to working hard and working safely. As a result, this mine is poised to be a key part of our company’s future for years to come. We are also grateful to our contractors for their significant contributions during this extensive project,” said PotashCorp President and CEO Jochen Tilk.

“By enhancing capacity at Rocanville, our lowest cost operation, we have improved our competitive position and are ready to respond to the world’s increasing need for potash.”

The $3-billion expansion included a new mine shaft – the first built in Saskatchewan since 1979, as well as a new mill, a new 500,000-tonne storage facility, new rail and rail loadout equipment and conversion of the existing service shaft, used for people and materials, to a second production shaft, for bringing ore out of the mine.

“We have a strong team at Rocanville that is committed to optimizing our production capability here,” said Mark Fracchia, President, PCS Potash. “As we strive to achieve our business goals at this operation, it’s a priority for us to ensure the safety of our employees and contractors and to continue to grow our strong relationships with the communities in this region.” 

The celebratory event, held in the office building at the new Scissors Creek site, was attended by more than 300 people, including local and provincial elected officials, suppliers, employees from the Rocanville operation and several members of PotashCorp’s Board of Directors and senior leadership team.

Key facts about the Rocanville operation are available in this video and in the backgrounder.

As the world’s largest crop nutrient company, PotashCorp plays an integral role in global food production. The company produces the three essential nutrients required to help farmers grow healthier, more abundant crops. With global population rising and diets improving in developing countries, crop nutrients such as potash, phosphates and nitrogen offer a responsible and practical solution to help produce the food we need, from the land we have.

For further information please contact:

PotashCorp Randy Burton Director, Public and Relations and Communications Phone: (306) 933-8849 E-mail Randy