Tag Archives: Saskatchewan

Fluor to partner with BHP on Jansen Stage 2

Energy minerals, Mineral project development, Mining services, , , , ,

Fluor Corporation’s Mining & Metals business has been selected by BHP Canada to develop Stage 2 of its Jansen potash project in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Fluor says it expects to recognise its undisclosed reimbursable contract value in the December quarter of 2023.

Earlier this week, BHP agreed to invest another $4.9 billion in Jansen, an investment that will bring on stage two of the project, expected to double production capacity to some 8.5 Mt/y. It followed BHP’s approval of $5.7 billion for stage one of the Jansen potash project in August 2021 and a pre-Jansen Stage 1 investment of $4.5 billion.

“Fluor is excited to be selected to partner with BHP to deliver this sustainable program that is critical for food security,” Tony Morgan, President of Fluor’s Mining & Metals business, said. “This award is a testament to our track record of successfully delivering complex mega-projects, coupled with our expertise in fertiliser production and execution capability in western Canada.”

When completed, the Jansen site will be one of the largest and most sustainable potash mines in the world, according to Fluor, adding that project execution is scheduled to begin later this month.

Foran Mining and Sandvik reveal first battery-electric DD422iE jumbo at CIM 2023

Environmental, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining events, Mining services, Power supply for mines, Precious metals, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , ,

Foran Mining and Sandvik have unveiled the first Sandvik battery-electric jumbo drill, a DD422iE, to be used at its McIlvenna Bay project in Saskatchewan, Canada, at the CIM 2023 conference in Montreal.

The DD422iE is part of a 20-strong battery-electric vehicle fleet for the project and comes with drilling and bolting capabilities.

When Sandvik announced the fleet order with Foran Mining last year – its largest BEV order at the time. It was to include seven Sandvik 18-t-payload LH518B loaders, six Sandvik 50-t-payload TH550B trucks, four Sandvik DD422iE jumbo drill rigs, two Sandvik DL422iE longhole drills and one Sandvik DS412iE mechanical bolter. Delivery of the equipment was scheduled to begin this year and continue into 2025, Sandvik said.

In the post announcing the milestone BEV drill, Foran said: “The innovative electric DD422IE, with drilling & bolting capabilities, reinforces our commitment to delivering carbon-neutral critical mineral production. As a company, we remain dedicated to developing and implementing eco-friendly solutions that will have a lasting positive impact on the environment and the communities we serve.”

The 2022 feasibility study on McIlvenna Bay outlined a 4,200 t/d operation over an 18.4-year mine life, able to produce an average annual production of 33,000 t of copper-equivalent output over the first 15 years of mine life. By individual metal this equates to 17,600 t of copper, 28,900 t of zinc, 20,000 oz of gold and 486,000 oz of silver.

BHP awards three Jansen contracts to local First Nation community JVs

Energy minerals, Mineral project development, Mining services, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

As construction progresses at BHP’s Jansen potash project in Saskatchewan, Canada, the company has awarded three new contracts in partnership with local First Nation communities.

Covering camp management, site services and raw ore/handling foundation, the contracts include representation from the six First Nations surrounding the Jansen site, with whom BHP has Opportunity Agreements in place.

The Opportunity Agreements were first developed in 2012. These were the first of their kind and aim to create long term mutual benefit for BHP and First Nation communities, according to BHP.

“The agreements enhance our mutual capacity and are a way that industry can forge new relationships with Indigenous Peoples to create local employment, business opportunities and build the skills and capabilities of local residents,” the miner says.

Vandita Pant, Chief Commercial Officer of BHP, added: “Across our operations, it is our ambition to create long-term relationships with Indigenous Peoples based on trust and mutual benefit – and these contract awards demonstrate this ambition in action. By integrating local suppliers and Indigenous businesses into our supply chain we are working hand-in-hand with First Nation partners to build long-term positive outcomes for communities and for BHP.”

The three-and-a-half year contracts are valued at over C$260 million ($188 million), and will support more than 400 local jobs with over 50% planned to be Indigenous. Since sanctioning Jansen Stage 1 in August 2021, a total of C$470 million in contracts have been awarded to Indigenous businesses in the region, according to BHP.

To support the work at Jansen, BHP has been a catalyst for First Nation Opportunity Agreement holders coming together with industry partners, it says.

The camp management contract has been awarded to Wicehtowak Frontec Services, a joint-venture between ATCO Frontec Ltd and George Gordon Developments Ltd. The joint venture was originally created in 2011 as a 50:50 partnership to support the construction of the Jansen Discovery Lodge, and today has evolved to a majority Indigenous-owned company.

The site services and raw ore/handling foundation contracts have been awarded to 2Nations Bird – a new partnership between Bird Construction Inc, Beardy’s and Okemasis Cree Nation’s Willow Cree Developments General Partner Inc and Fishing Lake First Nation’s Development Corporation, FLFN Ventures. 2Nations Bird will work closely with KDM Constructors, who represent Kawakatoose, Day Star and Muskowekwan Nations, as well as George Gordon Developments Ltd, the economic development arm of the George Gordon First Nation.

Chief Ananas of Beardy’s & Okemasis’ Cree Nation said: “Indigenous and industry partnerships, such as these, create economic and employment opportunities for our Nation and its members. It also allows us to develop capacity, learn from one another and grow in tandem. More importantly, these types of relationships are critical to advance economic reconciliation which allows us to develop long-term, meaningful and sustainable outcomes.”

As BHP moves towards operations at Jansen, anticipated to start in late-2026, it is working with First Nation Opportunity Agreement partners, and other Indigenous groups to identify jobs and skillsets it will require long term at Jansen, BHP said.

BHP has partnered with local organisations in Saskatchewan to provide pre-apprenticeship programs to help build awareness of opportunities in the trades and prepare individuals for the skills necessary to enter the mining industry. Through these programs BHP hopes to attract more people who may not have considered a career in mining, particularly women and Indigenous people in the region.

Caroline Cox, Chief Legal, Governance and External Affairs Officer at BHP, said: “We deeply appreciate our mutually beneficial agreements with First Nation partner communities and look forward to continuing to work together. Our partnerships are based on respect and through our work together we seek to better understand Indigenous voices, values, knowledge and perspectives and to incorporate them into the way we work. We strongly believe this will make BHP a more successful company.”

Ampcontrol to provide iMAC conveyor control systems to BHP at Jansen potash project

Bulk handling, Energy minerals, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , , , ,

Ampcontrol says it has been named the supplier for conveyor control systems for Stage 1 at the BHP Jansen potash project in Saskatchewan, Canada.

The Ampcontrol iMAC monitoring and control system has achieved Canadian Standards Approval and will be used for conveyor controls on site, the company said, adding that this marks the first time an Ampcontrol product has been used in Canada.

Ampcontrol Managing Director & CEO, Rod Henderson, said: “We have a solid history of working with BHP in Australia for over 50 years. We are looking forward to furthering our relationship by participating in the Jansen potash project and are eager to share our world-class electrical solutions with the broader Canadian market.”

Designed to maximise productivity while maintaining the highest level of safety, the Ampcontrol iMAC system is customised to the unique requirements of sites and provides features such as high integrity emergency stop, broadcast messaging, and belt hazard identification functionality, with remote interface capabilities.

Jamie Scheffer, Integrated Project Team Manager Underground BHP, said: “Ampcontrol was selected from a number of different vendors to supply conveyor control signal line equipment for the underground conveyor systems, consisting of upwards of 35 km of conveyor belts.

“The Ampcontrol iMAC was the successful solution because it provided a remote interface which gave us the ability to link in remotely and help fault find should issues occur. This is particularly important for this site due to our remote location.”

BHP has announced an investment of $5.7 billion in the Jansen Stage 1 project, which is 140 km east of Saskatoon.

Work will start on the conveyor system in late 2022 with the current project expected to be completed by 2025.

Intrepid Group and indurad partner on anti-collision, volumetric inventory and positioning solution offering

Automation, Communications in mining, IoT, Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , , , , , ,

Intrepid Group Ltd and indurad have announced a new strategic partnership to provide robust anti-collision, volumetric inventory and positioning solutions for the mining and material handling industry.

The partnership will have a focus on the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan, the pair said.

Indurad calls itself the global leader in radar-based automation and productivity solutions for mine sites, train loadouts, stockyard equipment and shiploading facilities. Its patented 2D and 3D radar systems are installed at mining operations and ports worldwide to increase ore throughput and minimise downtime and collisions.

Intrepid Group says it helps its customers improve their operations through accurate and efficient measurement of their processes, partnering with manufacturers to develop solutions that achieve these goals.

“Partnerships with regional leaders like Intrepid Group allow us to enhance our market coverage,” Adriaan Goosen, Director of Engineering at indurad, said.

Campbell Adams, Chief Executive Officer at Intrepid Group, added: “We are delighted by the partnership. indurad’s solutions affords us even greater flexibility to meet the diverse needs of our customers. The synergies of this partnership will greatly benefit both our current and future customers.”

Normet to supply battery-electric utility vehicle fleet to BHPs Jansen mine

Automation, Energy minerals, Environmental, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining services, Power supply for mines, Sustainable mining, , , ,

Normet Canada says it has been awarded a contract from BHP to deliver a large fleet of multi-use battery-electric vehicles (BEV) to the Jansen potash project in Saskatchewan, Canada.

The delivery period of the fleet is expected to commence in the March quarter 2023 and extends to 2024.

The Normet fleet order follows on from Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions being awarded a contract by BHP to deliver 10 underground battery-electric loaders along with 1 electric tethered loader for use at Jansen.

BHP aims to develop the underground mining equipment and automation solutions with a focus on sustainability, with emissions reduction, improved productivity and advanced health and welfare of employees being key inputs to the mining company’s decision to adopt BEV technology.

With the mine’s pursuit of electrification of mobile equipment and technology that mitigates natural gas emission, Jansen is expected to emit about half the average CO2 per tonne of product compared with the average Saskatchewan potash mine, according to BHP.

The Jansen project has the potential to be the largest potash-producing mine in the world and is expected to operate for up to 100 years, providing a rich source of potassium for soil fertilisation purposes and hence supporting food production, BHP says. Start of the production is targeted for 2026.

Sandvik to deliver ‘biggest BEV fleet to date’ for Foran’s McIlvenna Bay

Automation, Base metals, Energy minerals, Environmental, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining services, Power supply for mines, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Foran Mining has selected Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions to supply a fleet of 20 battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), including trucks, loaders and drills, for its McIlvenna Bay project in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Set to be one of the world’s first carbon-neutral copper development projects, McIlvenna Bay will be powered by clean hydroelectric power and designed to take advantage of Sandvik’s latest technological advances in sustainable mining, the OEM says.

Sandvik’s biggest BEV fleet to date will include seven Sandvik 18-t-payload LH518B loaders (pictured dumping into a TH550B), six Sandvik 50-t-payload TH550B trucks, four Sandvik DD422iE jumbo drill rigs, two Sandvik DL422iE longhole drills and one Sandvik DS412iE mechanical bolter. Delivery of the equipment is scheduled to begin next year and continue into 2025, Sandvik says.

Sandvik will also provide on-site service support and Battery as a Service by Sandvik at the underground copper-zinc mining project located in east-central Saskatchewan.

Jakob Rutqvist, VP Strategy and Commercial for Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions’ Battery and Hybrid Electric Vehicles (BHEV) Business Unit, said: “This record contract is the culmination of a year-long collaborative effort between Foran Mining and Sandvik and demonstrates a shared vision that electrification will drive the future of sustainable mining. BEVs have enormous potential to reduce a mining operation’s carbon footprint, and Canada continues to be the epicentre for mining electrification and a blueprint for what to expect in other major mining regions very soon.”

Copper and zinc are critical metals for the transition to a low-carbon future as essential elements of electrical grids, solar panels, wind turbines and batteries. The McIlvenna Bay project intends to supply those minerals in a way that will not only be carbon neutral but ultimately have a net positive impact on the climate, according to Sandvik.

Dave Bernier, Chief Operating Officer of Foran Mining, said: “This is a very exciting period for Foran as we continue to execute on our initiatives to permit, construct and operate McIlvenna Bay. Sandvik is a global leader in industrial battery technology and we look forward to working together on our project. Utilising battery-electric equipment with semi- and fully-autonomous capabilities can help us achieve carbon neutral targets and provide a safer working environment, which is part of our Net Positive Business strategy as we look to deliver critical metals essential for global decarbonisation in a responsible and socially-empowering way.”

Foran Mining conducted a thorough analysis during its 2020 prefeasibility study to determine the investment case for BEVs compared with diesel. The company determined that BEVs would deliver better financial results at McIlvenna Bay when considering the savings generated through lower ventilation capital and operating costs.

That report, authored by AGP Mining Consultants Inc, envisaged the potential use of 7 Sandvik LH517i LHDs and 11 Artisan Vehicles (Sandvik) Z50 battery electric trucks for a 3,600 t/d of polymetallic ore operation.

Stefan Widing, President and CEO of Sandvik, said: “I am very pleased that Foran Mining has chosen Sandvik to deliver our leading battery-electric solutions for the pioneering McIlvenna Bay project. We see very strong momentum for our mining electrification offering, which offers great potential in driving more sustainable mining, helping customers to boost productivity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve workers’ health.”

A dedicated on-site project team will be jointly working with the mine’s operations team to ensure the products and services in the delivery scope support the alliance on Foran’s journey towards more productive, efficient and sustainable mining, Sandvik said.

“Battery as a Service by Sandvik will enable McIlvenna Bay to get the most out of its battery-electric equipment by relying on unrivaled expertise to manage the capacity and health of batteries and chargers throughout their long lives,” it added.

GEH SMR Technologies Canada, SIMSA to cooperate on small modular reactor deployment in Saskatchewan

Energy minerals, Environmental, Power supply for mines, , , , , ,

GEH SMR Technologies Canada Ltd and the Saskatchewan Industrial and Mining Supplier’s Association (SIMSA) have agreed to cooperate to support the potential deployment of the BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) in Saskatchewan.

Through a memorandum of understanding, GEH SMR Canada and SIMSA agreed to collaborate in engaging with local suppliers to maximise the role of the Saskatchewan supply chain in the nuclear energy industry, they say. This could potentially see uranium from Saskatchewan’s Athabasca Basin come into the SMR nuclear mix.

“Canada has a robust nuclear energy supply chain and through this memorandum of understanding with SIMSA, we look forward to growing the supply chain further to support the deployment of the BWRX-300,” Lisa McBride, Country Leader, GEH SMR Canada, said.

SIMSA is a non-profit organisation which includes over 300 member companies in Saskatchewan from the manufacturing, construction, engineering, mining and energy sectors. SIMSA seeks to connect local member businesses in traditional and emerging industries to nuclear opportunities in Saskatchewan, in order to drive economic growth and job creation while supporting innovation.

Eric Anderson, Executive Director of SIMSA, said: ­“SMRs are a safe and practical solution to decarbonising Saskatchewan’s power grid. SIMSA and its members will take a leading role in their deployment in order to see the greatest economic benefit land in Saskatchewan.”

GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) has been selected by Ontario Power Generation (OPG) as the technology partner for the Darlington New Nuclear Project. GEH is working with OPG to deploy a BWRX-300 at the Darlington site that could be complete as early as 2028, it says.

GEH has also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Cameco and Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas to explore several areas of cooperation to advance the commercialisation and deployment of BWRX-300 small modular reactors (SMRs) in Canada and around the world.

In March, the governments of Ontario, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Alberta released a strategic plan for the deployment of SMRs. The plan identified priority areas for SMR deployment including Stream 1, a grid-scale SMR project at the Darlington nuclear site and subsequent units in Saskatchewan.

GEH’s support for the Canadian nuclear industry dates back to the early 1950s. The company helped build the first Canadian nuclear power plant, the Nuclear Power Demonstration reactor, that became the basis for the entire CANDU fleet. Today, GEH is partnering with several Canadian firms as it builds a supply chain to support deployment of the BWRX-300. Advanced nuclear technologies like the BWRX-300 are a key pillar of GE’s energy transition leadership.

The BWRX-300 (graphic, pictured) is a 300 MWe water-cooled, natural circulation SMR with passive safety systems that leverages the design and licensing basis of GEH’s US NRC-certified ESBWR (Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor). Through dramatic and innovative design simplification, GEH projects the BWRX-300 will require significantly less capital cost per MW when compared with other SMR designs.

Hatch engaged to take NexGen’s Rook I uranium project forward to FEED stage

Energy minerals, Mineral project development, Mining services, , , , ,

NexGen Energy has awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) contract for the front-end engineering design (FEED) stage of the Rook I uranium project in Saskatchewan, Canada, to Hatch, with work well underway.

Hatch, NexGen says, is a leader in project management and engineering and has extensive experience delivering mining projects in Saskatchewan and across Canada.

The awarding of the EPCM contract comes at the conclusion of a tender process involving multiple globally recognised industry firms, according to NexGen. Integrating fully into the owner’s team, Hatch is responsible for providing NexGen with engineering, procurement and execution planning services, along with supporting overall project management.

Following the completion of the Rook I feasibility study in February, NexGen is transitioning into the next stage of advanced project development with the commencement of the FEED stage. This feasibility study outlined a 1,300 t/d operation processing an average feed grade of 2.37% U3O8 and average uranium oxide production of 21.7 MIb/y over the life of mine of 10.7 years from the Arrow deposit.

In line with the optimised project execution strategy, the FEED stage will advance overall engineering to a 40-45% level of completion with associated cost estimate, fully define long-lead procurement actions, and further refine execution planning to prepare the project for the pending construction stage, NexGen said. This FEED stage is scheduled for completion in the September quarter of 2022 and will be undertaken concurrently with the engagement, Environmental Assessment and Licensing workstreams.

The 2021 site investigation program is advancing safely and is planned as a pre-cursor for FEED. Surface investigation field work is now complete, which consisted of test pits and sonic boreholes in locations of planned infrastructure. The collection of confirmational geological, geotechnical and hydrogeologic characterisation data is nearing completion, and early analysis of this data has validated the current designs established in the feasibility study and confirms the understanding of the rock mass proximal to the underground infrastructure and underground tailings management facility, according to NexGen.

Leigh Curyer, Chief Executive Officer, said: “Advancing into the FEED stage of development is another exciting milestone for the company, and we’re pleased to welcome Hatch to NexGen’s growing high performance team in advancing the Rook I project towards the start of construction. Hatch’s exemplary reputation in the global mining sector and deep understanding of value-driven project delivery aligns perfectly with NexGen’s commitment to elite standards and is a key step in the development of this leading global resource project. In parallel, the drafting of the project’s Environmental Impact Study and licensing workstreams nearing completion, together with regional exploration targeting new zones of potential ‘Arrow-type’ mineralisation, further exemplifies the NexGen team’s commitment to the successful execution of multiple workstreams.”

Certified Mining & Construction Sales & Rentals to represent Aramine in western Canada

Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining services, Power supply for mines, , , , , ,

Certified Mining & Construction Sales & Rentals has become the exclusive distributer for Aramine for Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta in Canada.

This partnership will bring cutting edge, battery-powered, heavy-duty equipment and parts to the mining industry in western Canada, the company says.

Certified Mining & Construction Sales & Rentals (CMC) is a Saskatoon-based sales and rental company that offers specialised equipment to the mining and construction industries in North America.

The company says: “This partnership with Aramine will only serve to build on both the rental options and the offering for the sales side. With Aramine’s offering on the battery-powered, mine-specific heavy equipment, we will be able to partner with our clients to work towards lowering emissions without lowering productivity.”

Aramine has designed an innovative and unique range of small and medium section machines, including the L140B battery-powered mini loader.