Potash

Lanigan

Box 3100, Lanigan, SK S0K 2M0 | (306) 365-2030
Rob Bubnick, General Manager | E-mail Rob

Operations

The largest of PotashCorp's potash mines, Lanigan has an annual capacity of 3.8 million tonnes KCl. It produces granular, standard and suspension potash products. Underground mining operations take place 1,000 meters below the surface.

Significant Events

Lanigan's $410 million debottlenecking and compaction expansion project primarily entails refurbishing the Phase One mill that has been idle since the mid-1980s.

There was a substantial increase in hiring in 2007 to prepare for commissioning of the Phase One mill in 2008. The division hired 69 new employees and promoted another 19. A shortage of skilled trades and mining engineers has presented a challenge to achieving desired manpower levels.

Community Relations

The General Manager presented an update on the Phase One Mill Rehabilitation Project and answered questions at the Lanigan Economic Development Committee's Business Persons Barbecue on May 10, 2007.

The division plays an active role in a number of local organizations, including the Carlton Trail Regional Economic Development Association, Action Humboldt Jobs Committee and the Lanigan Community Development Association.

Members of the division's emergency response team helped the Lanigan Fire Department on August 20, 2007 fight a house fire in the town of Lanigan.

Community Contributions

The value of cash donations to local community organizations in 2007 was $49,453. The major recipients were the Lanigan Golf and Country Club, Lanigan Youth Center, Lanigan Lions Club Camp Ground, Lanigan Communities in Bloom and Lanigan Curling Club. Financial support for the Lanigan Golf and Country Club went to replacing an aging deck. Financial assistance to the Communities in Bloom organization went to construct a new gazebo in the community park.

The value of in-kind contributions to local community organizations was $9,213. The beneficiaries were Leroy Golf Club, Muenster Volunteer Fire Department, Humboldt Fire Department, Lanigan Arrows Club and Lanigan Locum Doctor.

The site also sponsored and provided volunteer workers at three Red Cross blood donor clinics held in Lanigan, and it hosted the annual PotashCorp Fire Fighters' Rodeo in the town, utilizing community organizations for setup, catering and clean-up.

Environment

The west tailings dyke toe drain was improved by installing a gravel layer near the base of the dyke to eliminate erosion of the toe.

The site completed engineering and preliminary west inner dyke rehabilitation to extend the service life of the existing fine tailings disposal cell in anticipation of the 2008 project. The project design is based on successful sub-aerial deposition testing performed at the site over the last two years.

Local Procurement

Local purchases in 2007 totaled $26.2 million. This accounted for 72 percent of all expenditures, excluding raw materials, electricity and transportation.