It's Mining Week in Saskatchewan (May 20-26), a time to celebrate the significant contributions the province's third largest industry makes to the provincial economy and our way of life.
The week officially kicked off Tuesday morning with a launch event at the STARS hangar at the Regina airport, and will wrap up Saturday with the 44th Annual Emergency Response/Mine Rescue Skills Competition at Regina's Evraz Place.
The theme for the week is once again Mining: Investing in Saskatchewan's Growth.
"Our province is blessed with a wealth of mineral resources that have attracted the interest of investors from near and far," says Energy and Resources Minister Bill Boyd.
"Through sustainable development of those resources, our mining industry is creating jobs and prosperity for Saskatchewan people. It is helping us keep the Saskatchewan Advantage."
Saskatchewan's mining industry is coming off a strong year, with mineral sales valued at approximately $8.1 billion in 2011. Companies spent $293 million last year on mineral exploration and are forecast to spend approximately $325 million this year.
Potash continues to be in the spotlight among our mineral commodities, with the province's three established potash producers spending $13.2 billion by 2020 to expand their existing mines. Other international mining companies have potash projects on the drawing board and one new mine is in development.
"Mining companies are directly investing more than $50 billion in Saskatchewan operations in the next two decades," Saskatchewan Mining Association First Vice-President Steve Fortney adds. "This translates to new investment of $6 million a day."
The Saskatchewan Mining Association co-ordinates Mining Week events, and has a number of presentations, workshops and tours planned throughout the province.
"The association's motto is 'Mining... Great for Saskatchewan' and during this special week that greatness is on full display," Boyd concludes.
