Sustainable
Resources
Saskatchewan leads the way in sustainable resource development. With cutting-edge carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies, we’ve already sequestered more than 40 million tonnes of CO2. Combining CCUS with enhanced oil recovery results in 82 per cent fewer emissions than traditional oil and gas extraction. As suppliers of 37 per cent of the world’s potash in 2022, our underground potash mines produced only half the emissions of other jurisdictions. Saskatchewan is demonstrating how economic growth and environmental responsibility go hand in hand.
Saskatchewan is an ethical and sustainable critical minerals leader, helping contribute to a global low-carbon future.
Critical Minerals
Are In Your Pocket
The common smartphone is uncommonly packed with critical minerals.
Click to discover how Saskatchewan’s critical minerals make everyday life possible.
Casing
Display
Battery
Microphone, Speakers & Vibration Unit
& Rare Earth Elements
Chips & Connectors
Saskatchewan is abundant in critical minerals
Critical
Minerals
The world is demanding what Saskatchewan has in abundance—and we are supplying it ethically and sustainably. Here are just a few of the uses for critical minerals:
Potash
A mineral containing potassium—an essential nutrient for plant growth. As a fertilizer, it’s used to produce healthy crops and feed the world.
Rare Earth Elements
Commonly used in electronics, clean energy, aerospace, automotive and defence. Often made into permanent magnets—essential for smartphones, televisions, computers, automobiles, wind turbines, aircraft and more.
Copper
Essential for electricity transmission, electric vehicles (EVs) and many other emerging and clean technologies like solar cells. As demand increases for EVs, so will the need for copper.
Nickel & Cobalt
Nickel and cobalt are both used in the production of rechargeable batteries, while nickel is also used in the production of stainless steel. Demand for both is projected to rise more than 40 per cent by 2030.
Uranium
A fuel to produce clean energy from nuclear power plants, which generate electricity with zero emissions.
Helium
Used in many scientific, medical and industrial technologies, such as MRI machines, space travel and research. A non-renewable, limited supply resource, helium produced in Saskatchewan is up to 99 per cent less carbon intensive than other jurisdictions.
Lithium
Used in rechargeable batteries for EVs and electronics such as laptops, cell phones and grid storage. Demand for lithium-ion batteries has grown significantly, driving global exploration and mining.
Click here to learn more about Saskatchewan’s plans to be a global critical mineral hub.
467,000
cars
Pulse crops need less fertilizer since their root systems sequester carbon. Saskatchewan producers reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 2.15 million tonnes by growing pulse crops in 2021. This is equivalent to taking 467,000 cars off the road.
4.6 million
tonnes
That’s how many tonnes of CO2 have been captured at SaskPower’s Boundary Dam 3 power plant. You’d have to plant more than 69 million trees and let them grow for 10 years to match that.
50%
Potash from underground mines in Saskatchewan is produced with 50% fewer emissions than global competitors, and yet we achieve 30% of global production. That makes us the world’s largest and greenest potash producer.
2.15 million
tonnes
Pulse crops need less fertilizer since their root systems sequester carbon. Saskatchewan producers reduced greenhouse gas emissions by this many tonnes by growing pulse crops in 2021. This is equivalent to taking 467,000 cars off the road.
60%
Research commissioned by the Global Institute for Food Security found Saskatchewan’s net carbon footprint for canola and wheat was more than 60 per cent lower than competing jurisdictions.