This industry remains a key pillar for both global agriculture and the country's economy, as Canada produces and exports a significant proportion of the world's supply of this critical mineral.
The global demand for potash is also expected to grow in the coming years, driven by global population growth, agricultural intensification and the need to improve crop yields.
Sarens continues to contribute to the sustained growth of the sector through significant projects, such as the lifting operation for the installation of a 500,000-pound walking portal, intended for potash recovery in a new storage shed.
The potash fertiliser market in Canada shows prospects for solid growth, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 5.7% forecast between 2026 and 2035, supported by demand for potash for various agricultural applications in regions such as Manitoba and beyond, as well as more efficient and sustainable production practices with lower emissions intensity than other producing countries. The Canadian potash industry remains a key pillar for both global agriculture and the country's economy, as Canada produces and exports a significant proportion of the world's supply of this critical mineral.
In addition, global demand for potash is also expected to grow in the coming years, driven by global population growth, agricultural intensification and the need to improve crop yields, opening up vast opportunities for the Canadian sector. Expansion projects such as the Jansen Mine in Saskatchewan, set to become one of the world's largest mines with estimated production of several million tons per year by the end of 2026, reflect the commitment to consolidating Canada's position as a key supplier of this essential fertiliser.
Within this growth context, Sarens, world leader in heavy lifting, engineered transport and crane rental services, continues to contribute to the sustained development of the sector through major projects with direct impact on the local economy. This includes the lifting operation and installation of a 250 tons walking portal intended for potash recovery in a new storage shed. The structure had uneven leg lengths and an unbalanced weight distribution, requiring a carefully designed lifting solution. To raise the portal upright, a 250-ton crane was used on the lighter leg and a 500-ton crane on the heavier leg, while, once upright, a 440-ton and a 330-ton crawler cranes worked together to support and stabilize the structure.
To complete the work, a high-capacity special rigging, supplied from the United States, was required to allow a controlled transition between lifting points and facilitate the safe 90-degree rotation of the structure during the maneuver. This is not the first time Sarens has participated in similar projects, highlighting the company’s recent involvement in the expansion of the potash storage building at Westshore Terminals in Delta, British Columbia, a strategic project to transform a coal terminal into a mixed-use facility that, once completed in 2026, will enable annual potash exports of 4.5 million tons. This expansion, with an investment of over USD 1 billion and derived from an agreement with BHP to provide port services to the Jansen mine in Saskatchewan, includes the construction of covered storage areas, wagon unloaders, and conveyor systems.
To execute the project, Sarens performed the lifting of 33 double arches composed of glulam arches, beams, purlins, support towers, and concrete anchor blocks, each with a 70-foot radius and weighing 80,000 lb. Sarens’ engineering team conducted a thorough site and lift assessment, selecting a combination of 250-ton crawler cranes, 100-ton RT cranes, 250- and 120-ton all-terrain cranes, and a 55-ton truck crane, optimized for capacity, reach, and mobility. The execution of this work has already positioned Sarens as an essential player in the Canadian potash sector, demonstrating its expertise in deploying the precise machinery and equipment according to the unique needs of each project.
According to Brett Allen, Sarens Key Account Manager, “We are proud to contribute to the growth of this industry in Canada through projects that combine precision engineering, lifting capacity, and specialized transport. Our involvement in the installation of the walking portal and the expansion of the potash storage building at Westshore Terminals reflects not only our technical expertise and planning ability but also our commitment to safety and efficiency in every maneuver. Thanks to our team of experts and state-of-the-art machinery, we help ensure that strategic projects for the local economy and national infrastructure are successfully completed, consolidating our position as a reference partner in the sustainable development of the Canadian potash industry”.
Sarens already has extensive experience in Canada, thanks to the broad expertise of its team, its in-depth knowledge of the sector and its extensive portfolio of cranes and modular transports, with multiple projects to its credit. From collaborating on The new Polaris CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) Project, launched by Shell in Alberta, Canada, a major step forward for the region's industry, Moreover, Sarens was able to contribute to the renovation of Union Station, where the team carried out the lifting and subsequent installation of several 9.4-ton iron girders for the flying garden connecting the station's north and south towers.
About Sarens
Sarens is the global leader and reference in crane rental, heavy lift and engineered transportation services. With state-of-the-art equipment, value engineering, one of the world's largest inventories of cranes, transporters and special rigging equipment, Sarens offers creative and intelligent solutions to today's heavy lifting and engineering transport challenges.
With more than 100 entities in 65 countries operating without borders, Sarens is an ideal partner for small to large-scale projects. Sarens currently employs 5,000 highly qualified professionals who are ready to serve the needs of any client worldwide and in all market sectors. https://www.sarens.com/