Nutrien is the world’s largest provider of crop inputs, services and solutions. The company produces and distributes over 27 million tons of potash, nitrogen and phosphate products for agricultural, industrial and feed to customers.

Refurbishing the mill at Nutrien’s largest potash mine, near Rocanville, Saskatchewan, involved building two new motor control centers (MCC) within the maintenance shop in Mill 1. These motor control centers are responsible for delivering power throughout a commercial or industrial operation for purposes such as heating and cooling, lighting, and to drive machinery.

The cost savings began even before construction started. The original plan for erecting the structural steel was to raise the steel over an existing building by crane and lower it into place. We built a scale model of the structural steel for the plant, however, we found that a smaller crane could erect the new steel more cost effectively and safely. This alternative plan eliminated the safety risks that would come when blind lifts were swinging over the building. It also created direct cost savings for the owner. The revised structural steel execution plan succeeded and highlighted the mutual focus on safety. Construction occurred without interfering with Nutrien’s continued use of the mine.

The new MCC rooms at the Rocanville Mine support enhanced operations at Mill 1 and will help Nutrien continue to keep the world’s crops growing.