K+S officially opened its new potash mine yesterday at Bethune.

Bethune is the most modern potash facility in the world and will sustainably strengthen the raw material and production base of the K+S Group.

The mine’s five-year construction phase has been successfully completed and the first tonne of marketable potash is expected to be produced in June as planned.

Premier Brad Wall says the Legacy project strengthens Saskatchewan’s position as the world’s leading potash producer and is another indicator the province’s diversified and resilient economy is weathering economic uncertainty.

"We’re thankful for an investment that creates jobs and opportunity in Saskatchewan."

With an investment volume of around 3.1 billion euros, the Bethune mine is the largest single project in the history of K+S and creates more than 400 permanent jobs in Canada.

K+S proudly upheld the Saskatchewan potash mining tradition of naming its facility after the closest neighbouring town, which in this case is Bethune.

K+S expects to achieve the desired production capacity of two million tonnes by the end of 2017.