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76 people being laid off by BHP Billiton’s potash business

BHP Billiton laying off 76 people in Canada involved in the company’s potash business. Supplied / BHP Billiton

SASKATOON – BHP Billiton is laying off staff in its potash business. A company spokesperson confirmed 76 people will be laid off in Canada starting later this month.

“We regret that we are reducing our workforce by 76 employees and contractors across our Potash business in Canada,” Bron Wilkinson said in an email to Global News.

“The impacted employees have been notified that they have been offered job redundancies” and will take place the next seven months starting later this month.

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Wilkinson stated most of the positions affected are predominately functional and will not impact development of the Jansen potash mine project, where work continues on sinking and lining the shafts.

READ MORE: PotashCorp says no job cuts despite soft market

The layoffs come has BHP looks at reducing costs, with potash being an option for the company that must compete for constraint capital.

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“In the context of low commodities prices and constraints on capital we have undergone structural changes and cost reductions to best position us to focus on that work,” Wilkinson said.

Wilkinson also stated all surface work under the company’s “scope of investment” is complete.

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