Tron shines as potash industry looks to Indigenous suppliers
In recent years, mining giants K+S Canada and PotashCorp have made significant corporate commitments to increasing not only the number of Indigenous employees they have but the percentage of Indigenous companies in their supply chains. This is welcome news for Indigenous-owned companies like Tron Construction, Minetec, and JNE Welding – all part of the Des Nedhe Group of Companies.
As an Indigenous-owned company with many years in the provincial mining industry behind them, Tron is primed for an expanded relationship with potash companies. “We are well-positioned to meet the growing demand for Indigenous suppliers to the potash industry. Companies realize that we are a good business decision,” says Tron President, Rob Stanger. “What makes us somewhat unique is that when you call Tron to talk about a project or get in touch with people doing the job, we do not have to reach out to sub-contractors because we are doing the work ourselves. We have the workers and expertise right here.” They also have the equipment. Recently, Tron invested $3.5 million in site services and underground mining equipment to meet the needs of their potash clients.
Tron’s ability to deliver such vertically integrated service led to a partnership with PotashCorp to develop the first 100 per cent Indigenous-owned mining company in the potash industry and helped win Tron part of the roughly $250 million in contracts awarded to First Nations and Métis suppliers as part of the K+S Legacy Project last year.
The benefits of industry and Indigenous engagement go beyond the corporate bottom line. “Considering the size of the workforce represented by Saskatchewan’s Indigenous population and the need for skilled labour and expertise, Saskatchewan’s economy is better off when Indigenous people are involved,” Stanger suggests.
Given Tron and Minetec’s readiness to respond, look for them to be at the forefront of the growing relationship between the potash industry and Saskatchewan’s Indigenous population.
“The future health and growth of Saskatchewan’s economy will be significantly enhanced by the work of Indigenous suppliers in the potash mine sector.” “Considering the size of the workforce represented by Saskatchewan’s Indigenous population and the need for skilled labour and expertise, Saskatchewan’s economy is better off when Indigenous people are involved.”