The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday edition that BHP Group is forging ahead with a $6.4-billion expansion of the Jansen potash mine in Saskatchewan, even before the first phase of the mine is in production, as it makes a giant bet on the future of the global fertilizer market. The Globe's Niall McGee writes that on Tuesday, BHP announced that it will start building a second phase of the fertilizer mine, which will bring its total investment in Jansen to $18.8-billion. It is by far the largest investment ever undertaken by BHP, whose history goes back to 1885. Jansen Stage 1 is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, while the second phase should be finished in 2029. At that point, Jansen will be producing about 8.5 million tons of potash a year. BHP believes that potash demand will grind inexorably higher over time, owing to global population growth, the increased adoption of higher-calorie diets and growing pressure on arable land. Nutrien, the world's biggest potash producer and a close competitor to BHP in Saskatchewan, recently pulled back on its potash expansion plans because of weakness in the market. BHP started studying the economics around building the Jansen potash mine as early as 2008.