Award-winning study explores economic options for coal-reliant communities in southern Sask.

SaskPower's Poplar River Power Plant, located near the town of Coronach, Sask. (David Prisciak/CTV News)

A group of consultants are being internationally recognized for their work in a feasibility study, exploring future economic opportunities for coal-reliant regions in southern Saskatchewan.

The South Sask Ready – Sector Level Feasibility Study by Amistra Consulting Ltd. focused on new economic opportunities for the communities of Coronach, Willow Bunch, Bengough, Rockglen and their surrounding rural municipalities.

Lorne Boyle, the president and principal consultant at Mandate Consulting, who acted as project lead, told CTV News the seven-month long study was well worth the effort.

“It was quite exciting and yet still quite humbling. It was an honour to be selected first in Canada and then internationally,” he said.

“It's quite an achievement. So we're sort of floating a bit now.”

‘EVERYTHING WILL INTERACT’

The area the study focused on lies approximately 200 kilometres southeast of Regina, consisting of 4,500 square kilometres with a population of around 3,000 residents.

The economy of the region relies on mining from the Westmoreland Coal Poplar River Mine and coal-fired power generation, from SaskPower’s Poplar River Power Plant.

The feasibility study lays out a restructuring of the local economy so it may prosper after the phasing out of coal-fired power generation by 2030.

“We had entered related projects in the four sectors, agriculture, green energy, mining and tourism, Boyle explained.

“We brought forward 43 different projects interconnected to the launch for the next 30 years to allow the region to recover from this economic loss.”

A drag-line excavator, operating at the Westmoreland Coal Poplar River Mine near Coronach, Sask. (David Prisciak/CTV News)

The study included many opportunities for economic growth, including converting the Poplar River Power Plant to a vertical greenhouse after it’s decommissioning, repurposing the area’s coal mine to aid fertilizer production by focusing on humic acid, pursuing several green energy opportunities as well as advertising tourism opportunities, which include petroglyphs and a potential UNESCO Heritage Site.

A key factor in the study was the idea of “Synergy.”

“Synergy is how everything will interact and come together. We don't have a single project that can replace $350 million of GDP,” Boyle explained.

“So agriculture is the anchor of the region … the agriculture will lean upon the fertilizer, the fertilizer will lean upon the green energy. People will come to see the whole environment. It will be the eyes of the world watching how this is done.”

A concept drawing of the proposed vertical greenhouse facility, housed within the Poplar River Power Plant. (Source: South Sask Ready)

INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

The study led to the consulting team being awarded the 2022 Constantinus International Gold Medal as well as being named the 2022 Constantinus International Award Canadian Champion.

South Sask Ready (SSR), the economic alliance organization that commissioned the study, was pleased with the results and the subsequent recognition.

“Amistra did this over and above what I required, but they saw this was such a good project that they actually put a lot of their own skin in the game, which I'm very grateful for,” Sean Wallace, the managing director of South Sask Ready explained.

“When you don't have a whole lot of money to do a lot of work, you depend on some of that goodwill and Amistra gave us an incredible amount of goodwill.”

Wallace said the recognition the study has gained is helping those working with SSR day by day, as the organization lays the groundwork for further economic development.

“I really think this award and the previous awards that we've received, I think it's been great in developing some confidence in our region and in our organization,” he said.

The recognition is crucial, given the fact that SSR is set to run out of funding by Mar. 31, 2023.

“There's a seven year gap between now and 2030,” Wallace explained.

“They're actually the most crucial years for economic development, and it's just enough time to hopefully mitigate those negative economic effects.”

Following the federally funded study, Wallace believes more support from all levels of government will come from the added spotlight the project has gained.

“I think it's going to bring more attention from our provincial government, although we work very, very closely with them and they've been incredibly supportive of us,” he said.

“Hopefully the federal government will look and say; ‘Well these guys actually know what they're doing. Maybe we should fund them.’”

The South Sask Ready Feasibility Study identified four main avenues to pursue economic growth following the phasing out of coal fired electricity. (Source: South Sask Ready)

FOR THE FUTURE

Currently, SSR is involved with creating incentive policies for investment, repealing land use bylaws, coordinating infrastructure improvement and supporting emerging businesses in the agri-food industry.

The current progress, according to Boyle, bodes well for the future of the region.

“Because there’s such local energy, over a 30 year period, there's going to be lots of ideas,” he said.

“I think the investment community will take notice … There'll be some economic multipliers off construction, off agriculture already, and off of the new fertilizer structures. This will only add a significant amount of value to the region and to the province.”

For Wallace, the process is only beginning. However, he recognizes the effort already put in to the cause.

“I can say that I've worked in almost every province and territory in this country, and I've never been prouder of a group of communities in my life as what's in this region,” he said.

“I'm very adamant about saying that.”

More information about the study and ongoing projects can be found on South Sask Ready's website.