What's in the Ground
The northern Great Plains sit atop remarkable resource wealth:
Saskatchewan:
- Potash: World's largest reserves, ~30% of global production
- Uranium: World-class deposits in the Athabasca Basin
- Oil: Significant production, particularly heavy oil
- Helium: Growing production from natural gas processing
North Dakota:
- Oil: Bakken formation—one of the largest US oil fields, ~1 million barrels/day at peak
- Natural Gas: Associated production from the Bakken
- Coal: Lignite deposits in the western part of the state
South Dakota:
- Gold: Homestake Mine was one of the largest in North America (now closed, converted to physics research)
- Aggregate: Sand, gravel, and construction materials
- Potential: Less explored than neighbors, possible undiscovered resources
The Bakken-Williston Basin Connection
The Bakken oil field doesn't stop at the border. The Williston Basin extends into Saskatchewan and Manitoba, with active production on both sides. Integration would create opportunities:
- Unified Regulation: Currently, producers navigate two different regulatory regimes for the same geological formation
- Pipeline Coordination: Infrastructure could be planned for the basin as a whole, not piecemeal by jurisdiction
- Emissions Management: North Dakota has struggled with natural gas flaring; Saskatchewan has stricter rules—harmonization could reduce waste
- Workforce: Oil workers already move between jurisdictions; integration would simplify this
Potash: The Saskatchewan Advantage
Saskatchewan's potash reserves are genuinely world-class. The province produces about 30% of global supply, essential for fertilizer production worldwide. The Dakotas, as major agricultural producers, are significant consumers.
Integration could mean:
- Simplified domestic supply chains for Dakota farmers
- Reduced transportation costs
- Potential for processing facilities closer to agricultural end-users
- Combined lobbying power on fertilizer trade issues
Energy Transition Considerations
Any discussion of fossil fuel resources must acknowledge the energy transition. Both Saskatchewan and North Dakota have economies significantly dependent on oil and gas. Integration raises questions:
Diversification:
- Combined resources could fund transition investments
- Renewable potential exists: wind is abundant across the plains
- Saskatchewan's nuclear expertise (uranium mining, research reactor) could contribute to small modular reactor development
Carbon Management:
- Saskatchewan has invested in carbon capture (Boundary Dam project)
- North Dakota has geological storage potential
- Combined approach could be more effective than separate efforts
Agricultural Connection:
- Potash is essential for food production—this remains true regardless of energy transition
- Biofuels are already significant in both jurisdictions
- Agricultural emissions management is a shared challenge
Revenue and Distribution
Resource revenue is politically sensitive. Questions include:
- How would royalties be structured across the integrated region?
- Would Dakota communities benefit from Saskatchewan's heritage fund model?
- How would boom-and-bust cycles be managed?
- What share of revenue should go to Indigenous communities on whose traditional territories resources are extracted?
Questions for Discussion
- How should non-renewable resource revenue be balanced against long-term sustainability?
- What regulatory approach would best serve both economic development and environmental protection?
- How can resource-dependent communities prepare for eventual transition?
- What role should Indigenous peoples play in resource governance?
This forum explores the economic foundations of integration—the resources that drive prairie economies and the challenges of managing them responsibly.