Saskatchewan places big orders to support steel sector
Thousands of pounds of steel and more than a hundred kilometres of pipe were recently procured from EVRAZ Steel.
Key Takeaways:
- Saskatchewan’s Crown corporations are prioritizing local steel purchases from EVRAZ Steel to support over 400 jobs in Regina, helping safeguard employment amid economic challenges.
- SaskPower secured up to 10,000 tons of steel from EVRAZ—enough for three years of infrastructure projects—demonstrating a long-term commitment to maintaining a resilient local supply chain.
- The initiative not only strengthens Saskatchewan’s economy but also fosters partnerships with local fabricators like Brandt and JNE Welding, contributing to a “made-in-Saskatchewan” solution that boosts the provincial economy and ensures infrastructure reliability.
The Whole Story:
Officials in Saskatchewan are buying steel years in advance to support local steel jobs as tariffs hammer the sector.
Saskatchewan announced that its Crown corporations are purchasing local steel to support local jobs, with thousands of pounds of steel and more than a hundred kilometres of pipe recently procured from EVRAZ Steel.
“The Government of Saskatchewan will always stand up for Saskatchewan’s interests, focusing on pragmatic and sensible solutions, while protecting our jobs, economy and residents,” Crown Investments Corporation Minister Jeremy Harrison said. “By prioritizing the purchasing of local steel for SaskPower and SaskEnergy infrastructure projects, we are helping to keep over 400 hardworking Saskatchewan people on the job right here in Regina.”
SaskPower has negotiated a purchase of up to 10,000 tons of steel from EVRAZ, or the equivalent of three-years’ worth of steel for the Crown, which is used for the construction of transmission structures and other infrastructure that is critical to maintain Saskatchewan’s power grid.
“EVRAZ Canada has been a proud part of Saskatchewan’s economy for nearly 70 years,” EVRAZ Canada Senior Vice President Don Hunter said. “The commitment we are seeing today from the provincial government is a strong signal that the Government of Saskatchewan recognizes the importance of domestic steel manufacturing—not only for EVRAZ’s workers who depend on it but for the broader economy that benefits from a strong and resilient supply chain.”
Officials stated that the collaboration between SaskPower and EVRAZ, along with steel structure fabricators, Brandt and JNE Welding, will result in a made-in-Saskatchewan solution that will support the provincial economy while ensuring reliable power for residents and businesses.
“The United Steelworkers have been at the forefront of fighting for our jobs and for our industry,” USW Local 5890 President Mike Day said. “When hearing of commitments like this from the Saskatchewan government, it eases some of the uncertainty our members have been facing.
“Commitments and investments just like these – to buy Canadian – from all forms of government is what the USW has, and will, continue to advocate for in all Canadian infrastructure projects.”
Currently, EVRAZ is working on an order from SaskEnergy which purchased 125 kilometres of steel pipe through Gateway Tubulars LTD. for the Aspen Power Station project, a new 370-megawatt natural gas power plant near Lanigan. SaskEnergy has procured $79 million from EVRAZ directly or through supplier agreements since 2019.
In the first three quarters of 2024-25, the Crown sector awarded $1.2 billion to Saskatchewan suppliers, including $92 million to Indigenous companies.
