Canadian National Railway Co. told Green Markets on Aug. 26 that on Wednesday evening, Aug. 25, the company had safely removed some 30 potash railcars that derailed Saturday, Aug. 21, in a rural area some 30 miles west of Moncton, New Brunswick, and that the tracks had reopened. Some of the potash spilled, and some 20 railcars were reported to have landed on their side. There was a total of 133 railcars.
Nutrien Ltd., Saskatoon, confirmed that the train was hauling potash for Canpotex Ltd., the company that exports Canadian potash for Nutrien and The Mosaic Co.
CN said there were no injuries, leaks, fires, or dangerous goods involved. After the derailment, CN traffic had been rerouted through the Newcastle line, which runs north through Miramichi.
The Canadian Transportation Safety Board (TSB) is investigating the incident. As of Aug. 26, TSB told Green Markets it was still assessing the occurrence and gathering information.
While the derailment was essentially just a five-day delay of potash to the export market, it was to an already tight market. Canpotex reported that it is sold out into November.
“One of the realities of the current environment with things being so tight is that major producers are effectively sold out through much of the balance of the year,” Mark Thompson, Nutrien Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer, told attendees of the Raymond James Diversified Industrials Conference on Aug. 25.