Portland — Canpotex Ltd. has announced that it is investing up to $140 million at its wholly-owned subsidiary, Portland Bulk Terminals LLC (PBT), in new equipment and infrastructure to improve the efficiency of its shiploading operations and the management of Canpotex’s specialty white potash products. A new shiploader, improved control system technology, and an upgraded conveyance system will enable shorter turnaround times for Canpotex trains and ships at PBT. A new storage building will allow the potash exporter to better manage its specialty grade products at the terminal. “This investment is great for Canpotex and the Port because it improves the speed and quality of our operations at the terminal. But it’s not just our company that benefits; we are doing our part to try to build efficiency into the transportation system in the Pacific Northwest corridor,” said Canpotex’s Steve Dechka, president and CEO. After significant collaboration and discussion with key stakeholders, Port staff and Portland Development Commission (PDC) personnel proposed an enterprise zone expansion to include the PBT facility. The expanded enterprise zone was approved unanimously by Portland City Council last December. The company’s plans began to materialize shortly thereafter, and were officially approved at the Oct. 8 Port Commission meeting. In addition to PBT, Canpotex has terminal operations at Neptune Terminal in Vancouver, B.C. BHP Billiton, which is developing the Jansen potash project in Saskatchewan, bowed out of a proposed port project at Washington’s Port of Vancouver earlier this summer (GM June 30, p. 13).
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