WINNIPEG: Richardson International Ltd. recently completed a C$140 million ($108 million) expansion of an export terminal in North Vancouver, B.C. The project added an 80,000-tonne concrete grain storage annex to the company’s terminal, increasing storage capacity to 178,000 tonnes. Construction on the terminal began in September 2013 and concluded in early 2016.
The terminal now has the ability to handle in excess of 6 million tonnes each year to meet growing demand for Canadian grains and oilseeds, the company said. Richardson also upgraded and enhanced its rail yard and receiving system to handle and process railcars more efficiently. The grain storage annex was built on a narrow strip of land along the North Vancouver waterfront and Richardson’s terminal remained fully operational during the construction process.
“For us to complete this project on time and on budget, not only continuing daily operations but exceeding expectations by setting new shipping and receiving records, is an outstanding accomplishment,” said Darwin Sobkow, executive vice-president, agribusiness operations and processing. “Our Vancouver project has been a tremendous success story from start to finish and that speaks volumes about the commitment and dedication of our team.”
While the facility typically ships about 3 million tonnes of grain each year, it set a new handling record in 2015, shipping 502 million tonnes. Richardson shipped 551,000 tonnes of grain in April, beating the previous record of 489,000 tonnes, the company said. That same month, the Vancouver terminal received 5,400 rail cars — 200 more than it has ever received in the same time period.
“Our Vancouver expansion was a significant investment in our business to ensure we have the appropriate capacity on the West coast,” said Curt Vossen, president and chief executive officer of Richardson International. “As Canada’s leading agribusiness, we have positioned ourselves globally to efficiently move Canadian grains and oilseeds to emerging market in Asia-Pacific and other areas, further enhancing our ability to serve our farm customers at home and international buyers around the world.”
