Investment at Port Metro Vancouver increases agricultural shipping capacity

Improved infrastructure means more rail cars can be unloaded at once

VANCOUVER, July 8, 2014 /CNW/ - Jeff Watson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, today celebrated, along with West Coast Reduction Ltd. President and CEO Barry Glotman, the completion of work to expand the rail unloading capacity of the West Coast Reduction facility at Port Metro Vancouver.

The project will improve transportation of agricultural products, particularly canola oil, being exported from Western Canada to Asia-Pacific markets.

The rail upgrades will increase the number of railcars that can be unloaded simultaneously, from 16 to 24. This will allow West Coast Reduction Ltd. to increase its canola handling capacity by an estimated 50 per cent, which represents an estimated additional $270 million in canola oil exported to Asia-Pacific markets. The project also involves upgrading the piping infrastructure to handle additional capacity.

Quick Facts

• Phases 1 and 2 of the Rail Unloading Improvement Project involve upgrades to the rail lines and to the piping system between the rail lines and pump house. These are now complete. Phase 3, which involves upgrades to the piping system between the pump house and the marine vessel berths, will begin shortly. Construction is scheduled to be fully completed by March 2015.
• The total cost of the Rail Unloading Improvement project is approximately $11 million, with the Government of Canada contributing up to $2.8 million under the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Transportation Infrastructure Fund (APGCTIF), which is part of the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative (APGCI) and focuses on infrastructure projects. The balance of the project funding will be provided by West Coast Reduction Ltd.
• The APGCI aims to make Canada's Asia-Pacific Gateway the best transportation network facilitating global supply chains between North America and Asia.
• To date, our Government has invested approximately $1.4 billion in APGCI infrastructure projects, in partnership with all four western provinces, municipalities and the private sector, for a total project value of approximately $3.5 billion.
• The Rail Unloading Improvement project will result in improved intermodal efficiency, economic development and enhanced trade.

Quotes

"In partnership with West Coast Reduction Ltd., our Government's investments in the Rail Unloading Improvement project will not only improve the efficiency of the transportation network, but will facilitate the movement of agricultural products exported from Western Canadian producers to Asia-Pacific markets more rapidly through the Asia-Pacific Gateway, while alleviating congestion at Port Metro Vancouver."
Jeff Watson
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport

"West Coast Reduction is celebrating its 50^th year of service to the agriculture and agri-food industries in Western Canada and acknowledges and appreciates the essential support that the Government of Canada continues to provide. This partnership and joint-investment allowed for the expansion of an essential gateway for vegetable oils to be exported to Asia-Pacific markets from our Port Metro Vancouver facility, supporting Canada's canola oil industry and helping to secure high-quality jobs throughout the agricultural supply chain, including jobs at our terminal here in Vancouver."
Barry Glotman
President and Chief Executive Officer
West Coast Reduction Ltd.

Associated Links

For information on the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative, visit: asiapacificgateway.gc.ca
For information on West Coast Reduction Ltd., Visit: www.wcrl.com

SOURCE: Transport Canada

Jana Régimbal
Press Secretary
Minister of Transport
Tel: [phone]

Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055

Elisha McCallum
On behalf of West Coast Reduction Ltd.
778-668-0185.