Written by: William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief Canadian Pacific and K+S Potash Canada (KSPC) on May 2, officially opened the Bethune (Legacy) Project potash mine site, the first of its kind built in Saskatchewan in more than 40 years, and in terms of rail infrastructure, “the most significant engineering project undertaken by CP since the mid-1980s,” the railroad said. In 2013, CP signed an exclusive, long-term contract with KSPC to deliver its potash products to international markets, and began construction of an 18.9-mile (30.4-km) connection. The project consisted of nearly 50,000 crossties, 4,500 tonnes of steel (plates, rail, bolts), 90,000 tonnes of ballast and “thousands of hours of work.” CP noted it will primarily use unit trains of 177 cars and four locomotives to ship the potash products to KSPC's handling and storage facility in Port Moody, B.C., then on to overseas markets. The mine is expected to have marketable product by the end of Q2 2017 and reach a production capacity of two million tonnes of potash by the end of 2017. “We are incredibly proud to have collaborated with K+S Potash Canada on this project and look forward to delivering their product to international markets for years to come,” said CP President and CEO Keith Creel. “Building 30 kilometers of new rail through a rural area, including a river valley, is no easy feat, and I want to congratulate all those who invested their time and energy in bringing this project to a successful conclusion.” “KSPC needed to ensure that transportation of product from our mine to our port facility would be both secure and competitive,” said Dr. Ulrich Lamp, President and CEO, KSPC. “When we signed the contract with Canadian Pacific in 2013, we knew we had found the perfect partner and strategic fit for those needs. We are so pleased to see the finished rail infrastructure.” Continue reading...
