Westshore Terminals | New potash export – Westshore

On April 11, 2022, a project permit was issued to Westshore Terminals Limited Partnership to undertake upgrades to the existing Westshore Terminal, including new infrastructure to incorporate the handling and shipment of 4.5 MMT of potash per year. The Westshore Terminal is located at 1 Roberts Bank, Delta, British Columbia on federal lands and waters managed by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. 

The project was approved subject to 50 permit conditions that Westshore Terminals Limited Partnership must meet to ensure the project does not result in significant adverse environmental effects. 

Construction is anticipated to take approximately four to five years to complete, beginning in April, 2022. For more information about the project and construction activities, please go to the Applicant’s website. 

About the project 

The Project will consist of upgrades to the existing terminal to use a portion of the site for potash export, including new infrastructure to incorporate potash operations. The Project will receive potash shipments by rail, off-load the potash from enclosed railcars to a new potash storage building, and transfer potash via an enclosed conveyor system to the shiploaders and onto vessels at the existing Berth 2 for export. Once the Project is operational, Berth 2 will facilitate the export of both coal and potash while Berth 1 will remain dedicated to coal. The two existing coal dumpers will remain dedicated to coal. Only two of the three dumpers will operate concurrently at any one time. 

Project activities and components include:

• A new enclosed potash railcar dumper on the south side of the site, adjacent to the existing dumpers
• Modifications to the existing inbound rail system to include a new 700 metre section of rail to connect the new railcar dumper to the existing inner rail loop
• Installation of a new timber A-frame potash storage building located on the northwest corner of the site, measuring approximately 400 metres long x 70 metres wide x 40 metres high, housing a new tripper conveyor and portal reclaimer
• Installation of new enclosed conveyors and transfer towers to transport potash from the railcar dumper to the storage building and from the storage building to the existing Berth 2 shiploaders
• Installation of dust collectors at conveyor transfer points
• Modifications to the existing Berth 2 to accommodate loading potash, including
  • Ground densification
  • Installation of 36 in-water piles
• Modifications to or replacement of the existing Berth 2 shiploader feed conveyors
• Removal of two existing quadrant-style shiploaders at Berth 2
• Installation of two new dual-purpose shiploaders at Berth 2 to allow both potash and coal handling
• Installation of spout changeout towers at Berth 2, including installation of six in-water piles
• Associated on-site road, civil and electrical infrastructure modifications within the existing facility

Construction is expected to take approximately four to five years to complete. 

More information about the project is available on the Applicant’s website.