Neptune Bulk Terminals (Canada) Ltd. is investing $63.5 million in new equipment to improve the North Shore terminal’s coal handling capacity, optimize energy efficiency and enhance its environmental performance, the company has announced.
Neptune will buy a new $45 million stacker reclaimer that will increase the terminal’s annual coal handling capacity to 12.5 million tonnes, up from the current eight or nine million tonnes, said Neptune vice-president of logistics Tony Nardi.
The new stacker reclaimer will allow Neptune to simultaneously move steel-making coal from trains to stockpiles and from stockpiles directly onto vessels. According to the company, the new equipment will improve Neptune’s environmental performance with a dust suppression system.
Neptune is also in the process of installing a new $6.5 million rail positioning system for train offloading. According to the company, the system is designed to move unit trains on site quietly and accurately. The installation of the system is expected to be complete this month.
The company is also installing a $12 million site power system upgrade to optimize the site’s energy efficiency.
All the projects are expected to be complete by the fall of 2012.
Neptune is the smaller of Port Metro Vancouver’s two coal exporting terminals after Westshore Terminals Ltd. Partnership, the largest coal export terminal in the country.
Neptune is owned by potash exporter Canpotex Bulk Terminals Ltd., coal company Teck Resources Ltd. (TCK.B: TSX) and oilseed producer Bunge Canada.
Jenny Wagler
Twitter: @JennyWagler_BIV