WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA — Richardson International Limited announced on April 15 that it has received a project permit from Port Metro Vancouver to build an additional 80,000-tonne concrete grain storage annex at its port terminal facility in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Richardson plans to begin construction immediately.

“We are very pleased to move forward with this project as we see it as key to meeting growing demand from global markets,” said Darwin Sobkow, executive vice-president, agribusiness operations. “This expansion will allow us to serve both our farm customers and international buyers more effectively by increasing capacity to move Canadian grains and oilseeds to rapidly emerging markets in Asia-Pacific and around the world.”

Richardson’s Vancouver terminal has been operating at maximum capacity for several years, handling in excess of 3 million tonnes grains and oilseeds annually. This C$120 million expansion will increase total storage capacity to 178,000 tonnes, which will allow Richardson to handle over 5 million tonnes of grains and oilseeds a year through its Vancouver terminal.

“This is a significant investment in our business and the biggest investment in the Port of Vancouver in more than 20 years,” said Curt Vossen, president and chief executive officer of Richardson International. “Through this project, we are creating jobs, supporting Port Metro Vancouver’s vision to grow the port and ultimately helping to increase Canadian trade by remaining competitive and ensuring continued access to global markets for Prairie farmers.”

Richardson’s expansion will create hundreds of jobs throughout the two-year construction
process and will result in the creation of approximately 40 to 50 additional permanent positions at the port terminal facility. Construction is expected to be complete in 2015.