First Critical Mineral Shipment From Port of Churchill in Decades
2024年8月17日 - 4:17AM
For the first time in over two decades, an export shipment of
Critical Minerals has departed from the Port of Churchill. The zinc
concentrate shipment marks a significant milestone in Arctic
Gateway Group’s work to revitalize the Hudson Bay Railway,
diversify the Port of Churchill, and seize the opportunity to
further develop Canada’s Arctic trade corridor to global markets.
“We’re building a new era of economic development and
international trade for northern Manitoba while strongly supporting
the principles of Indigenous reconciliation,” said Mike Spence,
Chair of Arctic Gateway Group (AGG) and Mayor of Churchill. “Thanks
to the strong partnership that we have developed between the
Indigenous and northern ownership group, the Government of Canada,
and the Province of Manitoba, we’ve been able to improve the
reliability of our operations and secure new contracts to export
Canada’s critical minerals to international markets.”
Over the past two months, more than one hundred rail cars of
zinc concentrate from Hudbay Minerals Inc. (Hudbay) operations in
Snow Lake, Manitoba were delivered to the Port of Churchill. The
zinc concentrate was then stored temporarily at a recently built
storage facility, which is the first new building at the port in
over twenty years. This new storage facility is the first step in a
broader plan to significantly increase critical minerals storage
capacity at the Port of Churchill.
“The collaborative work done between all levels of government
and the leadership of the Arctic Gateway Group has paved the way
for this historic day,” said Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern
Affairs and Minister responsible for PrairiesCan. “With a
revitalized Hudson Bay Railway and Port of Churchill, jobs will be
created, mining and forestry opportunities will open, and Bayline
communities will have the opportunity to position themselves as a
true gateway to the Arctic and the world.”
“This export activity through Churchill is proof that our
investment in the transportation system is bringing a wave of
growth and renewal for the north, and advancing economic
reconciliation for Indigenous peoples,” said Lisa Naylor, Minister
of Transportation and Infrastructure for the Province of
Manitoba.
“Hudbay has a long history of mining in Manitoba and is
committed to supporting the northern economy. The Port of Churchill
provides us with an efficient gateway to deliver our products to
global customers. We hope to build on this initial concentrate
shipment to explore other mutually beneficial opportunities with
Arctic Gateway Group in the future,” said Rob Carter, Vice
President of Hudbay’s Manitoba Business Unit.
Alongside work to improve and diversify the Port of Churchill,
AGG has made historic investments in capital upgrades along the
Hudson Bay Rail Line that help to ensure the stability and
reliability of freight and passenger services. This year’s
construction season includes:
- replacement of 125,000 rail ties
- 800,000 feet of resurfacing
- several crossing rehabilitations
- turnout replacements
- various bridge improvements, including the replacement of a
large rail bridge at Mile 179.8 of the Thicket Portage
Sub-Division.
In addition to today’s critical minerals export shipment, the
Port of Churchill also loaded a second vessel of essential northern
resupply items in mid-July, including construction equipment,
vehicles, and an array goods for the people and businesses in the
Arctic.
With a $60 million investment by the federal and provincial
governments in 2024, this construction season AGG is set to
complete major capital upgrades on the Hudson Bay Railway, purchase
essential port handling equipment, and lay the groundwork for
future growth and port developments. These investments are made
possible through the shared vision for a reliable, efficient, and
financially profitable Arctic trade corridor, supported by the
Government of Manitoba, the Government of Canada, and the Arctic
Gateway Group. AGG looks forward to continuing this partnership as
it progresses to the next phase of development.
When fully realized in 2028, the potential benefits of the
Arctic Gateway port and railway are expected to:
- Reduce shipping time and costs for key international markets
and more competitively priced imports and exports.
- Generate over $1 Billion annually in associated economic
activity for the Canadian economy.
- Support over 5,500 jobs annually, including indirect jobs in
associated industries such as construction and transportation.
- Be a model for economic reconciliation, which is a key focus of
AGG’s unique ownership group of Indigenous and northern
communities.
- Provide Canada with multi-use infrastructure that enables a
stronger assertion of Canada’s sovereignty in the Arctic.
- Give Canadian imports and exports an alternate deep sea arctic
port that is accessible by rail, strengthening Canada’s supply
chain.
- Reduce costs of resupply shipments to arctic communities and
increase food security.
Spence added, “This shipment shows the strength of Manitoba’s
resources and the opportunity of our deepwater Port and arctic
trade corridor – we’re exporting critical minerals mined in
Manitoba through a Manitoba port using infrastructure built by
Manitobans.”
About Arctic Gateway Group
The Arctic Gateway Group is a proudly Indigenous- and
community-owned Manitoba company that owns and operates the Port of
Churchill, Canada’s only Arctic seaport serviced by rail, as well
as the Hudson Bay Railway, which runs from The Pas to
Churchill.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1b7fa691-10e3-4ad6-8ac8-2cddd0d6f4f5
Media Contact:
Tom Garrett
204.806.3670
tom@chadwickconsulting.ca