Transportation Key To Resource Success
By 250 News
Friday, June 04, 2010 10:06 AM
Prince George, B.C. – “Transportation is inextricably linked to the success of our resource industry” says Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Shirley Bond.(at right Minister Bond opens the Resource Expo session on Transportation)
The transportation opportunities now offered with the Prince of Prince Rupert and being developed by the Prince George Airport have opened up a new future for the region.
Don Krusel, President and CEO of the Port of Prince Rupert, says he wants industry to think of the Port as a resource “We are providing a service to shippers who would normally use the ports of Long Beach, Seattle and Tacoma.”
The Port of Prince Rupert was initially a port to ship forest products. In 1986 the port ‘s activity plunged, “We were looking death in the eyes” says Krusel.
That was the start of the reinvention of the Port.
In the fall of 2007, the new Fairview Terminal opened, and in 2008, when other ports were feeling the impact of the economic downturn, Prince Rupert was growing, and continues to grow.
With Prince Rupert providing the deepest and closest port to Asia, Krusel says the plan to expand is moving forward. “We expect to have our environmental review complete this time next year, and hope to start construction of the expansion around that time”. The expansion plans are on Ridley Island, and the expansion plans would see development of a second terminal, rail, road and roll off for goods such as vehicles, and a bulk facility to handle the export of goods such as potash .”
The total value of the expansion is $650 million dollars and when complete is expected to provide some 9 thousand new jobs
Krusel says there were plenty of nay sayers “When we said we wanted to develop the Port of Prince Rupert, there were a lot of people who said it would never happen, they asked us what we were smoking other than regular tobacco.”
The nay sayers aren’t saying anything now, in fact, the plans for expansion would make Prince Rupert the third largest port in North America.
Initiatives Prince George President and CEO, Tim McEwan says the Prince Rupert story is not off the line of what is being pursued for Prince George “The Prince Rupert story should be a beacon for what we can do in Prince George.”
As is the case with the Rupert Port, Prince George’s air logistics plan is taking advantage of the uncongested corridor, a good rail grade, shortest distance between Asia and the North America heartland, and business cost advantages of land and labour. One of the other positives for Prince George is that this development has community and government support.
Prince George, B.C. – “Transportation is inextricably linked to the success of our resource industry” says Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Shirley Bond.
The transportation opportunities now offered with the Prince of Prince Rupert and being developed by the Prince George Airport have opened up a new future for the region.
Don Krusel, President and CEO of the Port of Prince Rupert, says he wants industry to think of the Port as a resource “We are providing a service to shippers who would normally use the ports of Long Beach, Seattle and Tacoma.”
The Port of Prince Rupert was initially a port to ship forest products. In 1986 the port ‘s activity plunged, “We were looking death in the eyes” says Krusel.
That was the start of the reinvention of the Port.
In the fall of 2007, the new Fairview Terminal opened, and in 2008, when other ports were feeling the impact of the economic downturn, Prince Rupert was growing, and continues to grow.
With Prince Rupert providing the deepest and closest port to Asia, Krusel says the plan to expand is moving forward. “We expect to have our environmental review complete this time next year, and hope to start construction of the expansion around that time”. The expansion plans are on Ridley Island, and the expansion plans would see development of a second terminal, rail, road and roll off for goods such as vehicles, and a bulk facility to handle the export of goods such as potash .”
The total value of the expansion is $650 million dollars and when complete is expected to provide some 9 thousand new jobs
Krusel says there were plenty of nay sayers “When we said we wanted to develop the Port of Prince Rupert, there were a lot of people who said it would never happen, they asked us what we were smoking other than regular tobacco.”
The nay sayers aren’t saying anything now, in fact, the plans for expansion would make Prince Rupert the third largest port in North America.
Initiatives Prince George President and CEO, Tim McEwan says the Prince Rupert story is not off the line of what is being pursued for Prince George “The Prince Rupert story should be a beacon for what we can do in Prince George.”
As is the case with the Rupert Port, Prince George’s air logistics plan is taking advantage of the uncongested corridor, a good rail grade, shortest distance between Asia and the North America heartland, and business cost advantages of land and labour. One of the other positives for Prince George is that this development has community and government support.
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Posted by: IMO on June 4 2010 11:17 AM