Government of Canada invests in dry bulk conveyor loop project in the Port of Belledune

The Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, and the Member of Parliament for Acadie – Bathurst, Serge Cormier, have announced an investment of up to CAN$12.5 million, under the National Trade Corridors Fund, for an infrastructure project at the Port of Belledune.

The CAN$25 million project will create a dry bulk conveyor loop between two terminals that will facilitate reloading and transhipments at the port. With this funding, the port will install fixed conveyors linking the deep-water terminal to the staging area, renovate existing storage, and build a new warehouse and transfer tower. The project will increase the quantities of bulk cargo handled at the Port of Belledune and make it easier to move goods such as forest products, minerals, and petroleum between vessels and other modes of transportation.

This investment will have important economic and employment benefits for the region, such as relieving supply chain congestion, and facilitating the movement of goods at this port while creating good jobs for Canadians in the region.

The Government of Canada is investing to help bolster Canada's economic capacity and the opportunities for our Canadian businesses to expand into global markets. This represents a long-term commitment to work with stakeholders on strategic infrastructure projects to address transportation bottlenecks, vulnerabilities, and congestion along Canada's trade corridors.

“[The] announcement at the Port of Belledune will help maintain the competitiveness, resilience, and fluidity of our supply chain. The project would also allow the port to maximise transhipment opportunities to the Great Lakes and the American Midwest, as well as from international ports. It helps build an economy that works for everyone, while creating good jobs for the region,” said Alghabra, Minister of Transport.

“This significant investment will support important operations at the Port of Belledune to ensure the continuous economic prosperity of Acadie-Bathurst and Northern New Brunswick. The transport and distribution of goods is essential to our regional and national economies,” added Serge Cormier, Member of Parliament for Acadie – Bathurst.

“We are excited to work with public and private partners to invest in modern infrastructure that enables us to double our cargo capacity while reducing our carbon footprint and greening our operations. This new conveyor system is a game-changer for Port operations, allowing us to move cargo more quickly and efficiently. With this project and others, we are anticipating the needs brought on by climate change while transitioning to sustainable solutions for our business and operations,” commented Denis Caron, CEO of the Port of Belledune.

“At QSL, sustainable development is key to our business model. It is why we are very excited to play a part in today's announcement by the Port of Belledune and the federal government. The investment will not only allow for new cargoes to be handled in a more efficient manner but will also lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The Port of Belledune's vision of a green energy hub and its work with all stakeholders, including the First Nations, is perfectly aligned with the reasons that propelled QSL to sign the United Nations Global Compact, and why we are so proud to operate in Belledune,” concluded Robert Bellisle, CEO and President of QSL International.

Read the article online at: https://www.drybulkmagazine.com/ports-terminals/01032023/government-of-canada-invests-in-dry-bulk-conveyor-loop-project-in-the-port-of-belledune/