The PotashCorp Lanigan mine is getting a new service.
A ground breaking ceremony for a Canpotex Railcar Maintenance and Staging Facility was held on May 20. The new facility will be located 12 kilometres southwest of Lanigan - just south of the PotashCorp Lanigan mine - and will cost $55 million to build.
Canpotex is the international marketing arm for Saskatchewan potash. It is owned by the three potash-producing companies in the province: Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc., Mosaic Co. and Agrium Inc.
"This has been in the works for awhile," said Bill Doyle, president and CEO of PotashCorp.
"It's really about meeting customer (needs)."
The new facility is a "very important link in the chain," said Tom Diment, vice president of Potash Agrium.
The facility will allow for year-round maintenance of the company's fleet of 5,000 specially designed railcars, which will help keep the railcars in good shape. This will include painting, checking wheels, keeping the cars clean and other regular maintenance.
"If there is one bad car in the train unit, that (train) stops," said Doyle.
Instead of needing to send cars away to be repaired, the PotashCorp mine by Lanigan will now have a facility on-site, said Doyle.
Canpotex is proud to be working together with PotashCorp to make their product available internationally.
"Most of the growth is offshore," said Steve Dechka, president and CEO of Canpotex.
The company has a first class logistics system and is willing to dowhat it takes to make the product available.
"We do things our (international) competitors aren't willing to do," said Dechka.
They are doing what they can to help Saskatchewan grow.
Will Snider, the Reeve of the R.M. of Usborne, said when the project was brought to their council meeting, council agreed they should all go ahead with it.
He pointed out the last few decades were difficult on Saskatchewan and caused residents of the province to joke that the last person to leave Saskatchewan should remember to turn out the lights.
"We welcome Canpotex not only to the R.M, but to the community," said Snider.
"Come take a look at what our community has to offer... The lights are on in Saskatchewan."
Snider was not the only person proud of the province.
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, who was also at the groundbreakign, said Canpotex is the face of the province internationally.
"The face you have put forward is a positive one," said Wall. "Thank you for what you continue to do."
Canpotex also helps bring revenue and economic growth to the province.
"When you are stuck at a rail crossing... don't be frustrated, don't be angry," said Wall. "Instead think there goes a children's hospital."
Not only does the company help the economy, it will also create 40 full time jobs during the construction stage of the new facility and 20 new permanent jobs once it is completed.
"We've got great things happening in the province," said Wall.
The government's vision for the future is not just for urban communities to grow, but for growth within rural communities as well.
"The natural resources from the province are from (rural areas)," said Wall.
Construction on the project will begin June 2011 and Canpotex hopes to have it completed by the third quarter of 2012.
