From NSC, new potash cars for KSPC

K+S Potash Canada (KSPC) has accepted the first of 200 railcars built by National Steel Car (NSC) in Hamilton, Ontario, for domestic use. These cars will transport potash from the company’s Bethune mine in Saskatchewan to North American clients.

The domestic-use rail cars are built to the same specifications as KSPC’s 500-unit international fleet, which NSC delivered in late 2016. They are optimized to transport potash, in terms of cubic capacity and length. A single opening at the top of the car allows them to be loaded while in motion. The distinguishing feature of the domestic cars, in contrast to the international fleet, is their K+S blue livery. The bulk of the fleet will be delivered beginning in August.

“KSPC’s domestic fleet is one of the cornerstones of our North American logistics network,” said Martin Brown, President of K+S North America. “We have seen enormous interest in potash from KSPC’s Bethune mine, from new and existing customers, and we are ready to deliver from a rail provider, railcar, warehouse and customer perspective.” In 2015, for example, parent company K+S Group established an exclusive potash supply agreement with Koch Fertilizer, including storage and distribution details, Brown added.

“The high-efficiency design of these cars is fit for our company’s world-class facility, which was officially opened this spring,” said Dr. Ulrich Lamp, President and CEO of KSPC. “After producing our first tonnes of potash at Bethune mine, we are happy to be preparing to move our product to market.”

KSPC is a K+S Group company with headquarters in Saskatoon, Sask.; a solution potash mine and production facility located near Moose Jaw, Sask; and a potash handling and storage facility operated in partnership with Pacific Coast Terminals in Port Moody, B.C. Bethune mine, formerly known as the Legacy Project, is the first new potash mine in Saskatchewan in nearly 50 years. KSPC celebrated the grand opening of Bethune in May 2017 and projects it will reach a production capacity of 2 million tonnes by the end of 2017. All sales and distribution of the potash produced at Bethune will be carried out through the K+S Group’s global distribution structure.