BHP Billiton Canada Inc. | Potash Export Facility Project

October 12, 2017

Project status

Application withdrawn

On November 29, 2021, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority accepted the withdrawal of the BHP Billiton Canada Inc. (BHP) project permit application (PER No. 17-108). The application was to develop a potash export facility at 11060 Elevator Road in Surrey, British Columbia on federal lands managed by Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.

Project history

On 5 June, 2018, BHP submitted a project permit application to develop a potash export facility at 11060 Elevator Road in Surrey, British Columbia on federal lands managed by Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (PER No. 17-108).

Prior to submitting a formal project permit application to the port authority, the Applicant submitted a preliminary project proposal in November 2016. The draft proposal underwent a thorough Preliminary Review phase as part of the port authority’s Project and Environmental Review process. As part of the preliminary process, the Applicant conducted preliminary consultation activities in late 2017 (see below for more information).

As part of the Application Review phase of the Project and Environmental Review process, consultation with stakeholder, public and Indigenous groups was required. The port authority conducted formal consultation activities with stakeholders as part of the permitting process. BHP was required to solicit public feedback on the proposed project, results of technical studies and proposed mitigation measures. The port authority delegated the procedural aspects of Indigenous consultation to BHP.

About the project

The proposed potash export facility would have an annual capacity of 8 million tonnes and would utilize an existing berth and portion of the container yard at Fraser Surrey Docks terminal to load potash to deep sea vessels on the Fraser River. The proposed project includes the construction of an above ground storage building, a travelling ship-loader, rail loop, rail unloading facility and transfer system and other associated terminal infrastructure. The facility would receive the potash product from BHP Billiton’s proposed Jansen Mine near Saskatoon via rail. The potash would be offloaded and transferred to the storage building using a covered conveyor system. Product would then be transferred from the storage building via covered conveyors to the ship-loader and loaded on to vessels. The proposed project includes:

Demolition of existing structures
Site preparation (including removal of areas of existing asphalt and soil densification)
Construction of:
- Rail loop (comprising three tracks total: one dedicated track each for inbound and outbound trains and one track to handle both)
- Rail unloading facility
- Transfer system (conveyors and four transfer towers)
- Product storage building
- Travelling ship-loader and berth improvements
- Substations and utilities
- Off-spec storage building
- Extensions to port authority rail yard rail tracks (off-site works)

Public consultation

A 20-business day comment period for the proposed project took place from June 28, 2018 until July 27, 2018. The applicant conducted both online activities and hosted two open houses during this public comment period. The open houses were held in Surrey on Saturday, July 14, and in New Westminster on Monday, July 16, 2018.

A summary of consultation and how feedback will be considered in the Application Review Phase, is posted in the resources section below.

Preliminary consultation

Prior to submitting a formal permit application to the port authority, the Applicant completed preliminary consultation activities from October 12 until November 8, 2017 to solicit early feedback on the proposed project. The summary of preliminary consultation and how feedback was considered, are posted below and on the Applicant’s website.

Resources

November 2018 – Application Review Public Comment Period Input Consideration Report: BHP Billiton Potash Export Facility Project [PDF]
November 2018 – Application Review Public Comment Period Consultation Summary Report: BHP Billiton Potash Export Facility Project [PDF]

Contact information

For questions regarding the Project and Environmental Review process, or to get in touch with our team, please contact us by email or phone at 604.665.9047.