CALGARY, ALBERTA–(Marketwired – Aug. 20, 2013) – TORQ Transloading Inc. (“TORQ“) is pleased to announce that construction has commenced on an expansion to rail infrastructure and services at the North West Terminal Ltd. (“NWT“) in Unity, Saskatchewan (the “Unity Rail Terminal“). The project will provide TORQ and its crude-by-rail customers with dual access to both of Canadian National and Canadian Pacific’s rail networks. The expansion will accommodate segregated crude storage and multiple additional tracks, allowing for the shipment of unit trains of up to 120 cars.
Currently, TORQ is capable of manifest shipments of up to 40 cars per day from the Unity Rail Terminal through CN. TORQ holds an exclusive long term lease with NWT on the property. The project is scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2013.
“TORQ Transloading is proud to expand its relationship with NWT, the Town of Unity, the Province of Saskatchewan, as well as both CN and CP Railways. Our primary objectives are providing our customers efficiency through scale, supporting our local crude oil producers with the ultimate in downstream market flexibility and access to premium prices for their products,” noted Torq Transloading President and CEO, Jarrett Zielinski.
“Unity, SK is a strategic geographic location for TORQ and our customers, given the nature of the heavy crude oil production in this area and its proximity to end user destinations. The expansion of the Unity Rail Terminal will promote larger, more efficient movements of crude-by-rail and will facilitate the ability for our customers to purchase operational crude oil storage and participate in diluent backhaul opportunities. While the segregated operational storage component of the expansion is being phased in, based on customer demand, it is expected that we will be able to assemble and ship unit trains out of the Unity Rail Terminal by fall 2013,” Zielinski continued.
TORQ is a privately held midstream oilfield service provider that currently operates six crude-by-rail transload terminals across Alberta and Saskatchewan. TORQ operates on behalf of Canadian Pacific, at Tilley, AB and Lloydminster, SK and for Canadian National Railway, at Whitecourt, AB. As well, TORQ has operations in the Shaunavon, SK, and Bromhead, SK areas in addition to the Unity Rail Terminal. TORQ’s affiliate, Goulet Trucking provides delivery of trucked-in volumes across the network of six crude-by-rail terminals.
NWT is an independent farmer-shareholder owned company headquartered near Unity, Saskatchewan in the North West region of the province. NWT owns and operates an inland-grain terminal and a bio-products production facility at its Unity location.