Dave Baxter
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Winnipeg Sun
The first shipment of critical minerals was exported out of the Port of Churchill on Friday, “a historic moment,” as it was the first in more than two decades.
At a media event Friday in Churchill, the Arctic Gateway Group (AGG) announced that zinc concentrate that was mined by Hudbay Minerals Inc. in Snow Lake and had been stored at the port over the last two months, was shipped from the port on Friday, marking the first mineral shipment from the port in more than 20 years.
“We’re building a new era of economic development and international trade for northern Manitoba while strongly supporting the principles of Indigenous reconciliation,” Churchill Mayor and the chair of AGG Mike Spence said Friday.
“Thanks to the strong partnership that we have developed between the Indigenous and northern ownership group, the Government of Canada, and the Province of Manitoba, we’ve been able to improve the reliability of our operations and secure new contracts to export Canada’s critical minerals to international markets.”
The province and the federal government announced in February funding of $30 million each to boost economic opportunities in northern Manitoba with the money going to AGG to support their work to redevelop the port, and to complete work on the Hudson Bay Railway.
“With a revitalized Hudson Bay Railway and Port of Churchill, jobs will be created, mining and forestry opportunities will open, and Bayline communities will have the opportunity to position themselves as a true gateway to the Arctic and the world,” federal Minister of Northern Affairs Dan Vandal said in a media release.
According to AGG work on the entire revitalization project is expected to be completed sometime in 2028.
AGG said once completed the port could add as much as $1 billion annually to the Canadian economy, and create more than 5,500 jobs.
Rob Carter, the vice-president of Hudbay’s Manitoba Business Unit, said Friday’s shipment marked the start of a “new era” for the port and for Hudbay.
“Hudbay has a long history of mining in Manitoba and is committed to supporting the northern economy,” Carter said. “The Port of Churchill provides us with an efficient gateway to deliver our products to global customers. We hope to build on this initial concentrate shipment to explore other mutually beneficial opportunities with Arctic Gateway Group in the future.”
According to AGG, over the past two months, more than 100 rail cars of zinc concentrate from Hudbay Mineral’s Snow Lake operation were delivered to the Port of Churchill, and temporarily stored at a newly built storage facility, the first at the port in more than 20 years.
AGG also continues to redevelop the Hudson Bay Railway since acquiring it in 2018, as the organization said they will undertake extensive improvements in 2024, which will include replacing 125,000 rail ties, resurfacing 800,000 feet of track, rehabilitating several crossings, replacing turnouts, and upgrading several bridges.
— Dave Baxter is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Winnipeg Sun. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
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