WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA — G3 Canada Ltd. (G3) has unveiled plans to build two new facilities, including an elevator south of Wetaskiwin in Central Alberta, its first primary elevator in the province of Alberta. The company also said it intends to further expand its grain origination network in Saskatchewan with the construction of a primary elevator near Maidstone.

Karl Gerrand CEO of G3
Karl Gerrand, chief executive officer of G3

“We’re excited to be able to show farmers in the Wetaskiwin and Maidstone areas what G3 has to offer their business,” said Karl Gerrand, chief executive officer of G3. “Farmers near both new facilities will benefit from G3’s service model, providing fast truck turnaround and strong delivery opportunities.”

G3 said the new facilities will save farmers time, allowing for the unloading of trucks in less than 5 minutes. Both new elevators are being built with 42,000 tonnes storage capacity, G3 said.

The Maidstone elevator will be located on CN Rail, while the Wetaskiwin site is on CP Rail. Both are well placed to supply G3 Terminal Vancouver when the grain export terminal becomes operational in 2020, G3 said.

“These new facilities further advance our vision to build a world class grain handling network, and continue to grow our presence in western Canada,” Gerrand said.

Construction of the new elevators is expected to begin in April, subject to receiving regulatory approval, and both are slated for completion prior to the 2019 harvest. G3’s other primary elevators underway in Saskatchewan, near Saskatoon and Melville, are in the latter stages of construction and expected to be operational in summer 2018, the company said.

According to the 2018 Grain & Milling Annual, G3 Canada Ltd. has 19 grain storage facilities with a total storage capacity of 28.725 million bushels.

G3 is a joint venture between Bunge and state-owned Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Co. (SALIC) that was established to purchase a controlling interest in CWB, formerly the Canadian Wheat Board. G3 is working to establish an efficient coast-to-coast Canadian grain enterprise that provides stronger market access for growers.