Regina open house showcases new facilities

A partnership between two Saskatchewan companies could see some new facilities built in Regina.

Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) held a public open house Tuesday with AGT Foods, showcasing their proposed renewable diesel plant as well as a canola crush plant.

The open house invited members of the public to provide feedback on the two proposed facilities. In a news release, FCL CEO Heather Ryan said it was imperative to gather community feedback.

“As we transition to a low-carbon economy and expand the production of plant-based fuels, it’s imperative that we engage in credible and meaningful public consultation,” she said. “It’s important to us that we connect and directly communicate with the people and businesses that neighbour these proposed facilities.”

Ryan explained that the companies want to be as transparent as possible with the community.

“We’re committed to establishing an open and transparent dialogue with all stakeholders to lay a positive foundation that will serve us throughout the lifecycle of these projects,” she said.

Murad Al-Katib, the president and CEO of AGT Foods, said the new partnership will be nothing but beneficial.

“It’s been what I call a marriage based in heaven,” he said during a media conference. “Here we are, we know ag, we know how to originate commodities and move them, we know how to process them (and the folks at Federated) know how to produce fuel, they know how to get it to the retail consumer, and I think that partnership is going to work in a really big way.”

Annually, the crush plant is expected to process 1.1 million tonnes of canola. Using locally grown products, the plant would supply 50 per cent of the feedstock needed to produce 15,000 barrels per day of FCL-manufactured renewable diesel.

Collectively known as the Integrated Agriculture Complex, the proposed facilities would be located on lands to the north and east of the Co-op Refinery Complex.

The proposed diesel facility would be exclusively owned by FCL, while the canola crush plant would be a joint venture between the two corporations.