Cargill Inc. plans to crush 800 more tonnes of canola a day when an expansion is completed at its plant near Clavet, Sask., next June.
The Saskatoon area plant, built in the mid-1990s, will increase its canola crushing capacity to 3,000 tonnes from 2,200 tonnes.
Plant manager Ken Sauser said more crushing capacity means more opportunities for the local farm economy.
“It will be a boost to local producers,” he said, noting the plant uses canola from within a 160 kilometre radius.
The permanent work force is not expected to grow through the expansion, with construction on the first phase beginning this October.
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Robert Meijer of Cargill in Winnipeg said the expansion is needed to meet future needs for food uses but also for biodiesel.
“Signals are that both elements are very strong,” he said. “We want to be well positioned to supply that need for this soft seed, canola.”
Meijer wouldn’t say how much the expansion will cost.
The plant is one of Cargill’s 17 oilseed operations in North America and its only one in Canada.
It produces crude super degummed canola oil and canola meal. The oil supplies markets in Asia, South America, the Middle East, the United States and Mexico.
The meal, a byproduct of the crush operation, is sold domestically but also supplies buyers in the U.S., Mexico and Asia.
