WINNIPEG (Staff) – A canola crushing plant has received a sustainable development award from the Manitoba Round Table on the Environment and Economy.
The CanAmera Foods plant near Russell, Man., won in the large business category because of its high-energy efficiency.
Stuart Braun, plant manager, said the plant continually works to fine-tune its energy efficiency. Manitoba Hydro nominated the plant for the award after doing a review of its operations.
The automated plant turns canola into oil and meal. Braun didn’t want to say how much it crushes, but said it was built to handle about 600 tonnes per day and has recently expanded.
The plant treats and reuses waste water, and gets energy from high efficiency natural gas boilers. Braun said the plant’s central computer is programmed to monitor pumps and fans to make sure they’re working efficiently.
While the system is good for the environment, Braun said the economic advantages of being energy efficient are important. “We’re in direct competition … with other companies, so the cheaper that we can process, the better advantages we have.”
