An industrial chemicals company is moving ahead with efforts to continue chlorine production on the North Vancouver waterfront.
On Thursday, Chemtrade Logistics said it had entered into a legally non-binding agreement with the Port of Vancouver to extend its land lease until Dec. 31, 2044.
The land lease covers a portion of the site, and will be on similar terms to the existing lease, the Toronto-headquartered firm said in a statement. The lease includes a restriction on producing, storing and transporting liquid chlorine, which comes into effect July 1, 2030.
The remaining portion of the site is owned by Chemtrade, and located in the District of North Vancouver.
The company said it’s preparing to submit an application “as soon as possible” to apply to rezone the district land.
“If the rezoning application is approved, Chemtrade will be able to continue producing liquid chlorine on the owned portion of the site and to implement several safety-enhancing capital improvements,” the statement reads.
Facility has clean safety record since 1957
Chemtrade president and CEO Scott Rook said his firm has been in discussions with Port of Vancouver and North Vancouver District to continue operations.
“We are pleased to provide a progress report on our North Vancouver facility, which plays such a critical role in supplying millions of Canadians with clean drinking water,” he said in a statement, adding that the plant provides around 70 per cent of the chlorine used to treat water in B.C. and Alberta.
“Through our extensive engagement program, we have worked to ensure there is a broad understanding of our commitment to safety and responsible operation, as well as the risk to safe drinking water for millions of Canadians should we no longer be able to produce liquid chlorine,” Rook said.
“Our facility has been operating safely since 1957, and our planned enhancements, following rezoning approval, are focused on further increasing safety, reliability and reducing potential risk,” he said.
Rook said his company has received several letters of support, including one from the B.C. government asking for a timely review of the rezoning application.
As required by the rezoning process, there will be several engagement opportunities in the coming months, including facility tours, a public open house and virtual engagement, Chemtrade said.
If the rezoning isn’t approved, Chemtrade may choose not to enter a new lease with Port of Vancouver, the company said.
North Shore News has reached out to District of North Vancouver for more details on when the issue will come before council in public.
Chemtrade has generated media attention since it was revealed in April 2024 that the firm was trying to renegotiate its lease to continue producing the dangerous but functional chemical at the waterfront facility. That includes an online “Keep North Vancouver Safe” campaign that CBC News reported was being run by a rival company, K2 Pure Solutions.
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