A newly designed Terminal 2, Berth 7 facility is being constructed at the Port of Vancouver. The project will redevelop the port’s mineral bulk facility into a large export facility.

The mid-sized facility will be able to handle more than 3 million tons of soda ash on an annual basis once complete.

The project combines capabilities of the Vancouver Bulk Terminal, a joint venture between Nautilus International Holding Corp. and Neltume Ports, the Port of Vancouver USA and Solvay, a leader in soda ash.

Soda ash is used for purposes such as manufacturing glass and lithium-ion batteries. Natural soda ash coming to the port is an essential ingredient for toothpaste, baking soda and powder, detergents and other products.

The expanded capacity will support expansion of Solvay’s Green River, Wyoming, soda ash operations. The terminal will also add export capacity to the North American soda ash industry, which is recognized as the world’s fastest-growing natural soda ash producing region, according to a Port of Vancouver news release.

Alex Strogen, chief commercial officer at the Port of Vancouver USA, said the project is a combination of demolishing existing infrastructure and building new infrastructure.

The redeveloped facility will feature expanded storage space, upgraded rail unit train access and state-of-the-art cargo handling systems. It will include a new ship loader and a conveyer system.

Strogen said he imagines this will be the most modern soda ash facility in the world.

“It will have the most advanced dust mitigation on it,” Strogen said.

Johannes Viljoen, program manager of Vancouver Bulk Terminal, said the system is completely enclosed and has dust collection at every transfer point. The conveyor belts will be inside, so no wind will be able to sweep materials while being loaded. The material is being loaded through a specially designed chute that will bring materials down in a controlled fashion into the hull of the vessel.

Strogen said while there is a lot of uncertainty with global trade, it is refreshing to have this project that will send American products to the rest of the world.

The total project cost is estimated between $80-90 million.

The engineer of record is InterMat LLC of Metairie, Louisiana. Environmental consultant Anchor QEA collaborated with the project team on permitting.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held last week. Bids are currently out for a general contractor and one will be selected in July.

Construction is expected to begin in the late third quarter of this year and will continue through the third quarter of 2026. The new facility is expected to begin operations late next year.

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