PotashCorp to Bring Back Idled Capacity at Patience Lake Facility
23 Mars 2007 - 11:03PM
PR Newswire (US)
Listed: TSX, NYSE Symbol: POT SASKATOON, SK, March 23
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc.
(PotashCorp) announced today that it will, pending regulatory
approvals, bring back 360,000 tonnes of previously idled potash
capacity at its Patience Lake, SK solution mine. This facility is
forecast to produce 240,000 tonnes in 2007. Approximately US$92
million will be invested in the construction of approximately 20
additional injection wells and pumping and piping systems to serve
them. Only minor mill modifications will be necessary to handle the
additional production, and the project is estimated to take 18
months to complete. This Patience Lake project is the next step in
PotashCorp's overall plan to increase production capacity from an
available capability of 10.0 million tonnes in 2006 to 13.5 million
tonnes by the end of 2010. Along with this reinstatement of
Patience Lake capacity, debottlenecking projects at Allan and
Lanigan announced in April 2005 will raise capacity by 400,000 and
1.5 million tonnes, respectively. The Allan project, which includes
500,000 tonnes of new compaction capacity, will be operational by
April 1, 2007, while the Lanigan increase is expected to be
completed in the second quarter of 2008. Debottlenecking and
expansion plans for the Cory and New Brunswick facilities are being
finalized and will be reviewed by PotashCorp's Board of Directors
in the near future. Additional expansion projects in Saskatchewan
are also being considered. Combined, these projects could raise
total production capability to 15.7 million tonnes by 2015. Further
detailed announcements will be made as plans are finalized. "This
is consistent with our long-held strategy of matching our
production to meet market demand," said Bill Doyle, PotashCorp
President and CEO. "With global potash demand rising, we will
continue to capitalize on the unique strengths of our excess
capacity and our ability to access it quickly at roughly
one-quarter of the cost of an equivalent greenfield operation. We
have 75 percent of the world's unused potash capacity and will draw
upon it according to the needs of our customers." Potash
Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. is the world's largest fertilizer
enterprise producing the three primary plant nutrients and a
leading supplier to three distinct market categories: agriculture,
with the largest capacity in the world in potash, third largest in
phosphate and fourth largest in nitrogen; animal nutrition, with
the world's largest capacity in phosphate feed ingredients; and
industrial chemicals, as the largest global producer of industrial
nitrogen products and one of only three North American suppliers of
industrial phosphates. This release contains forward-looking
statements. These statements are based on certain factors and
assumptions as set forth in this release including foreign exchange
rates, expected growth, results of operations, performance and
business prospects and opportunities. While the company considers
these factors and assumptions to be reasonable based on information
currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. A number of
factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those
in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to:
fluctuations in supply and demand in fertilizer, sulfur, natural
gas, transportation and petrochemical markets; changes in
competitive pressures, including pricing pressures; risks
associated with natural gas and other hedging activities; changes
in capital markets; changes in currency and exchange rates;
unexpected geological or environmental conditions; and government
policy changes. Additional risks and uncertainties can be found in
our 2006 annual report to shareholders and in filings with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian provincial
securities commissions. Forward-looking statements are given only
as at the date of this release and the company disclaims any
obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
DATASOURCE: Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. CONTACT:
Investors: Denita Stann, Director, Investor Relations, Phone: (847)
849-4277, Fax: (847) 849-4691, E-mail: ; Media: Rhonda Speiss,
Manager, Public Relations, Phone: (306) 933-8544, Fax: (306)
933-8844, E-mail: ; Web Site: http://www.potashcorp.com/
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