PotashCorp's Sussex mine shutdown sends shockwaves around province
'We were completely shocked, nobody saw this coming,' says Pat Riley, a union official
The shutdown of the PotashCorp's Picadilly mine is sending shock waves across the province, with the Port of Saint John among the first to feel the effect of the closure.
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At an open house in April 2015, the port laid out plans for a new access road and rail sidings at the Potash terminal, potentially more than doubling the number of ships calling to 130 from 60.
The plans came to a halt with Tuesday's announcement. In future, the only potash coming to Saint John will be from Saskatchewan.
Jim Quinn, chief executive officer of the Port says, the volume of shipments will be one-third less than expected.
"Nobody saw this coming," he says.
Riley says 15 of his members work full time at the potash terminal and more are added when a potash ship is loading.
He says he is still waiting to hear what the reduced business will mean for his members.
"Nobody we know knew that this mine was going to have to suspend its operations for not months, but a year at least, and in all likelihood, years," said Riley.
'Such a blow'
It would move trucks away from south-end homes, while generating tens of millions of dollars in construction work.
Now there will be no construction and no trucks.
"It's such a blow," Lowe said.
In the spring of 2015 the mine manager in Sussex talked of keeping the old Penobsquis mine operating for another six years alongside the new Picadilly mine, producing extra port traffic for Saint John.
In October, that plan was dropped and 140 workers at the old mine were sent home. As it turned out, the brand new Picadilly mine was next in line.