'Lot of good spin-offs': FCL, AGT Foods pitch proposed Regina projects with open house

Both Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) and AGT Foods hosted an open house in Regina – providing the public a venue to learn more about their proposed canola crushing and renewable diesel projects.

"I came to learn a little bit more about the project and where we could potentially help," Thomas Benjoe, who attended the even, told CTV News.

"There's going to be great career opportunities, a lot of good spin-offs economically.”

The plan is to move forward with a 15,000 barrel-per-day renewable diesel facility and a 1.1 million metric ton canola crush facility that would be built north of Co-op’s current refinery.

"Regina is a great area for where the canola fields are the main feedstock," said Gilbert Ledressay, vice president of manufacturing at FCL.

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Members of the public were able to see the model of potential facilities, ask questions and share any concerns.

"We are going to have even a better opportunity now to have a higher value for canola, more trucking industry opportunities and contractors, all of those are spin-offs that I think are going to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars every year," said Murad Al-Katib, president and CEO of AGT.

"It's about the urban-rural connection, and being able to do the value added here," Regina Mayor Sandra Masters added.

The construction is set to begin in 2024/2025 with the finished production planned for 2028.