VANCOUVER, Dec. 14, 2012 /CNW/ - The Ridley Terminals Users Group, a collective of major resource producers which are current or future customers of Ridley Terminals Inc. in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, supports the federal government's decision to sell the terminal.  Ridley Terminals is a critical component of the Western Canadian export logistics chain and a key enabler of delivering Canadian resource products to international markets.  As such, the Ridley Terminals Users Group welcomes the Government of Canada's announcement that it intends to divest the terminal to a buyer that will operate it with open access on a long-term sustainable basis.  An open access model whereby rates are set to motivate sustainable throughput is critical in ensuring that all existing and potential shippers can successfully operate and develop current and future mining assets.

"Our group's members, representing world-class global mining and terminal operatorship experience, remain committed to a fully-optimized Ridley Terminals which is commercially operated with open access for all shippers", said Doug Smith, Chair, Ridley Terminals Users Group.  "We applaud the Government of Canada for recognizing that the terminal is a key driver of mine development in northern communities and that a sale to a single operator driven only by price-setting objectives will undermine this potential.  A fully-enabled Ridley Terminals will ensure the long-term viability of the asset, for the benefit of the Western Canadian coal market and, related, local communities and economies throughout British Columbia and Alberta.  The Ridley Terminals Users Group looks forward to the planned divestiture process."

About the Ridley Terminals Users Group

The Ridley Terminals Users Group (RTUG) is an incorporated legal entity comprised of many of the largest commodity producers and shippers in Western Canada who are current or future customers of Ridley Terminals.  RTUG's current members include (in alphabetical order) Arch Coal, Coal Valley Resources, Grande Cache Coal, Peace River Coal (an Anglo American PLC company), Teck, Walter Energy and Xstrata Coal.  RTUG's members represent an employee base of over 4,000 people throughout British Columbia and Alberta and are significant contributors to and investors in these local economies.

SOURCE Ridley Terminals Users Group (RTUG)