The Pathways Alliance said it’s advancing early work toward the construction of a carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility in northern Alberta.
Representing Canada’s six largest oil sands companies, the organization said it will be one of the world’s largest CCS facilities upon completion.
“A CCS project of this size is a huge undertaking that requires significant up-front work and a strong partnership between industry and government to proceed.” Said Kendall Dilling, President of Pathways Alliance.
Pathways Alliance plans to annually reduce emissions from oil sands operations by 22 million tons by 2030.
It also wants to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
To date, nine feasibility studies into carbon capture have been completed.
“We continue to work with the federal and Alberta governments to ensure Canada’s co-funding programs and regulatory environment for CCS are globally competitive and that emissions reduction targets for our industry are realistic and achievable.”
Pathways Alliance seeks to invest $24.1-billion into this first phase, including $16.5-billion by 2030 into the CCS project.
READ MORE: Oilsands companies introduce new Pathways Alliance
Dilling said environmental field programs, and discussions with 20 local Indigenous communities are also ongoing.
“In parallel, we’re progressing work to make sure we’re ready to make an investment decision and start building as soon as the necessary financial and regulatory conditions are in place.”
The group said an evaluation of the storage zone will soon get underway.
According to Pathways Alliance, the proposed hub would store 1.1-billion tons of carbon dioxide in an underground saline aquifer.
Pre-engineering work on the 400-kilometre pipeline network that would carry captured carbon dioxide from more than 20 oil-sands facilities to the hub is completed.
Regulatory applications for the transportation line and storage network will be submitted in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Visit the Pathways Alliance website for more information on their carbon capture project.
