Conditional approval given to province’s first carbon capture storage project
Posted Jul 11, 2012 2:39 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It’s not a done deal, but carbon capture and storage in Alberta is a step closer to becoming reality.
Regulators have conditionally approved the first proposal to pump greenhouse gas emissions from the oilsands deep into the ground.
“The decision has been sent to Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development for review,” the ERCB’s Cara Tobin tells 660News, adding that the multi-million project outside Edmonton still has a few more hurdles to clear. “That department may impose additional conditions with respect to the environment which will then be added to the ERCB’s approval.”
The conditionally approved project is Shell Canada’s Quest development, which Shell and its partners say they will review as well to ensure it’s financially viable given the current economic climate.
“The ERCB has also applied 23 conditions on its approval for the project,” adds Tobin. “Those conditions primarily relate to additional data collection, analysis and reporting. And that Shell must obtain separate approval for any additions to the project that might come later.”
The project’s approval is even getting favourable reaction from environmentalists.
“We’re encouraged by it,” Ed Whittingham of the Pembina Institute tells 660News. “We think that carbon capture and storage is one of the tools that we need in our tool kit to reducing our greenhouse gas pollution. And we’re happy to see a project moving forward in Alberta.”
