Minister Rickford: New CCS Partnership Enhances Cross-border Energy Cooperation on Oil and Gas

OTTAWA, Feb. 4, 2015 /CNW/ - The Honourable Greg Rickford, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, today issued a statement following the announcement that the U.S. Department of Energy will help advance carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology at Shell Canada's Quest CCS project in Alberta. The Government of Canada has invested $120 million in the Quest project since 2011, supporting jobs, economic growth and environmental performance.

"Today's announcement is welcome news for North American energy cooperation and integration," said Minister Rickford. "Canada is a world leader in carbon capture and storage, and our government welcomes this collaboration as the latest important step in the development of this technology."

Since 2008, our government has committed over $580 million to CCS. Just this past October, Canada officially opened the world's first post-combustion CCS project at the Boundary Dam coal-fired power plant in Saskatchewan. When this project is complete, Quest will be the first project in the world to implement CCS at an oil upgrader facility. Canada's support of this project enhances its record as a responsible and reliable energy producer and supplier to the world.

"Canada and the United States are working closely on a broad range of energy-related priorities supporting energy security and the economy. Our two countries recently signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance energy collaboration in 11 areas," added Minister Rickford. "Canada is also working with the U.S. and Mexico toward a more secure, integrated North American energy approach that will enhance our collective global competitive advantage."

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SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

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