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Alberta.
Oil and gas top the list of valuable resources being extracted in Alberta, but there are other stories in the mining and exploration industries here, including coal and precious gemstones.
103 stories
How Sacred Soil Is Changing the Game for Orphan Wells and Industrial Abandonments
Sacred Soil, an Indigenous-led company, has developed a spray-on soil remediation product that addresses hydrocarbon contamination without excavation. The technology is approved in Canada and the U.S. and can reduce remediation costs by 50% or more, offering a scalable solution for Western Canada's thousands of orphan wells and abandoned industrial sites.
All eyes on Northback
Northback Holdings' Grassy Mountain coal project in Alberta's Crowsnest Pass is positioned as a potential catalyst for Canada's steelmaking coal industry revival, targeting 4.5 million tonnes annual production. The project faces significant environmental and regulatory scrutiny while competing projects like NWP Coal's Crown Mountain could collectively add 8.2 million tonnes to Canada's coal output. CPKC's transcontinental rail network is highlighted as an underutilized export advantage that could facilitate unprecedented coal movement across North America.
Opinion: Canada's Railway Strike Exposes the Perils of Privatized Infrastructure for West Coast Resources
An opinion piece examines how Canada's recent railway strike exposed critical vulnerabilities in the country's privatized rail infrastructure, which is essential for transporting West Coast resources including minerals, oil, and gas. The article argues that railways built with public investment but now privately controlled create single-point-of-failure risks for Canada's resource economy.
Pure Lithium and E3 Lithium Join Forces to Revolutionize Battery Production in Alberta
Pure Lithium and E3 Lithium announced a partnership to establish a battery production facility in Alberta, leveraging local lithium resources for lithium-ion battery manufacturing. The facility aims to create a sustainable, locally-sourced alternative to imported lithium materials and position Alberta as a North American battery production hub.
Tent Mountain green energy plan: triple solution
Montem Resources is developing a triple-tier green energy project at their former Tent Mountain coal mine, combining wind power, pumped hydroelectric energy storage, and hydrogen production. The unique landscape features two water reservoirs separated by 300 metres of elevation, creating ideal conditions for energy storage. The company expects to complete cost estimates by end of June 2024 to compare this renewable project against their original coal mining plans.
New tech aims to extract lithium from oilfield waste
Summit Nanotech is developing nanotechnology to extract lithium from oilfield brine waste in Alberta, with testing planned by end of year. The company aims to leverage existing oil and gas infrastructure to produce lithium for the growing electric vehicle battery market, with Alberta containing an estimated 3.6 million tonnes of lithium resources.
From Pink Slip to Pink Insulation: Former Oil Patch Workers Find Success in Energy Efficiency
Former oil and gas workers in Alberta are successfully transitioning to energy efficiency careers, with the sector contributing $850 million to provincial GDP and creating over 4,300 jobs between 2017-2020. Energy Efficiency Alberta programs have generated $3.20 in value for every dollar invested, demonstrating the economic viability of this growing sector.
Alberta coal mine reclamation project to provide green energy source
Alberta Innovates is investing $1.5 million in the BIOSALIX demonstration project to reclaim the Paintearth coal mine near Forestburg by using municipal organic waste to grow willow biomass for renewable energy. The circular economy initiative has total funding of $10.5 million from federal, provincial and industry partners.
Disrupting the energy industry
Graeme Edge founded Energy Disruptors and created the Energy Disruptors Unite summit in Calgary to bring together traditional oil and gas companies with energy transformation innovators. The inaugural 2018 event attracted 1,600 delegates and featured Richard Branson as the headliner, with plans for expansion to Europe and other regions.
Canada’s oilpatch is getting nerdy
PetroLMI predicts another 12,500 job losses in Canada's oil and gas sector through 2019, driven by low prices, stalled pipeline development, and government curtailments. The industry is undergoing technological transformation with up to 93% of welding tasks and 79% of heavy equipment operations susceptible to automation.
Enerkem named finalist of The Sky’s the Limit Challenge
Enerkem Inc. was named a finalist in Canada's Sky's the Limit Challenge for green aviation fuels, receiving $2 million to compete for a $5 million grand prize over 18 months. The waste-to-biofuels company will develop economical and sustainable aviation fuel using its proprietary technology that converts municipal solid waste into methanol, ethanol and other chemicals.
North American Construction Group Ltd. announces additional 5-year term contract in the oil sands
North American Construction Group announced a 5-year, $400 million oil sands construction contract through a new joint venture with the Mikisew Cree First Nation. The agreement strengthens NACG's backlog to over $1.6 billion and represents a significant shift from spot market to long-term contract work in the oil sands sector.
Supreme Court rules companies must fund reclamation of abandoned oil and gas wells, even if bankrupt
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that bankrupt oil and gas companies must use their remaining funds to clean up abandoned well sites before paying creditors. This landmark decision affects Redwater's bankruptcy case and establishes that environmental cleanup obligations take priority over debt payments, though concerns remain about insufficient funds to cover Alberta's 89,000 orphaned wells.
Greengate Power’s 113 MW Stirling Wind Project in Alberta awarded 20-Year contract by AESO
Greengate Power's 113 MW Stirling Wind Project in Alberta has been awarded a 20-year Renewable Electricity Support Agreement by the Alberta Electric System Operator. The project, jointly owned by Greengate, Potentia Renewables, and Paul First Nation, is expected to begin construction soon and represents one of Alberta's first successful renewable energy partnerships with a First Nations community.
Skyharbour option partner Orano Canada announces 2019 exploration budget of $2.2 million
Orano Canada announced a $2.2 million exploration and diamond drilling program for 2019 at Skyharbour's Preston Uranium Project in Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin. The program includes 15-20 drill holes totaling 4,850 metres at the JL and FSA targets, plus ground electromagnetic surveys at Canoe Lake. This is part of Orano's option to earn up to 70% interest in the project through $8 million in total spending over six years.
Finning opens Used Equipment Centre
Finning Canada opened its first Used Equipment Centre in Acheson, Alberta on June 15, consolidating used equipment inventory in a central location with demonstration capabilities. The facility provides a one-stop shop for customers to access, test, and purchase used equipment ranging from skid steers to motor graders.
Low-carbon future is on the horizon in Alberta
InnoTech Alberta opened the Alberta Carbon Conversion Technology Centre (ACCTC) in June 2018, located next to the Shepard Energy Centre in Calgary. The facility provides 25 tonnes of CO2 per day from natural gas power plant emissions for companies to test carbon capture and conversion technologies. COSIA's five finalist teams from the $20 million NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE competition are the first tenants, with the facility opening to other companies in 2020.
Excellence is a standard at CSV Midstream Solutions
CSV Midstream Solutions successfully completed the Resthaven gas processing facility northeast of Grande Cache, Alberta, finishing under budget and ahead of typical timelines. The project utilized innovative modular design and prefabrication to minimize on-site construction time, with the facility moving from construction start in August 2017 to full processing by March 2018.
Pandell: A basement start-up success story
Pandell, a Calgary-based software company, has grown from a two-person basement startup in 1997 to 180 employees serving 500 clients globally. The company acquired LandWorks Inc. in January 2018 to expand their GIS mapping and land management solutions into mining, renewables, and utilities beyond their traditional oil and gas focus.
Teck provides update on Fort Hills Project
Teck Resources provided an update on the Fort Hills oil sands project, confirming that more than 80% of the plant is now operational and first oil is expected in mid-January 2018. The project partners have also resolved a commercial dispute, with Suncor and Teck acquiring additional working interests from Total.
Strong performance at Suncor Energy: ups partnership share of Fort Hills Project with Teck
Suncor Energy increased its stake in the Fort Hills Oil Sands project to 53.06% through a partnership restructuring with Teck and Total, investing an additional $300 million. The project is performing well with 736,000 boe/d upstream production and Fort Hills contributing 6,000 bbls/d in Q4 2017, with full capacity expected by end of 2018.
Major renewable energy company focuses on Alberta
EDF EN Canada is developing the Vulcan Solar Energy Project adjacent to its existing 300-megawatt Blackspring Ridge Wind Farm near Lethbridge, leveraging shared infrastructure to reduce costs. The company is positioning itself for Alberta's Renewable Energy Program, which aims to procure 5,000 megawatts of renewable capacity with the first round allocating 400 megawatts.
NAIT applies DME to long-haul trucks in Alberta
NAIT is partnering with Volvo and Oberon Fuels to test dimethyl ether (DME) as a cleaner diesel alternative in long-haul trucks on Alberta's Highway 2 corridor. The Phase 1 research, funded by Alberta Economic Development and Trade, aims to develop filtering technology and conduct real-world commercial trials with plans to have DME trucks commercially viable within five years.
Microgrid innovation at Medicine Hat College
Medicine Hat College will construct Canada's first microgrid featuring vertical double-helix wind turbines designed by Bluenergy Solarwind Canada Inc., combining wind, solar PV, and thermal heating systems. Construction begins spring 2024, with the innovative turbines designed to operate in urban settings and eventually incorporate solar cells on wind blades for dual power generation.