Released on May 31, 2019
Saskatchewan’s global leadership on carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technology was showcased for visiting members of a COP24 delegation this week. SaskPower’s Boundary Dam 3 (BD3) facility is the first commercial power plant in the world to be equipped with a fully-integrated, post-combustion carbon capture system. Since start-up, the facility has captured more than 2.5 million tonnes of CO2, the equivalent of taking more than 640,000 cars off Saskatchewan roads.COP24 President and State Secretary in the Ministry of Environment of Poland, Minister Michał Kurtyka, and Director of the COP24 Presidency Bureau and Ministry of Environment of Poland, Paweł Leszczyński toured SaskPower’s BD3 project yesterday.
“Saskatchewan has become a leader in carbon capture and sequestration technology, and we are pleased to share our knowledge and progress on this technology with the world,” Saskatchewan Environment Minister Dustin Duncan said. “Globally, CCS provides an important opportunity to reduce emissions and tackle climate change in a meaningful way. Saskatchewan is working hard to do its part and has a goal of reducing emissions in the electricity sector by 40 per cent of the 2005 levels and CCS is a part of that goal.”
Internationally, there is recognition that definitive action is needed to support the world’s ability to tackle climate change. BD3 has the world’s first commercial-scale CCS process and sharing CCS technology with the rest of the world, who wants to produce environmentally sustainable coal power, is part of global action on climate change.
“As we continue our work in building resilience to the climatic, economic and policy implications of a changing climate, it is important we build new capacities in innovative technologies like carbon capture and storage that will contribute to economic growth, and at the same time, care for the natural environment.” Kurtyka said.
The delegates from Poland are also joined on their visit by COP24 Presidency Spokesperson Magda Smokowska, Polish Mining Group Chairman of the Board Tomasz Rogala, Polish Mining Group Management Board Attorney Adam Milczarczyk, Polish Mining Group Director for Innovation and New Technologies Rafał Gąsior, Central Mining Institute Scientific Secretary Professor Adam Smoliński and Central Mining Institute Head Professor Stanisław Prusek.
The International CCS Knowledge Centre was involved with welcoming and hosting the delegates in Saskatchewan. During their day in Saskatchewan, members of the delegation were also briefed about SaskPower’s carbon capture test facility.
“The International CCS Knowledge Centre is pleased to bring the world to Saskatchewan to share our proven and experience-based know-how in carbon capture and storage,” International CCS Knowledge Centre President and CEO Mike Monea said. “As a pioneer, the BD3 CCS Facility, provides critical lessons for accelerated deployment. Our visitors are a testament to how this Saskatchewan-first technology is sought after to meet world emission reduction targets under the Paris Agreement.”
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For more information, contact:
Paul Spasoff
Environment
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0143
Email: paul.spasoff@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-527-1603