View PDF version

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EUB Approves North West Upgrading Inc. Oil Sands Upgrader with Conditions

Calgary, Alberta (Tuesday, August 7, 2007) The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) has released Decision 2007-058, which grants conditional approval for North West Upgrading Inc. to construct, operate, and reclaim a 150,000-barrel-per-day oil sands bitumen upgrader approximately 45 kilometres northeast of Edmonton in Sturgeon County. 

In its Decision, the EUB addresses matters relating to the North West Upgrading Inc. project including: project need, socioeconomic effects, site selection, setbacks, emergency response planning, air quality, health, water, technology, and noise.

The EUB Decision places three conditions on the North West Upgrading Inc. project:

• North West Upgrading Inc. must achieve a sulphur recovery of 99.5 per cent on a calendar quarterly basis.
• North West Upgrading Inc. must achieve its approved sulphur recovery beginning six months after start-up of the first phase of the project.
• North West Upgrading Inc. must submit a revised Noise Impact Assessment for review and approval by March 3, 2008.

In addition to meeting EUB requirements, the company has made 65 commitments relating to water and air quality, emergency planning, noise, sulphur storage, traffic, liability insurance, consultation, and visual impacts.

The EUB is satisfied that North West Upgrading Inc. has met the requirements under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act in its environmental impact assessment.

In its decision, the EUB indicates that having the necessary infrastructure in place to accommodate growth will minimize the impacts on the region, further enhance the region as a place for industry and workers to locate, and allow the region to continue to attract and sustain industrial investment.

However, the EUB does not believe that it has the mandate to direct that a regional management plan be developed, and believes this responsibility rests with the appropriate government bodies. It also notes that efforts to coordinate development are already evident through organizations such as the Alberta Industrial Heartland Association and the Alberta Capital Regional Alliance.

The project would be developed in three phases, each processing 77,000 barrels per day of bitumen blend containing 50,000 barrels of crude bitumen and producing synthetic crude oil, diluent, and other light hydrocarbon products.

The report follows a public hearing held in Redwater, Alberta, from May 1, 2007 through May 10, 2007.

The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board ensures that the discovery, development, and delivery of Alberta's resources and utility services take place in a manner that is fair, responsible, and in the public interest.

- 30 -

This report is available on the EUB Web site at www.ercb.ca.

For more information, contact:
Darin Barter
EUB Communications
Tel : (403) 297-4116 
Cell: (403) 681-0946
Email: darin.barter@eub.ca

NR2007-32