FAQs

How much carbon dioxide will Project Pioneer remove from emissions?

Project Pioneer is being designed to remove one million tonnes (one megatonne) of CO₂ annually from the Keephills 3 plant.

What will you do with the carbon dioxide?

The CO₂ captured by Project Pioneer will be transported by pipeline to a permanent sequestration area as well as to nearby oilfields where it will be used for enhanced oil recovery.

Is storing carbon dioxide safe?

Existing projects have already stored millions of tonnes of CO₂ for many years, without detectable leakage, including projects in Alberta and Saskatchewan where CO₂ has been injected in depleted oil fields, and off the coast of  Norway where it is stored in deep underwater saline formations.

Why should taxpayers fund this project?

Climate change affects everyone, and virtually every Canadian contributes to the problem. Canada needs a national approach to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that helps address our share of the world’s environmental responsibility while ensuring healthy economic growth.

What will Project Pioneer's capital and operating costs be?

Through the initial stages of the project, including the front-end engineering design (FEED) work, the capital and operating costs of Project Pioneer will be determined. Operating costs will be recovered through a combination of provincial funding, enhanced oil recovery revenues, and CO₂ emission offset credits.

Why did you pick the Keephills 3?

Keephills 3 is already designed to be one of the world’s most advanced coal-fired power plants and with its scheduled commissioning in 2011, the lifespan of Keephills 3 and a new CCS facility are more aligned. In addition, Keephills 3 is ideally located close to oilfields where enhanced oil recovery opportunities exist and near large saline aquifers which will provide safe and permanent CO₂ storage.