Minister Uppal Announces Funding for Clean Technology Project in Edmonton

EDMONTON, Oct. 16, 2014 /CNW/ - The Honourable Tim Uppal, Minister of State (Multiculturalism) and Member of Parliament for Edmonton–Sherwood Park, on behalf of the Honourable Greg Rickford, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario, today announced an investment of $1 million under Canada's ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative (ecoEII). The funding will support the InLine Dewatering of Oil Sands Tailings research and development project, which will conduct research into reducing water and energy use when extracting bitumen from Canada's oil sands.

With the Government's support, the study will examine to what extent the company's methods recycle heated extraction water, reduce greenhouse gas emissions from tailings ponds and reduce the volume of tailings produced. InLine Dewatering Ltd.'s technology has the potential to significantly assist with our government's commitment to reducing the environmental impacts of energy production, conversion and use.

Through ecoEII, our government is providing $268.2 million over five years (2011–2016) to support research, development and demonstration projects that produce and use energy in a cleaner and more efficient manner that will create jobs, generate economic opportunities and help protect the environment.

Quick Facts

• Since 2006, the Government of Canada has taken action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build a more sustainable environment by investing more than $10 billion in green infrastructure, energy efficiency, clean energy technologies and the production of cleaner energy and cleaner fuels.
• The clean technology sector is an important economic driver for the Canadian economy. The sector employs more than 52,000 Canadians in over 700 companies across all regions of the country — part of a global supply chain estimated to be worth $10.6 billion.

Quotes

"Our government is positioning Canada as a global leader in the clean technology sector by supporting innovative projects aimed at producing and using energy in cleaner and more efficient ways. The research and development generated by projects, such as the Inline Dewatering of Oil Sands Tailings project, will create good jobs while benefiting the environment."

The Honourable Tim Uppal
Minister of State (Multiculturalism) and Member of Parliament for Edmonton – Sherwood Park

"We need revolutionary tailings technology in Alberta, so we can speed up reclamation efforts. We are excited to be supporting this novel dewatering technology that has the potential to both reduce the number and size of tailings ponds and enhance the recycle of hot process affected water back to the extraction process. These attributes will ultimately minimize the overall environmental footprint associated with tailings as well as reduce the GHG intensity of bitumen production."

Richard Nelson
Senior Director of Oil Sands Tailings at Alberta Innovates – Energy and Environment Solutions (AI-EES)

"InLine Dewatering Ltd. produces unique dewatering systems for the mining industry to allow them to reduce both the water usage and environmental impact of mine tailings."

Dave Sego
President and CEO, InLine Dewatering Ltd.

Associated Links

Prime Minister`s News Release – http://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2013/05/03/ecoenergy-innovation-initiative

The ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative – http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/funding/current-funding-programs/eii/4985

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SOURCE: Natural Resources Canada

For further information: Media may contact: Alexandra Lemieux, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister, Natural Resources Canada Ottawa, 613-996-2007; Media Relations: Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa, 613-992-4447; The general public may contact: Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. EDT, Telephone: [phone], E-mail: [e-mail]