FORT McMURRAY, Alberta SYNCRUDE has filed an application asking regulators to approve a $400-million project to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions from Syncrude's Mildred Lake upgrader. The application was jointly filed with the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board and Alberta Environment.
If approved, the project will reduce sulphur dioxide emissions by over 50% from the currently approved levels of 245 tonnes/day. Other emissions, such as particulate matter and metals, will also be reduced.
Combined with flue gas scrubbing and sulphur reduction processes in the upgrader expansion project, now under construction, this voluntary initiative will reduce total sulphur dioxide emissions from Syncrude operations despite increasing crude oil production.
"As we move forward with our growth plans, we are also focused on the sustainability of our operation. This emissions reduction project will play a key role in managing cumulative effects and maintaining high air quality in the Wood Buffalo region," said Syncrude chairman and CEO Eric Newell.
The emission reduction program will involve retrofitting a multi-train flue gas scrubbing system into the operation of Syncrude's two existing cokers. Approximately $12-15 million will be spent in 2003 on engineering work. If the project is approved, procurement and construction expenditures would occur after 2005, following completion of the upgrader expansion, and would extend to 2009 as the tie-ins must be co-ordinated with regularly scheduled maintenance work.
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