Saskatchewan unveils world’s first CCS power plant

REGINA – Saskatchewan is unveiling a project today that is drawing attention from around the world.

On Thursday, the province unveiled the world’s first commercial-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) power plant at the Boundary Dam Power Station in Estevan.

“Over the past six years, Saskatchewan has become a global hub of innovation, especially in agriculture, mining, oil and gas, and now carbon capture and storage,” Premier Wall said.

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“This project is another Saskatchewan first. The rest of the world is very interested to learn how they too can produce environmentally sustainable coal power.”

The carbon-capturing power plant reduces 1,000,000 tonnes/year of carbon dioxide – that’s like taking 250 thousand cars off the road.

The power unit equipped with CSS technology will continue to use coal to power roughly 100,000 homes and businesses in Saskatchewan.

Some of the captured carbon dioxide will be used for enhanced oil recovery, with the remainder stored safely and permanently underground and continuously monitored.

“This project is important because it is applicable to about 95 per cent of the world’s coal plants,” Economy Minister Bill Boyd said.

“As nations develop emission regulations, they will come to us to see how we continue to provide affordable coal power to customers, but in an environmentally sustainable way.”

The new facility cost over one billion dollars to complete.