Sturgeon County eyes $4B petrochemical project

In another sign of what might be an economic turnaround for Edmonton’s metro region, Sturgeon County has landed a support agreement so a $4-billion petrochemical complex can be built. It doesn’t mean it’s a done deal, however local officials see this as a big step forward towards that.

Canada Kuwait Petrochemical Corporation (CKPC) is behind the plan. It’s the next step towards the deal, after Alberta Energy’s $300-million conditional royalty credit award to CKPC in December 2016.

“This proposed project represents significant economic benefits to Sturgeon County, including increased property tax base, investment in municipal infrastructure, local sourcing opportunities and high-quality jobs both during construction and operations,” Sturgeon County CAO Peter Tarnawsky said in a media release.

“We support the proposed petrochemical facility as a step in the right direction to diversify our local economy within Alberta.”

During the election campaign, Edmonton mayor Don Iveson said the 13 municipalities that make up the Edmonton Metro Regional Board would “hunt as a pack” for international opportunities, then select the most logical location to locate what they land.

“This is a great location,” agreed Tyler Westover, Sturgeon County’s manager of economic development. “If some of this major development comes through Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association, which Edmonton is a part of as well, this really is that concept of a rising tide lifts all boats.

“This is going to represent good labour prospects, procurement prospects for those that are with in the region, really for Alberta. And you can’t forget this is a really important project even for Canada. This project represents with polypropylene coming through, that’s really not anything that’s produced in Canada at this point in time,” he said in an interview.

CKPC is proposing to develop a fully integrated propane dehydrogenation and polypropylene production facility, as well associated infrastructure, such as pipeline connectivity, utilities and rail.

“Sturgeon County and its residents have been great partners with Pembina over the years and we are excited to enter into this agreement as part of CKPC and work towards developing a new world-scale petrochemical facility that will bring additional economic and social benefits to the region for decades to come,” said Pembina’s senior vice president and CKPC director Stu Taylor in a release.

CKPC is a 50/50 joint venture between Canada’s Pembina Pipeline Corporation and Kuwait’s Petrochemical Industries Company K.S.C.