Canadian Gas Producers Push Clean Tech Investments

Seven of Canada’s biggest natural gas producers – including two partners in the Anglo-Dutch Shell-led LNG Canada project – said December 19 they have joined forces to advance investments in clean technology in the upstream gas business.

Joining the Natural Gas Innovation Fund – established by the Canadian Gas Association in 2016 to help drive investments in clean technology by Canada’s natural gas utilities – are Shell Canada Energy, Petronas Canada, Birchcliff Energy, Canadian Natural Resources Limited (Canada’s biggest natural gas producer), Chevron Canada, Perpetual Energy and Tourmaline Oil.

Together, they will contribute to a C$3mn (US$2.23mn) funding pool that will seek applications for clean tech solutions for natural gas producers. Once projects are selected, they will be awarded up to $1mn in “non-dilutive” funding, to a maximum of 25% of the project’s eligible expenses.

At the same time, the selected projects will be reviewed by similar clean tech funding programs at the federal level and in BC and Alberta, with an opportunity to earn even more investment from those programs.

“Investing in Canadian innovation is always a smart move,” Michael Crother, president and country chair of Shell Canada Energy, said. “Canadian gas has the potential to displace more carbon intensive energy sources both here in Canada and around the world, and the Natural Gas Innovation Fund is an open invitation for entrepreneurs to help us further enhance our sector’s leading environmental performance.”