Canada investing in Algal Carbon Conversion project

The National Research Council of Canada (NRC), says that this joint project
between themselves and industry partners has the potential to revolutionize how
industrial carbon emissions in the oil sands and in other industrial facilities
are managed.

The three-year project will use algae to recycle industrial carbon dioxide
emissions from an oil sands facility into commercial products like biofuels.
The Algal Carbon Conversion Pilot Project, a partnership between the NRC,
Canadian Natural Resources Limited (Canadian Natural) and Pond Biofuels, will
result in the construction of a unique, $19 million facility in Alberta.

"This discovery has potential to benefit our environment and our
economy, and further establish Canada as a leader in managing CO2
emissions," said the Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (science and technology).

In the coming months, a demonstration-scale algal biorefinery will be
established at Canadian Natural's Primrose South oil sands site, near
Bonnyville, Alta. This facility will recycle industrial emissions from their
oil sands facility by using carbon dioxide to grow algal biomass, which will
undergo further processing into products, such as biofuels, livestock feed and
fertilizer.

The goal of the project is to test the viability and feasibility of this
technology on a large scale. If proven successful, it can then be used as a
model for recycling industrial emissions in the oil sands, and in industries
across Canada and around the world.

On May 7, the Government of Canada announced the refocused NRC and outlined
how its new structure will be more beneficial to business. The NRC will work
with industry to bridge technology gaps, helping build a more innovative
Canadian economy.

The Algal Carbon Conversion project is an example of the kind
of research and technology development that the NRC will pursue in order to
benefit industry and contribute to a stronger and more prosperous Canada.