On a mission to boost jobs and economic vitality in rural Alberta, the province has announced a $20 million Alberta Petrochemicals Incentive Program (APIP) grant for Rocky Mountain Clean Fuels’ synthetic diesel facility east of Calgary in Wheatland Country.The $173 million facility, already in operation at 220 barrels per day (bpd), uses natural gas and natural gas liquids as a source to produce synthetic diesel, naphtha and wax. Naphtha is a petroleum derivative that can be used for gasoline blend stock.The facility, which will ramp up to approximately 500 bpd at full capacity, will make a small amount of high-value Fischer Tropsch paraffin wax used for lubricants, hot melt adhesives, paints and coatings. The site has created over 900 jobs during construction and operation.“We are committed to making Alberta a world leader in petrochemicals and APIP is helping to attract investment, like this Rocky Mountain Clean Fuels project, as we capitalize on opportunities throughout the province.”Future facility upgrades could result in more daily fuel output, hydrogen production, and carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies, and adding renewable feedstock.APIP funds up to 12% of a project’s capital costs — for large projects like Rocky Mountain Clean Fuels, the grant is paid out over three years, says the province. Three other projects have received APIP funding, including Inter Pipeline’s Heartland Petrochemical Complex, Dow Canada’s Fort Saskatchewan Furnace Expansion and Air Products’ Net-Zero Hydrogen Complex.“In addition to the good-paying jobs created for construction and operations, the facility will generate economic spinoffs in the Carseland region.” said Chantelle de Jonge, MLA for Chestermere-Strathmore.
