NRCan launches $50-million oil & gas clean tech program

Natural Resources Canada is launching an Oil and Gas Clean Tech Program with $50 million provided in the last federal Budget to encourage the development of technologies to lower the sector's greenhouse gas emissions (R$, April 4/16). Part of the department's Energy Innovation Program (EIP), the two-year program will support the demonstration and testing of pre-commercial technologies aimed at oil sands extraction, emissions detection, monitoring and mitigation systems, alternative low-carbon heat or power technologies, efficient steam generation, heat/water recovery from flue gas and cleaner technologies for liquefied natural gas production. Funds must be matched and the minimum EIP request for demonstration projects is $5 million. For projects involving front-end engineering and design, the minimum is $300,000 per project. Total government support from all levels cannot exceed 75% while R&D tax credits, from any level of government, can be applied to the project and count towards the recipient's contribution….