Canadian oil and gas production is among the greenest and most environmentally innovative in the world. So why are we not branding it this way?
Canadian oil and gas production has long since become the scapegoat of the modern energy contradiction. That is, many around the world are demanding a switch to green, renewable energy, calling for a complete elimination of the oil and gas industry, yet the data shows that global fuel usage from oil continues to grow year after year (see World Bank chart). Green seems to be the word that has the ability to pin our country and world against each other in a battle over economics and environment. Imagine then, if both sides were able to accept this growing consumption trend, and instead of calling for an unrealistic termination to oil and gas, were able to instead promote and champion the most environmentally clean producing countries with the lowest corruption levels.
The following chart from Berlin based Transparency International ranks the exceeding levels of corruption combined with the volume of oil produced in countries around the world; it doesn’t take a genius to find the connection between corruption and environmental delinquency. Money talks after all! Canada ranks second out of 28 countries who fill about 90% of the world’s oil consumption, behind only Norway in metrics such as corporate governance, transparency, environmental stringency, and innovation. Sadly though, only one-quarter of the world’s oil is sourced from countries that uphold similar values to Canadian oil and gas.
In fact, Canada is on the cutting edge of many innovative technologies to bring economic efficiencies and environmental improvements to the current processes of oil production. Innumerable examples exist, and I’ve outlined just two below:
COSIA
In 2012, Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA) was formed to promote sustainable growth in the industry while accelerating the improvements in environmental performance by sharing experience and innovative technology among its members. I’d like to note that this was formed prior to our current governmental placings. This Alliance is home to ten members that make up 90% of Canada’s daily oil sands production, while concurrently bringing together leading thinkers from industry, government, academia, aboriginal communities and the wider public. They aim to help advance innovation and environmental performance, through collaboration rather than competition. The sad truth is that the majority of Canada’s population, let alone the world, have never heard of this Alliance, that since its 2012 inception, has shared 981 technologies valued at $1.4 billion and is currently involved in 308 projects worth $545 million. Furthermore, between 2012 and 2016, there was an 18% reduction in water use intensity from COSIA member companies engaged in mining operations and a 42% reduction in freshwater use at in situ operations. There was also an 11% reduction in GHG emissions intensity at in situ sites and a 9% reduction at mining operations (Dan Wicklum, president and CEO of COSIA). COSIA is constantly working towards the pinnacle emission-free barrel of oil, that is, that oil could one day be produced from the oilsands without contributing new emissions. How many countries can claim these advancements?
Titanium
Titanium is a Canadian company that recently partnered with CNRL to implement their new technology that will recover valuable heavy metals from oil sands waste, with plant construction expected to commence in 2019. The innovative process will intercept complex tailing streams before these go to tailing ponds to reprocess and recover bitumen solvents and recover heavy minerals, namely titanium and zircon. The hydrocarbons will be recycled back to oil sands companies, and the minerals will be separated to be sold in the global market. Environmentally, this will assist in preventing hydrocarbons from going into ponds and the atmosphere, reducing GHCs, methane, and VOC emissions.
Source: iStock
Canada’s oil sands operations are so far ahead of the global curve, yet little recognition is delivered to our outstanding members. Instead, Canadians undermine our own green oil and gas industry, villainizing it in government and media, so that the three-quarters of the world who produce oil both unethically and environmentally-unfriendly, don’t have to lift a finger to take our market share. Furthermore, Canada itself purchases oil from the most corrupt countries, while simultaneously burying the development and transportation of our own resources in red tape.
As a country, we need to educate and inform the population of the continual steps that Canadian producers are taking, of their own merit, to improve the industry as a whole. Like organic foods, our oil and gas product is a premium product and we should be declaring this from the top of our mountains. The demand is not deminishing due to loud opposing voices, so let’s do what we can and instead promote the commodity that is produced in the greenest, most environmentally innovative manner.