The Boundary Dam Carbon Capture and Storage Facility in Estevan hosted delegates from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, in hopes of showcasing the technology found there.

"We're always eager to share our story with the world," explained Renata Bereziuk, Executive Director for International Relations with the Government of Saskatchewan. "As a global leader in CCS, we wanted to use this visit as an opportunity to showcase the project with the international community."

"Many countries have been trying to phase out coal for electricity generation but some other countries, including some of the ones on the mission, like South Africa, Indonesia and Poland, they still rely on coal to generate a significant portion of their electricity. So by taking them to SaskPower's BD3 project, we want to show them that countries have an option and that projects like CCS could allow them to benefit from low cost and the reliability of coal while still being able to reduce their GHG emissions."

She added that while this technology isn't new, this tour is a great way to give a hands-on experience for the delegates.

"A lot of people have been reading about CCS but it can be quite technical and difficult to really understand what it means, how it works. So by visiting BD3, they can actually see it firsthand. Norm Sacuta from the PTRC is going to be there as well to talk about our Aquistore project because storing CO2 is also a hot topic being discussed around the world."

"By them seeing the project, it gives us a chance to discuss and talk about the International CCS Knowledge Centre and how it's available to share some of the information  and knowledge with other utilities, and researchers, from all over the world to help accelerate the development of CCS projects. And really the goal is to encourage the adoption of CCS around the world."

Bereziuk hopes this tour will encourage others to invest in this technology. 

"The US is one of the participants of the Boundary Dam tour and this past September, the US Secretary of Energy made a funding opportunity announcement of $36 million dollars to advance carbon capture technology. So that's a positive step. South Korea will be another participant in the tour. They are one of the world's most innovative economies and they also have a global carbon capture and storage institute."

"So by their ambassadors coming and seeing what we're doing in Boundary Dam, it could encourage future collaborations between our jurisdictions on advancing CCS globally. Whether it's them taking what we've learned and developing new technology or cheaper technology, it's about creating that momentum on the CCS file."

Delegates were from 19 different countries:

  • Bolivia
  • Ecuador
  • Georgia
  • Haiti
  • Indonesia
  • Kenya
  • Latvia
  • Mexico
  • Nepal
  • Norway
  • Pakistan
  • Poland
  • South Africa
  • South Korea
  • Switzerland
  • Turkey
  • Ukraine
  • United States
  • Zambia

The delegates were also present for the Premier's Throne Speech on Wednesday, October 25th.