New Canadian biofuels plant gets major support

What do you get when you cross the Canadian federal government, a biofuels company and an oil giant? No not a Mexican stand-off but, according to recent news reports, a new biofuels facility.

The CN$19 million (€14.4 million) plant slated for construction in northern Alberta will receive funding from the National Research Council. It will use CO2 emissions from oilsands to convert algae into fuel, fertiliser and feed.

It has been reported Ottawa will contribute $9.5 million to build the plant at Canadian Natural Resources' Primrose South oilsands project. CNR itself will pitch in $6.3 million and Toronto-based Pond Biofuels will add the remainder.