Imperial Oil today confirmed plans to construct a 90-megawatt cogeneration facility at its Sarnia refining and petrochemical complex. The new unit, to cost about $120-million, will use natural-gas-fired turbines to simultaneously produce electricity and steam, using approximately 50 percent less energy than conventional methods.
“Imperial is a strong proponent of the responsible use of energy and continues to look for cost-effective ways to improve energy efficiency in all of its operations,” says Tim Hearn, chairman, president and CEO of Imperial Oil. “Our Sarnia site has a strong focus on energy management and has improved energy efficiency by more than 10 percent since 1994.”
Detailed engineering for the Sarnia project is underway with construction scheduled to begin in late 2002 and start-up planned for April 2004. A peak labour force of 200 tradespeople is expected to work on the project during construction. An environmental screening study to assess the facility’s environmental, economic and social impacts has been presented to the community and submitted to the Ontario Ministry of Environment.
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from the site will also be significantly reduced when the cogeneration plant takes over most of the site’s steam production from existing boilers that burn petroleum coke and heavy fuel oil. SO2 and NOx are components of smog.
“We recognize that air quality is of concern to the local community,” says Warren Burton, Imperial’s Sarnia site manager. “The reduction in SO2 and NOx as a result of cogeneration will contribute to improving the region’s air quality.”
The Sarnia power plant will be Imperial’s second major co-generation facility. The company is currently in the process of constructing a 170-megawatt cogeneration plant at its Cold Lake, Alberta operations.
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