PENSE, Sask. – A polygeneration plant proposed by TransCanada Corp. for a site near two fertilizer plants would be the largest industrial project in Saskatchewan history.
The $4 billion facility, situated on about 100 acres in the Rural Municipality of Pense industrial park near Belle Plaine, would employ as many as 2,500 people at peak construction and 150 once it opens.
Last week, Saskatchewan enterprise and innovation minister Lyle Stewart said his government would back the commitment of up to $26 million promised by the previous New Democratic government.
“We’re going to keep the commitment,” said Stewart. “The way the deal is structured most if not all of it gets paid back.”
The plant would gasify petroleum coke, shipped by rail from Alberta, to create 300 megawatts of electricity, hydrogen, steam and carbon dioxide. Those products would be used by SaskPower, Saskferco’s nitrogen fertilizer plant, Mosaic’s potash mine and enhanced oil recovery projects.
The plant would need 7,000 and 10,000 gallons of water per minute. TransCanada officials said water is available from nearby Buffalo Pound Lake.
