WINNIPEG (MarketsFarm) — The Manitoba government signed an agreement Dec. 19 to provide $2.9 million over two years to Azure Sustainable Fuel Corp. for its front-end engineering design study toward sustainable aviation fuel.
“The agriculture sector plays an important role in creating sustainable decarbonization solutions that add value to Manitoba by growing revenue and employment. This is a cutting-edge project for Manitoba farmers and oilseed processors. It is an opportunity to advance ongoing efforts to further Manitoba’s world-class sustainable farming practices,” Manitoba agriculture minister Ron Kostyshyn said in a prepared statement.
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Added federal agriculture minister Lawrence MacAulay: “I’m pleased to be supporting Azure with funding through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Their innovative research into converting feedstock to sustainable fuel will create new economic opportunities for our farmers while helping reduce emissions,” MacAulay stated.
Azure said it has been working with the Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie, Indigenous groups and local stakeholders to adhere and respect all environmental regulations and requirements. The company explained its study will explore using canola oil and soyoil to produce up to one billion litres of SAF per year.
The statement said that SAFs can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 80 percent. Azure estimated the fuel could lead to 65 percent of the reduction of emissions required by the aviation industry to reach net-zero by 2050.
“This funding allows Azure to move one step closer to creating a made-in-Canada solution to meet net-zero targets by utilizing Manitoba’s agriculture industry and adding value to Manitoba crops,” said Azure chief executive offer Douglas Cole.
