Air Pollutants
Managing Air Pollutants
At Canadian Natural we are committed to reduce emissions intensity throughout our operations, in particular air pollutants such as SO2 and NOx. We measure our air emissions by conducting specific monitoring at our larger facilities and by participating in regional air shed monitoring.
We actively support the Clean Air Strategy Alliance, a multi-stakeholder partnership composed of representatives selected by industry, government and non-government organizations, which has a mandate to manage air quality in Alberta.
Our Performance In The Oil Sands Region
At our Horizon operation we have set internal targets that surpass regulatory requirements to maintain strong environmental performance. Our daily SO2 emissions in 2010 were 8.7 tonnes/day, well below the approved limit of 16 tonnes/day.
Our sulphur recovery unit had a recovery efficiency of 99.69%. While we exceeded Alberta regulated minimum of 98.5% recovery, we are making improvements to reach our internal target of 99.8% rate of recovery.
We are an active participant in the Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) which monitors air quality in the regional municipality, and we have an air monitoring station between the community of Fort McKay and Horizon. WBEA’s air monitoring information is openly shared with shareholders and the public and is available in real time on their website.
New SO2 Monitoring Program
In 2009, we started a sulphur dioxide monitoring program at each our North, South and East Primrose steam plants. We installed Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (CEMS) units to accurately monitor emissions in real time. In the past, we relied on manual sampling.
As a result, we can now better manage our SO2 emissions and ensure that we meet our targets and are in compliance with Alberta Environment standards. We completed our first CEMS program at Primrose North, resulting in only one exceedance of a daily emission limit in 2010 (our daily SO2 limit at Primrose North and East is two tonnes/day).
For current and historical SO2 and NOx emissions, please check the Performance section of our 2010 Stewardship Report to Stakeholders.
