The leading Canadian mining company Teck Limited Resources announced on June 27 a CCUS pilot project at its Trail Operations metallurgical complex in southern British Columbia. The pilot is due to begin operations in the second half of 2023. 

The CCUS pilot supports Teck’s Net-Zero Climate Change Strategy including its goal to reduce carbon from its operations by 33% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.  

“This carbon capture pilot is an important step towards our knowledge building for the application of carbon capture, utilization and storage as an emissions reduction solution, as we work to evaluate pathways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across our operations and achieve our net-zero goal,” said Don Lindsay, President and CEO. 

“The pilot also provides us with a technical platform to assist our steelmaking coal customers in materially reducing the carbon intensity of their steel production.”

The pilot plant will capture three tonnes of carbon dioxide from the Acid Plant flue gas at Trail Operations per day. The project will also assess options for the utilisation and/or storage of the captured CO2 at Trail Operations.

Teck received funding from CleanBC Industry Fund towards the CCUS Pilot Plant Feasibility Study, which was an important step in advancing the pilot. The CleanBC Industry Fund highlights the alignment between industry and government in achieving Canada’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.

“We’re working with industry leaders through CleanBC to find solutions that reduce emissions, while providing people with secure jobs in the clean economy of the future,” said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation. “Congratulations to Teck on taking this significant step forward, finding an effective way to decarbonize their Trail Operations, and creating new opportunities on our path to net zero emissions.”