A leading American carbon capture company has identified Alberta as a prime location to advance its technology, citing the province's unique industrial and regulatory landscape as key advantages.
Engineering Study Launched for Oilsands Project
Mantel Capture, based in the United States, has officially commenced an engineering and design study focused on capturing carbon emissions from an oilsands operation in Alberta. The specific project remains unidentified at this time. This move signals a significant step toward deploying the firm's technology in one of Canada's most emissions-intensive industrial sectors.
The company's confidence in Alberta is not unfounded. Mantel Capture's equipment has already been installed and is operational at Kruger Inc.'s pulp and paper mill in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, as demonstrated in a November 2025 handout photo. This existing Canadian deployment provides a technical foundation for the proposed Alberta expansion.
Why Alberta Ticks All the Boxes
According to the firm, Alberta presents a compelling combination of factors that make it an ideal testing ground and scaling platform for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology. The province boasts a concentrated cluster of large-scale industrial emitters, particularly in the oilsands, which creates the necessary scale for such projects to be economically viable.
Furthermore, Alberta has established regulatory frameworks and geological assets, like deep saline aquifers, suitable for the permanent storage of captured carbon dioxide. The provincial and federal governments have also signaled policy and financial support for CCUS as part of their climate strategies, reducing investment risk for technology firms like Mantel Capture.
The Path Forward for Carbon Capture in Canada
The initiation of this engineering study represents a tangible move from concept toward potential implementation. If the study yields positive results, it could lead to one of the first commercial-scale applications of point-source carbon capture technology at an oilsands facility, setting a precedent for the industry.
This development underscores a broader trend of technology firms and investors looking to Alberta as a global hub for carbon management innovation. Success in this sector is seen as critical for Canada to meet its ambitious emissions reduction targets while maintaining its competitive energy industry. The outcome of Mantel Capture's study, expected in the coming months, will be closely watched by industry and policymakers alike.
