The first stage in the planned Alberta oilsands environmental cleanup is to be a carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) network able to collect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from 20 operations, according to bitumen producer Cenovus Energy Inc.

Cenovus Canada pumpjack

“Discussions are ongoing with the federal and provincial governments to ensure the necessary policy and financial support is in place,” Cenovus said Tuesday in discussing fourth quarter and full year 2021 results.

“This first project is expected to include a pipeline with phased expansion capability to gather carbon dioxide from 20 oilsands facilities,” according to Cenovus, a founder of the Oil Sands Pathways to Net Zero industry coalition. “The pathways alliance is also progressing work to assess the feasibility of...