OCTOBER 3, 2025 / FORT SASKATCHEWAN, AB – Delegations from Denmark and Germany last week visited Alberta’s Industrial Heartland, gaining firsthand insight into how the region is combining heavy industry with cutting-edge carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology. The visit highlighted the growing international interest in collaboration and investment in Alberta’s world-leading carbon management initiatives.
A central event of the week was the Carbon Capture Canada conference, where Mark Plamondon, Executive Director of Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association, moderated panels on industrial decarbonization and scaling CCUS projects from pilot to commercial deployment. Delegates were particularly interested in the Heartland’s key projects that position the region as a global leader in carbon sequestration.
One of the flagship projects is the Quest Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) facility near Edmonton. Operational since 2015, Quest captures approximately 1 million tonnes of CO₂ per year from hydrogen production at the Shell Scotford Energy & Chemicals Park and stores it safely in deep saline aquifers. Since the facility started up a decade ago, it has sequestered over 10 million tonnes of CO₂, proving that large-scale, permanent carbon storage is both feasible and effective.
Another cornerstone of the Industrial Heartland’s CCUS infrastructure is the Alberta Carbon Trunk Line (ACTL), the world’s largest CO₂ pipeline. Stretching over 240 km, this multi-party, open-access pipeline carries 1.6 million tonnes of CO₂ each year from Heartland emitters to storage and enhanced oil recovery sites across central and southern Alberta. This infrastructure is critical to enabling multiple CCUS projects to scale efficiently and safely.
Looking ahead, the Atlas Carbon Storage Hub, which has achieved Final Investment Decision (FID), represents the next generation of Alberta’s CCUS capabilities. The hub will provide permanent storage for captured CO₂ from industrial sources, supporting both decarbonization efforts and economic growth. With Phase 1 planned to be operational by 2028, its development signals that both operators and government in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland are committed to maintaining the region’s leadership in carbon management technology.
The visiting delegations experienced what sets Alberta apart: a unique combination of industrial capacity, advanced CCUS technology, and strategic infrastructure, including the Quest and the Alberta Carbon Trunk Line. Together, these assets position the region as a global hub for carbon sequestration and industrial decarbonization
As Alberta’s Industrial Heartland continues to expand its CCUS capabilities, these international exchanges strengthen collaboration and investment opportunities, helping the world move toward a lower-carbon future.
About Alberta’s Industrial Heartland
Alberta’s Industrial Heartland is Canada’s largest hydrocarbon processing region and most advanced carbon sequestration hub. With $50 billion in existing capital investment and more than 40 companies, AIH provides fuels, fertilizers, power, petrochemicals, hydrogen, and more to consumers around the world. Explore the people, partnerships, and potential behind Alberta’s Industrial Heartland.