Teck Resources Limited announced a Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) pilot project at its Trail Operations metallurgical complex in southern British Columbia. The CCUS pilot is expected to begin operation in the second half of 2023.

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

“This carbon capture pilot is an important step toward 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 chief executive officer. “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 carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the acid plant flue gas at Trail Operations at a rate of 3 t/d. The pilot project will also evaluate options for the utilization and/or storage of the captured CO₂ at Trail Operations.

If successful, the project could be scaled up to an industrial CCUS plant with the potential to capture more than 100 kt/a of CO₂ at Trail Operations, the equivalent emissions of more than 20,000 cars.

Teck acknowledges the support of the CleanBC Industry Fund for its funding contribution toward 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.