North West Upgrading is a private, Calgary-based company established for the purpose of constructing and operating an upgrading facility that will convert bitumen blend feedstock into high quality petroleum products including ultra low sulphur diesel, low sulphur diluent, low sulphur vacuum gas oil and butane.  The Project's completion is expected to coincide with significant increases in bitumen production in the Province of Alberta.  The facility will be located in Sturgeon County, approximately 45 km northeast of Edmonton in the industrial heartland of Alberta. 

North West will add economic value for bitumen and heavy oil producers, consumers and governments in Alberta. In total, North West expects to produce:

• Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel, a valuable market-ready fuel 
• Diluent, to blend with heavy oil & bitumen for transport
• Low Sulphur Vacuum Gas Oil, for refining into gasoline 
• Butane, for fuel and petrochemicals 

Upgrader Overview

The Project has a total planned capacity of 231,240 bbls/day of bitumen blend (3 phases of 77,080 bbls/day) and will use conventional, commercially proven technologies. The September 2007 capital cost estimate for Phase 1 is $4.2 billion in 2007 dollars.  North West has now received Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) Approval No.10994, under the authority of the Oilsands Conservation Act, as well as Alberta Environment Water Act Approval No.00227771-00-00, and EPEA Approval No.217118-00-00 both for Site Preparation Work which has commenced in October 2007. Start-up of Phase 1 is planned for 2011.  All three phases are expected to be operational by 2015.

The Upgrader will be located in the Alberta Industrial Heartland Area, which is being cooperatively promoted as a strategic growth centre for industrial development. This location provides access to:

• Pipelines – Several existing and planned pipelines run through the area, providing North West with access to bitumen blend feedstocks and finished product transportation. Feedstock will be provided from Alberta's major bitumen production areas.
• Infrastructure – Existing infrastructure such as fabrication shops, highways, railways, natural gas and electric power are available.
• Skilled Labour – With its proximity to Edmonton and other local communities, North West will be an attractive place to work for the skilled labour force needed to construct, operate and maintain the Upgrader.
• Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) projects - This location is favourable for CO₂ management due to its proximity to oil fields that are suitable for EOR projects, reducing the need to construct expensive long haul pipelines.