Earth Equity News

French Firm Total Nixes Carbon Capture for Oilsands Project. By Hanneke Brooymans, Edmonton Journal, August 4, 2010. "French energy giant Total confirmed on August 3 that it will not use carbon capture technology in the first phase of its Joslyn North Mine project, citing expense as the roadblock. The company suggested in a 2009 report it was considering using carbon capture and storage (CCS) in its oilsands projects in Canada... But Total E&P Canada president Jean-Michel Gires said it's more likely the technology will be implemented around 2020… Gires estimated the net cost of capturing carbon dioxide today would be well over $100 a ton. He said better solutions to drastically cut those costs must be found before the technology can be applied. The company is willing to lead industry by setting up off-stream storage of a 90-day supply of water, instead of an industry average of 30 days, to tide it over when the Athabasca River is low, he said. But it won't take the plunge yet on CCS."