(Reuters) – Canada’s federal financing agency Canada Growth Fund (CGF) has proposed funding support for a multibillion-dollar carbon-capture investment by Pathways Alliance, representing Canada’s biggest oil sands producers, The Globe and Mail reported.
The CGF’s proposal is expected to kick off further negotiations, but a final deal is likely months away, as both sides remain apart on key terms, according to the report on Sunday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Carbon capture is a process through which carbon dioxide generated from industrial activity is stored underground. The report didn’t mention any financial details about the investment.
Pathways Alliance and Canada Growth Fund didn’t immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Pathways Alliance has been proposing a C$16 billion ($11.51 billion) investment in a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project to cut carbon emissions from the oil sands. The plan, however, has faced criticism from environmentalists for slow progress and seeking more government financial support.
Pathways Alliance is made up of Canadian Natural Resources, Cenovus, ConocoPhillips Canada, Imperial, MEG Energy and Suncor Energy representing about 95% of Canada’ oil sands production, according to its website.
CGF, meanwhile, is a $15 billion public investment vehicle that helps attract private capital to build Canada’s clean economy by using investment instruments that absorb certain risks, in order to encourage private investment in low-carbon projects, technologies, businesses, and supply chains, according to its website.
Earlier this year, Canadian oil producer Strathcona Resources partnered with CGF to build carbon capture and sequestration infrastructure in Saskatchewan and Alberta provinces.
($1 = 1.3895 Canadian dollars)
(Reporting by Bipasha Dey in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich)