SaskPower provided an update on the Boundary Dam clean coal demonstration project during Monday night's meeting of Estevan City Council.

Clean coal project manager Doug Daverne did most of the talking during a 40-minute presentation. He was joined by engineer Doug Nixon, environment management issues supervisor Bernie Bolen and Boundary Dam Power Station plant manager Mike Zeleny.

If the clean coal demonstration proceeds, aging Unit 3 at Boundary Dam will be retrofitted into a clean coal demonstration project that will capture 1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year and generate 110 to 115 megawatts of electricity.

It will also help with the recovery of an additional 3 million barrels of oil per year.

“Boundary Dam Unit 3 is one of the first units that comes up for discussion,” said Daverne. “But there are other ones that will come up for discussion in the next five to 10 years.”

Regardless of whether the project moves forward, something will have to be done with Unit 3 and several other units at Boundary Dam in the next few years, Daverne said. Retirement of the units would be the default option if the units don't receive the retrofit.

Clean coal is one of several options that the provincial government is considering to address SaskPower's aging fleet of power generating facilities, and the growing demand for electricity in the province. Natural gas and polygeneration plants are among the other short-term options.

A decision on the clean coal plant will be made by the end of the year. If the project receives approval, Daverne said they will begin construction in early 2011, with an estimated completion date in 2013.