By Ashley Wiebe

Clean technology could be game changer for oil and gas sector, local economy

Apr 5, 2017 | 2:16 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is aiming to reduce methane emissions by 40 per cent within the next eight years and a local partnership believes they can do it.

It’s an innovation in clean technology and it’s happening in Medicine Hat.

It could be a game changer for oil and gas companies and the local economy.

“We can put Medicine Hat on the map as being the solution provider to air emission problems here in Canada and solving air emissions problems in Canada,” said Vladimir Mravcak, president of Atlantis Research Labs Inc.

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Purejet is a new technology that reduces methane emissions without any visible flame, smell or smoke.

“Deploying a few hundred, up to 1,000 units of the Purejet technology through this manufacturing facility, we can single handily impact, not only the world’s climate but the standard of living here in Canada, the air quality here in Canada and we can meet our commitments to the international community from Medicine Hat,” he said.

The technology means a new way for oil and gas companies to burn off waste gas.

“What we’re doing here and what this means for the community is a diversity away from the traditional energy sector jobs and into high tech and research positions,” Mravcak said.

The high pressure incinerators will all be built in Medicine Hat.

“It’s pretty exciting news,” said councillor Jim Turner, adding that this is a great way to start diversifying the economy.

“It means jobs,” said Ryan Jackson with Invest Medicine Hat. “Ultimately the investment that these guys are making is going to create a significant amount of jobs over the next number of months and years.”

Mravcak said there could be anywhere from 20 to 50 high skilled, high paying positions that will need to be filled, once money starts moving.

“We’re employing engineers, PhD scientists and other high skilled labourers,” he said, adding that they’ll be partnering with Medicine Hat College for additional training.

Mravcak said the Purejet technology will be able to help the federal government meet its goal of reducing methane emissions by 2025.

“In order to achieve that, we’ll require as little as a few hundred Purejet that we’re building here in Medicine Hat, he said.

“I think this is just an example of the diversification that exists,” Jackson added.