Increasing production while keeping greenhouse gas emissions down is a challenge in the oil and gas industry, but that’s what Gibson Energy in Moose Jaw accomplished with their new expansion.

Gibson Energy is a heavy crude oil procession facility and will be increasing production by 30 per cent, but it says there will be no increase to its environmental impact.

“A big part of our expansion here is to do a better job of recovering the waste heat on the products coming out of the refinery, putting that in as pre-heat to products coming in, so the net is you don’t need any new heat to bring in, which means you don’t need heaters, you don’t need gas or burners to bring that heat in,” said Michael Lindsay, Senior Vice-President of Operations and Engineering with Gibson Energy.

Gibson Energy is the first successful applicant to the Provincial Government’s Oil and Gas Processing Investment Incentive, which provides successful applicants with a 15 per cent royalty credit as an incentive to increase production.

The expansion was completed at the end of June and will see throughput capacity at the facility increase from 17,000 barrels a day to 22,000.

“This is how we can actually participate in a positive way in a conversation, not only in our energy industry here in Western Canada, specific to Saskatchewan today, but participate globally in what is a global challenge,” said Premier Scott Moe.

Overall, the expansion – which cost about $20-million – will be reducing the facilities emissions per barrel of oil processed by 20-25 per cent.

Moose Jaw Mayor Fraser Tolmie is very pleased with the announcement.

“I believe the City of Moose Jaw can lead in the province’s economic growth in the future,” he said.

“We’re very proud of the partnership that the City of Moose Jaw has with Gibson Energy and we’re very pleased that they’re moving forward and they also have to be recognized for their environmental conscience and how they’re going to be doing this.”

Gibson’s operation in Moose Jaw produces products such as distillate and asphalt.