Since the 1950s, world renowned corporations have chosen to locate in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland (AIH) region. Growing in size and scale since that time, AIH is now home to more than 40 companies employing a work force of more than 7,000 people. The geographic region of Alberta’s Industrial Heartland (AIH) is a 582 square kilometre (225 square miles) area of industrial land. This includes 533 square kilometres (205 square miles) within the municipalities of the City of Fort Saskatchewan and the Counties of Lamont, Strathcona and Sturgeon, in addition to 49 square kilometres (20 square miles) in the municipality of the City of Edmonton (known as the Edmonton Energy and Technology Park).
To date, AIH has attracted over $30 billion of investment and developed into Canada’s largest hydrocarbon processing region. Industrial activity includes fertilizer production, resource upgrading and refinement, petrochemical development, mineral processing, and more. Future development is slated to further increase the region’s bitumen upgrading capacity, pipeline network, and petrochemical processing capabilities. To obtain the most up-to-date information on current construction and future development, visit the Project Status page.
Industrial development in AIH is done so using “eco-industrial principles”. This means that future development is designed to share, and thus maximize the use of information, raw materials, energy, infrastructure, and natural habitats. The intent is to preserve both environmental and human resources for the local community while generating appropriate financial returns for the business.
Initiatives and progress in 2011:
- North West Refinery is proceeding with a $15 billion project after signing a “Bitumen Royalty in Kind” agreement with the Government of Alberta. The company is now securing financing and getting final sanction from their Board of Directors. Activities for the rest of 2011 include engineering design completion, staffing, and securing supply and service contracts. The project will be built in three phases over a nine year period with each phase producing 50,000 bbls/day of diesel and other products. On site construction staff will be approximately 3,000 each day over the life of the project and final operational staff will number approximately 600.
- Williams Energy signed a long term agreement to produce ethane and ethylene for NOVA. This results in a $311 million expansion to two of Williams’ primary facilities – one being in Redwater. The new de-ethanizer at Redwaterenables Williams to increase production of ethane/ethylene, adding to its current production of a range of products including propane, propylene, butane, butylenes and condensate. Future expansions are expected to further increase ethane/ethylene production. Williams is also constructing a 420 km, 12-inch pipeline from its Fort McMurray extraction facility to its Redwater fractionators to support the company's growing business in Canada.
For additional information on industrial development, contact:
Alberta's Industrial Heartland Association (AIHA)
