Portage la Prairie to Advance Manitoba as Leader in Renewable Transportation Fuels
$3-million investment by PCs supports made-in-Manitoba solution for sustainable low-carbon future: Bereza
PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE — Manitoba has moved forward with the previous PC government’s $2.9-million commitment to support a one-of-a-kind sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) processing facility planned near Portage la Prairie, Jeff Bereza, PC Shadow Minister for Agriculture, announced today.
In June 2023, the previous PC government announced that Manitoba will be providing $2.9 million over two years through a federal–provincial partnership to support Azure Sustainable Fuels Corp.’s Front End Engineering Design (FEED) study for a facility, located adjacent to the Poplar Bluff Industrial Park just west of Portage la Prairie. On Tuesday, the Manitoba government signed a contribution agreement, assuring not to go back on that investment.
“PCs have bolstered Manitoba’s competitive advantages to establish a world-class agriculture industry, while positioning Portage la Prairie as a prime location for companies like Azure to invest in,” said Bereza, who is the MLA for Portage la Prairie. “This facility will be a first in Canada, and given its feedstock demands, Azure has chosen a location that gives them access to some of the largest amount of feedstock in North America.”
The Azure facility will use Canadian feedstock products such as canola and soybean oils to produce an estimated one billion litres of SAF per year. Through its SAF process, the facility will reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 2.6 million tonnes annually.
“It is truly a made-in-Manitoba solution to sustainable decarbonization while creating more good jobs and a secure, local market for Manitoba farmers and oilseed producers,” said Bereza.
“The Portage la Prairie area has seen strong economic growth since 2017. Our PC team and I will ensure that that momentum is not disrupted, and that Portage continues to grow as an economic powerhouse with increasing opportunities for all.”
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