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Insights Into the Petrochemical Industry in Alberta

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Alberta is home to the largest oil refining as well as petrochemical manufacturing cluster in Canada. Each year, the petrochemical industry in the province produces more than $9.5 billion worth of petrochemical products. Most of the manufacturing plants have world-class equipment and technology and unhindered access to feedstock. Coupled with this, the five petrochemical hubs have rail connectivity to meet the needs of consumers within the country and overseas. Most of the exports are to North America but Albert also exports to China and other emerging economies.  The Key Petrochemical Products in Alberta The petrochemical industry in Alberta focuses primarily on the manufacturing of the following products: Natural Gas: Nearly 68% of natural gas in Canada is produced in Alberta. The province is a major exporter of natural gas, and many of the natural gas liquid products are available at a discounted price when compared to the prices in the US. As a result, there is a lot of intere...

Natural Gas Feedstock Spurs Canada’s Petrochemical Industry

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In Canada, the petrochemical industry is booming and it is anticipated that the demand for Low-Cost Natural Gas Feedstock that was lost in 2020 due to the global pandemic will recover by 2021. This demand will be further strengthened by the growth in the Asia Pacific region, as China and other emerging markets in Asia recover and will want cheap natural gas feedstock for their petrochemical industries, transportation, heating, cooking, and generation of electricity.  Diversification of the Petrochemical Industry in Canada Canada has the third-largest oil reserves in the world and about 99% of the oil products are exported to the US. However, when oil prices dipped and the oil-producing nations reduced their output, the oil industry in Canada experienced losses. Nonetheless, the petrochemical industry in the country had already diversified to natural gas.  Today, Petrochemical Manufacturing in Canada not only focuses on petrochemical products and byproducts but also focuses o...

Industrial Applications of Natural Gas

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Natural gas has several industrial uses and that would explain why the Canadian and provincial governments and private entities are focusing more on natural gas exploration and processing. Natural gas is responsible for providing the fundamental ingredients for fertilizers, plastics, fabrics, and anti-freeze. In fact, after electricity, it is the most used energy source in the industrial sector.  In the US, natural gas is highly sought-after in the industrial sector but just a few industries, such as pulp and paper, petroleum refining, plastic, food processing, clay and glass, chemicals, stone, and metal industries use natural gas. Alberta Petrochemicals Industries also use natural gas as feedstock. Natural gas liquids, propane, and ethane are essential natural gas feedstock in petrochemicals industries.  Industrial Applications Besides being used for heating, cooking, and cooling, there are several other industrial applications of natural gas. It is used in waste treatment a...