Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Energy and Resources says greenhouse gas emissions in 2021 from vented and flared gas at upstream oil facilities is down by 60 per cent, compared to 2015 levels, and down 15 per cent compared to 2020. Minister Bronwyn Eyre says the province’s regulations target both methane from venting and carbon dioxide from flaring. The federal approach targets only methane emissions.

Eyre expects one of the reasons for the lower emissions is new equipment and/or infrastructure at key locations. Some of these efforts were supported through the Saskatchewan Petroleum Innovation Incentive. It offers transferable royalty/production tax credits for innovative, made-in-Saskatchewan projects at a rate of 25 per cent of eligible costs, up to a maximum of $5-million.