Competitive Advantages
“When you look at the bigger picture, the only real rival for low-carbon investment of this kind is the U.S. Gulf Coast, where you have the same access to natural gas liquids as a feedstock and supportive public policy environment.” The Industrial Heartland region is particularly attractive for companies looking to invest in low-carbon products, Masterson says. “Alberta has an abundant low-carbon feedstock in natural gas liquids to produce hydrogen and the geological space to sequester carbon. These natural assets can encourage investment and support low- carbon chemistry industry,” he says. “One of the largest petrochemical companies on the planet believes it can build a low-carbon chemistry plant based on these assets. Other companies will see they can generate and extract that value out of those resources in a very sustainable and responsible manner.”
Katchur’s joy is shared by Mark Plamondon, executive di - rector of Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association, who sees the Michigan-based multinational’s decision as an endorsement of the region’s competitive advantages. “Dow is a global company and could put their capital anywhere in the world,” says Plamondon, whose group attracts global investment in heavy industry to the 582-square-kilometre region northeast of Edmonton. “What this demonstrates is Dow can meet both their economic and environmental goals by investing in this region. That sends a real message.” Bob Masterson, CEO of the Chemistry Industry Associa - tion of Canada, sees Dow’s decision to build the facility as a signal of where the industry will make large invest - ments in the future. “In the short term, you are looking at the province’s larg - est construction project requiring more than 7,000 high- skill, high-paying jobs for the next seven to 10 years,” says Masterson, whose Ottawa-based group represents
“Dow is a global company and could put their capital anywhere in the world,”
chemistry and plastics producers across Canada.
Alberta a Top Destination for Low Carbon Chemical Production
“What Dow’s decision really says is Alberta is a top destination for the chemistry industry to invest. One of the top chemical producers in the world is making this investment in Canada,” he says. 94 SPOTLIGHT MAGAZINE ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • VOL 23 ISSUE 5
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