The German company Hy2gen has filed a project notice with the Quebec Ministry of the Environment for its green ammonia production plant in Baie-Comeau.
This is the first step toward obtaining government authorization for any large-scale project that poses an environmental risk.
Green ammonia, produced from green hydrogen, is used to produce ammonium nitrate, an input in the manufacture of explosives used in the mining industry.
The project is expected to be completed in 2030, says Hy2gen, which has factory projects in a dozen countries.
To carry out its North Shore project, a 307 MW electricity block was awarded to the company by Hydro-Québec, nearly equivalent to the amount of energy required by all North Shore households.
According to Hy2Gen President and CEO Cyril Dufau-Sansot, the project will allow the mining sector to reduce its dependence on international explosives markets and reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Ammonium nitrate is not produced in Quebec
, he says. The production and importation of this input, particularly from the United States, generates GHG emissions, he says.
Hy2gen plans to use water electrolysis, a process that requires a lot of electricity.
On the other hand, it doesn’t emit any greenhouse gases, assures Cyril Dufau-Sansot. Our project will serve to avoid greenhouse gas emissions globally by transforming the use of a carbon-based product into a carbon-free one
, he argues.
However, Hy2gen is currently unable to provide precise figures regarding the GHG emissions that all aspects of the project and future production would generate.
The company is currently undergoing an assessment with a view to producing an environmental impact study.
Developing Local Expertise
Hy2gen expects that some 1,000 jobs will be created in Baie-Comeau during the plant’s construction, and that 300 employees will be needed for its operation.
The infrastructure itself is in place to accommodate the jobs it will generate. We’re not too worried
, says Mr. Dufau-Sansot.
Furthermore, the company, which plans to begin recruiting around 2029, wants to avoid using commuter or fly-in fly-out workers. The CEO says he has begun discussions with the Cégep de Baie-Comeau to adapt local training and generate expertise in hydrogen.
Source: Radio-Canada