Alberta-based Expander Energy has successfully moved its Mackenzie Biofuel Project forward in British Columbia, securing essential biomass feedstock and land through a strategic agreement with East Fraser Fiber.
This agreement marks a pivotal step for the proposed bio-synfuel facility. By partnering with East Fraser Fiber, a Canadian wood-product manufacturer, Expander Energy has locked in the raw materials necessary to operationalize its proprietary technology. The facility is designed to utilize “biomass electrolysis to liquids” (BETL), a technology developed in tandem with Canadian Nuclear Laboratories.
Technology Behind the Mackenzie Biofuel Project
The Mackenzie Biofuel Project distinguishes itself through its use of BETL technology. This process converts biogenic carbon into synthetic fuel molecules by employing a hybrid of gasification and high-temperature electrolysis. The result is a fuel production cycle that entirely eliminates the fossil component.
Current projections indicate the facility will convert approximately 84,000 dry tonnes of forestry wood waste from East Fraser Fiber annually. This input is expected to yield 30 million litres per year of renewable diesel, renewable naphtha, and bio-wax.
According to data released by Expander, the biofuels produced at this facility will carry a significantly lower carbon intensity than traditional fuels. They are projected to emit 80% less carbon emissions than fossil fuel equivalents, potentially avoiding up to 90,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.
Expansion Plans and SAF Potential
With the critical logistics of land and supply now settled, the company is looking toward immediate acceleration and future scaling.
“With land and feedstock secured … we are now able to accelerate the project,” said Steve Kresnyak, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Expander.
Expander Energy is already assessing opportunities to scale production significantly. The company aims to eventually increase output to 120 million litres of biofuel per year. A major component of this expansion strategy involves Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Expander is currently assessing market interest for an initial 18 million litres of SAF per year. Given the scope of the Mackenzie Biofuel Project, there is potential to ramp up SAF production to 72 million litres annually.
“We look forward to sharing more details as these partnerships are finalised, marking another step toward delivering price competitive biomass-based e-fuels for industry and aviation,” added Kresnyak.
Indigenous Partnership and Land Stewardship
A critical component of the project’s viability is its alignment with First Nations land rights. In British Columbia, Indigenous nations hold specific rights in forest management areas, meaning biomass projects cannot scale effectively without First Nations approval.
Expander Energy has secured the land prior to the completion of Front-End Engineering Design (FEED). This strategic timing ensures that the project design can be co-developed with the McLeod Lake Indian Band, rather than attempting to retrofit the project to meet community needs later.
“The MacLeod Lake Indian Band is committed to environmentally responsible development of natural resources within our traditional land that are consistent with the values of the Tse’khene people and provide significant economic opportunities in the region for decades to come,” said a First Nations representative.
The collaboration aims to balance industrial biofuel production with the environmental stewardship values of the local Indigenous community.
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