Consul-General Tanabe's attendance at the JACOS Hangingstone Opening Ceremony
On September 13th, 2017, Consul General Kunihiko Tanabe attended the opening ceremony for the JACOS Hangingstone SAGD (Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage) expansion. This SAGD project is the largest investment made in Alberta by Japan Petroleum Exploration Company (JAPEX), JACOS’s parent company in its 40 years of engagement in the province. It is also the largest investment made globally by the company. Many officials from various levels of government, including Alberta’s Premier Rachel Notley, attended the ceremony.
Premier Notley stated, “Good jobs for Albertans, billions of dollars in new investment and a growing economy – that’s what this expansion project means. On behalf of Alberta, I want to thank JACOS for their work here and underscore that it’s never been more important for us to get new pipelines that the federal government has approved built, which will help diversify our markets and further strengthen our ties with Japan.”
She also spoke with Consul General Tanabe during the occasion and extended her appreciation for the excellent relationship enjoyed by Japan and Alberta.
Consul-General Tanabe spoke with Premier Rachel Notley and shook hands
Ribbon Cutting at the ceremony
Expanded oilsands facilities at Hangingstone
JACOS was the first Japanese-owned company to work and invest in the oilsands, starting in 1978. The SAGD operation uses heated water to melt bitumen underground so it can be piped to the surface.
This project is a joint venture between JACOS, which is owned by a consortium of Japanese companies, and Calgary-based Nexen.