EnCana, SDTC support diesel emission control tech

Burnaby, British Columbia-based NxtGen Emission Controls is getting support for its diesel emissions reduction technology from Calgary, Alberta's EnCana (NYSE: ECA) and Sustainable Development Technology Canada.

EnCana, a natural gas producer, and Sustainable Development Technology Canada, or SDTC, a government-funded foundation, said they would commit Cdn$5.5 million in financing to NxtGen for a demonstration project.

When retrofitted onto existing trucks, EnCana and SDTC said NxtGen's system is expected to reduce particulate emissions by 85 percent and nitrogen oxide emissions by 65 percent.

"NxtGen looks forward to working with EnCana and SDTC as we put our diesel emission control technology to the test in real world operations," said Jeremy Holt, president and CEO of NxtGen.

"The field trials will enable us to demonstrate the effectiveness and reliability of NxtGen's syngas emission reduction system for diesel trucks."

The project involves field trials of NxtGen's system on medium and heavy duty trucks, with the technology being retrofitted onto 12 trucks in three fleets across Canada.

The trials include three heavy duty trucks owned by Mullen Trucking, which EnCana said is one of its key transportation providers in Alberta.

EnCana and SDTC said the diesel emissions reduction system is being developed during a two-year, Cdn$12.4 million program.

SDTC is contributing Cdn$2.5 million through its SD Tech Fund, with EnCana putting up Cdn$2 million through its Environmental Innovation Fund.