Kruger Inc. announced today a $23.75 million investment in a demonstration project to advance carbon capture and reuse at its Wayagamack Mill in Trois-Rivières, Québec.
Backed by the Canadian and Québec governments, the project aims to test a carbon capture technology developed by Mantel Capture Inc. (Mantel), marking its first use in an industrial setting.
The governments of Canada and Québec contributed $17.65 million to the project, with $8.15 million from Natural Resources Canada’s Investments in Forest Industry Transformation Program (IFIT) and $9.5 million from the Technoclimat Program.
“Through our Investment in Forest Industry Transformation programme, we are continuing to support Québec’s forest sector to implement innovative technologies that increase efficiency and capacity, lower emissions and create good, sustainable jobs,” stated Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.
Founded by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) engineers and scientists, Kruger’s partnership with North American start-up Mantel brings an investment of $6.1 million to test their technology.
This system uses molten borate salt to absorb carbon dioxide at temperatures up to 600°C, allowing direct integration into a steam boiler. It is designed to be both cost-effective and energy-efficient, capturing carbon while producing clean steam that can be reintegrated into the papermaking process. Kruger expects to capture up to five tonnes of high-purity CO2 daily through this system.
According to the World Resources Institute, the pulp and paper industry accounts for around 2% of global industrial emissions, producing approximately 190 million tonnes of CO2 annually.
In Canada, the pulp and paper industry emitted approximately 7.6 megatonnes of greenhouse gases in 2021, accounting for about 1% of the nation’s total emissions.
The project aligns with Canada’s climate goals by supporting sustainable industrial practices. François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, said, “By investing in the Kruger Wayagamack facility in Trois-Rivières, we are ensuring that local communities continue to reap the benefits of the sustainable use of Canada’s forest resources.”
The test phase is scheduled to commence in fall 2025, following initial preparatory work this month. Should the project succeed, Kruger aims to expand the technology across its operations, with an ambition to make the plant carbon neutral.
Jean Boulet, Québec’s Minister of Labour, commented on the project’s potential, “This project is in line with our government’s vision to support innovation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency for a more prosperous Québec.”
Justin Paillé, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing at Kruger Pulp and Paper, added, “We are thrilled to be at the forefront of testing this promising new technology, which has the potential to help us, as well as the entire manufacturing sector, achieve our goal of decarbonising our operations.”
Canada is accelerating its carbon capture efforts, investing billions in projects across sectors to reduce emissions. Projects include the Alberta Carbon Trunk Line, capturing up to 1.6 million tonnes of CO2 annually, and the Boundary Dam project, one of the world’s first large-scale carbon capture coal facilities.
Supported by federal programs like the Net-Zero Accelerator and tax incentives, Canada aims to scale capture capacity and lower costs through innovations in storage and reuse.
Policies target Net Zero emissions by 2050, with recent funding commitments totalling over $319 million for regional direct air capture hubs and industrial sector projects.
