GE Canada announced a second phase of investment to develop technology that addresses environmental performance in the Alberta oil sands. GE will partner with Canada's Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA) member companies to undertake joint technology projects focused on greenhouse gas emissions and reduced water consumption.

The work will take place in the company's Calgary based Global Heavy Oil Centre of Excellence located in GE's Customer Innovation Centre, which opened in June 2012.

Speaking at a GE Heavy Oil Summit in Calgary, Steve Bolze, President and CEO, GE Power and Water, announced that GE will be hiring up to 15 process and solution engineers at the Centre to support the joint technology projects and other initiatives aimed at improving environmental performance.

As an example, Bolze cited GE's water evaporator technology that enables oil sands producers to recycle up to 98% of their produced water.

"Technology is vital to unlocking the resources we need to provide affordable, accessible, sustainable energy to everyone in the world,' said Bolze.

"Technology development is best accomplished locally and collaboratively, which is why we think it's critical to bring our expertise right here to Calgary to work side-by-side with our customers."

"Developing Alberta's oil sands is critical to Canada's economic growth," notes GE Canada's President and CEO, Elyse Allan.

"With a record number of projects moving forward and increased pressure for oversight, the application of technology is imperative to generating positive outcomes for industry and the environment. GE's collaboration with COSIA provides an important opportunity to apply and commercialize clean technology for the oil sands."

"Partnering with GE provides our members with access to global expertise and technology that will accelerate the pace of environmental performance in Canada's oil sands," notes Dan Wicklum, COSIA's Chief Executive.

"We are delighted to be working with GE as part of our Associate Member Program to further define and meet these environmental performance opportunities."

Further details of GE and COSIA's joint technology projects will be released over the next few months as initiatives are finalized.