Researcher Ben Anthony: Oilsands Gasification Will Help Unleash Energy Riches

Ben Anthony is a connoisseur of Canadian coals, intimately familiar with their individual characteristics. “Every coal is unique. After a quarter century of research, I’ve become quite fond of them,” the federal researcher acknowledges with a smile. He expresses less affection for coke and asphaltenes, the black gunk left over after bitumen is upgraded, but the stuff is abundant and cheaper than dirt. According to the British-educated chemist, Canada is on the brink of transforming its lower-grade hydrocarbons into useful energy on a very large scale thanks to projects now under way in Alberta’s oilsands.

obmagazine