The target set out by the provincial government for oil and emissions reduction has continued to be met and sometimes exceeded here in Saskatchewan. 

In 2022, provincial emissions from venting and flaring at upstream oil facilities decreased to 3.9 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2e) - a reduction of 64 per cent below 2015 levels (or 7.0 Mt CO2e).  

Energy and Resources Minister Jim Reiter explains the province has been trending in the right direction the past three years.

"The 45 percent target (for greenhouse gas emissions decline) is the intention they needed to meet. This is the third continuous year to meet the 45 percent target. In fact, this past year, they are a 64 percent reduction now compared to 2015 levels."

This reduction of course could not have been done without the industry taking appropriate action, spending significant investment dollars, not only meeting the targets but exceeding them, Reiter added.

Declines in emissions are also due to the repurposing of produced gas to generate energy, which in some cases was used to power equipment that a company may use on site. More vented and flared gas was also collected in 2022, due to additional infrastructure projects coming online that expanded gas collection infrastructure in Saskatchewan. 

Emissions from venting and flaring activities also dropped from 13 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively, from 2021 levels. 

The Oil and Gas Emissions Management Regulations came into effect in 2019, with regulated limits in effect for 2020, to reduce GHG emissions from the upstream oil and gas sector by 40 to 45 per cent by 2025 from 2015 levels.