North West and a neighboring industrial landowner collaborated to exchange land to meet the needs of both companies, while continuing to pursue their independent projects. This land acquisition provides North West direct access to the North Saskatchewan River, allowing for strategic interconnection with pipelines and facilities in Strathcona County.

Civil site preparation has been done on the original 675 acre project area, with the balance of land allowing for growth opportunities. North West Upgrading's total land position is now approximately 1,200 acres at the centre of Alberta's Industrial Heartland area, a focal point for value-added industry in the province.

North West Upgrading Inc. is a Calgary-based, privately owned company building an independent, heavy oil upgrader in Alberta's Industrial Heartland. The Upgrader will significantly increase the economic value of Alberta's bitumen and heavy oil production by producing light, low sulfur product, 85% of which is Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel and diluent. North West's process eliminates production of coke, uses gasification to make hydrogen from the heaviest components of bitumen and enables the capture of pure carbon dioxide. A commercial arrangement to sell carbon dioxide for Enhanced Oil Recovery makes North West the only upgrader designed with an integrated CO2 management solution. The North West Upgrader will have a total processing capacity of 231,000 barrels per day of blended feedstock over three phases. Site preparation is complete and the first phase of operations is expected to commence in 2012.