North West also received its license under the Water Act of Alberta to divert water for process uses. These approvals, together with the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board Approval No. 10994 granted in September 2007, and municipal approvals granted by Sturgeon County, largely complete the regulatory requirements enabling the project to proceed to full implementation.

"Further to the comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment reviewed by Alberta Environment and the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board, these approvals confirm that the technology and plans being implemented by North West respect the Government of Alberta's intent to sustainably support the environment, and social and economic development within Alberta's heartland region," said Robert Pearce, President of North West Upgrading.

"We are very pleased to have achieved this important milestone, and we look forward to funding and completing the Project and adding significant value to Alberta's tremendous oil sands resource."

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 products such as Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel and diluent. An important element of the Project is its use of gasification to make hydrogen from the heaviest components of the bitumen, and its "carbon capture ready" design. A commercial arrangement to sell carbon dioxide for utilization in Enhanced Oil Recovery, thereby effectively sequestering the majority of its greenhouse gas emissions, has been concluded. The Upgrader will have a total processing capacity of 231,000 barrels per day of blended feedstock over three phases. Site preparation has started and all three phases are expected to be operating by 2016.