Bison Low Carbon Ventures Inc., in which Marubeni Corporation holds an equity stake, has commenced first phase operations under the Meadowbrook Carbon Storage Hub Project in the province of Alberta, Canada. The operations began on December 10, 2025, marking the first case of a Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project involving a Japanese company in which CO2 is collected from a third-party company, incurring injection fees for underground storage.

Project Operations and Milestone Achievement

The first phase operations involve capturing CO2 at Deep Sky Alpha, a Direct Air Capture (DAC) plant in Alberta operated by Deep Sky, and transporting it to the Bison injection well and facility for underground storage. This achievement marks the first among the 25 Alberta CCS Hub tenures to achieve full regulatory approval and commence CO2 injection operations.

Deep Sky Alpha represents the first DAC project with underground storage in North America. The operations are considered a key milestone in demonstrating the practical feasibility of CO2 injection. They are expected to enable Bison to offer proven storage options to CO2 emitters and to support decision-making on investment in related decarbonization projects.

Alberta's CCS Development Framework

Alberta benefits from abundant oil and natural gas resources and a strong industrial cluster, but it consequently struggles with CO2 emissions. The province is drawing attention as one of the world's leading CCS jurisdictions, owing to advantages including suitable geology and a well-developed regulatory framework.

In 2022, a bid process was held for exploration permits covering 25 tenures to assess their suitability as CCS hubs. Bison acquired two of these tenures, with one serving as the location for the current project. The successful commencement of operations demonstrates the viability of the regulatory framework and geological conditions in the region.

Global CCS Market Projections and Technology Importance

On the path to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, CCS is considered an essential decarbonization technology for industries where reducing CO2 emissions is challenging under current operational processes. According to the Stated Policies Scenario in the World Energy Outlook 2025 published by the International Energy Agency, the volume of CO2 captured globally is projected to increase significantly from 43 million tons in 2024 to 160 million tons in 2035 and 300 million tons in 2050.

The technology involves capturing CO2 and storing it underground or using other storage methods. Direct Air Capture technology specifically captures CO2 directly from the atmosphere, representing an important component of the overall CCS approach.

Future Commercial Expansion Plans

Through current operations, Marubeni and Bison will accelerate discussions with CO2 emitters to achieve commercial-scale operation of the project. The companies are targeting operating a business capable of storing 3 million tons of CO2 per year from multiple emission sources.

The expansion plans focus on nearby industries, such as Alberta's Industrial Heartland, to help achieve carbon neutrality in hard-to-abate industrial sectors. This commercial-scale development represents a significant scaling up from the current first-phase operations.

Company Background and Previous Developments

Bison Low Carbon Ventures Inc. is located in Alberta, Canada, and was incorporated in 2020. The company's main business focuses on developing Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects. Marubeni's involvement with Bison was previously announced on July 13, 2023, when Marubeni entered into a share subscription agreement with Bison Low Carbon Ventures Inc. This earlier agreement established the foundation for Marubeni's equity stake in the company and its participation in the current CCS project operations.

The commencement of first-phase operations represents the culmination of development efforts that began with the 2022 tenure acquisition process and continued through the regulatory approval process. The project's success in achieving full regulatory approval and beginning CO2 injection operations establishes a precedent for future CCS development in the region.

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