Shell Canada limited partnership with Enerkem to develop innovative clean technologies

Shell Canada is involved in the proposed construction of the Varennes Carbon Recycling (VCR) biofuel plant in Varennes, Quebec. The group of strategic partners, formed on Dec. 8, 2020, includes Enerkem Inc., Shell Canada, Suncor Energy Inc. and Proman Canada Inc. and is supported by the Quebec and Canadian governments. 

Hydro-Québec will supply green hydrogen and oxygen produced through electrolysis, which will transform Quebec’s excess hydroelectricity capacity into value-added biofuels and renewable chemicals. The transaction is valued at $875 million.

VCR will be one of the world’s largest renewable hydrogen and oxygen production facilities with an 87-megawatt electrolyzer leveraging Quebec’s green electricity. The plant will produce one of the lowest carbon-intensive fuels by diverting non-recyclable waste and wood waste materials from landfills and through access to green electricity and green hydrogen and oxygen supplied by Hydro-Québec.

McCarthy Tétrault LLP is advising Shell Canada including by providing strategic assistance regarding governance, environmental, IP, competition and many other Quebec-specific matters with a team of partners including
Suzanne Murphy (Toronto),
Louis-Nicolas Boulanger (Montreal),
Dominic Thérien (Montreal),
Vincent Yip (Vancouver),
Cindy Vaillancourt (Toronto),
Anastassia Chtaneva (Montreal),
Marie-Pier Gosselin (Quebec City).

Stikeman Elliott LLP was opposing counsel with a team including
Vanessa Coiteux,
Ramandeep Grewal,
Amy Chao,
Jordan Altman,Nicolas Karsenti (corporate),
Maxime Jacquin,
Aaron Fransen,
Léola Muntu-Caron (finance),
Angela Kussey,
Grace Walker,
Beatrice Lorusso,
Nicoletta Devito (paralegals).

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP represented Suncor, with a team led by
Chris Harris,
and which included
Peter Keohane,
Evan Herbert (corporate).