Since 2012, Quebec’s top 100 polluters have emitted the highest levels of greenhouse gases, according to an analysis by our Bureau of Inquiry.
• Also read: Here are Quebec’s top 20 worst polluters
• Also read: The “worst-case scenario” is emerging for the McInnis cement plant, which pollutes more than ever
In 2021, the top 100 polluters released around 21.3 megatons (Mt), the highest peak in the last decade, according to the Environment Department.
The main polluters are mainly operations such as cement factories, aluminum smelters and refineries.
In 2012, the first year for which these figures are available, the top 100 emitted about 21.1 Mt. After that, emissions decreased to 19.8 Mt in 2016. Between 2016 and 2021 the increase is 7.5%, while the province should do the opposite to reduce its greenhouse gases in order to achieve its goal.
The closure of several factories due to the pandemic explains a temporary drop in emissions (19.9 Mt) in 2020.
influence important
According to our analysis, more than half of the top 100 polluters (57) have increased their emissions since 2012. This is almost the same number if we compare 2019 with 2021 (58).
The impact of the top 100 polluters is not negligible, accounting for approximately 85% of all industrial greenhouse gases and a quarter of all of Quebec’s greenhouse gas emissions.
The CAQ government promises a 54% reduction in greenhouse gases compared to the 1990 threshold (all sectors combined). So far, however, the reduction is only 2.6%.
Funded by Quebec
Several factories in the top 100 have received significant amounts from the Green Fund, now called the Electrification and Climate Change Fund.
The McInnis cement plant alone emits 1.4 Mt and now sits comfortably at the top of the top polluters for 2020. The plant will continue to increase its emissions through 2027 when it is operating at full capacity.
The Port-Daniel plant in Gaspésie, now operated by Ciment St-Marys, owned by Brazilian giant Votorantim, received $25,000 from the electrification fund in 2020-2021. The grant funded 30% of the cost of designing and installing 10 electric car charging stations at the plant.
“The remaining 70% of the project was funded by the factory,” said company spokesman Christopher Mason.
The application for funding was submitted by the former administration. However, former CEO Christian Gagnon assured in 2016 that the cement plant would not dive into this fund. The Port-Daniel plant then multiplied green pledges to encourage social acceptance of the polluting project.
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Among the top 10 we also find Aluminerie Alouette, the third largest emitter, which emits almost 8% more greenhouse gases than in 2012. This result is explained in particular by an increase in production, but also by a more precise analysis and calculation method of greenhouse gases, says Julie Salesse, Environmental director at Alouette.
Since 2020, the Sept-Îles plant has received $15.7 million from the fund through the ÉcoPerformance (Québec Energy Transition) program to convert its anode furnaces to liquefied natural gas, reducing its emissions by 18,000 tons of greenhouse gases per year should . The total value of the project is over $23 million, says Marie-Claude Guimond, the smelter’s communications director. The GHG reductions are to appear partially in the balance sheet from 2022 and in full from 2023.
Previously, the Company’s cooking furnaces were oil fueled and natural gas was not present in North Shore industries. “This makes Alouette a pioneer and opens the door to different possibilities,” explains Ms. Guimond.
The company has committed to be carbon neutral by 2050.
Among the other major polluters we find Ciment Québec at number 10 in Saint-Basile in the Portneuf region. It has increased its greenhouse gas emissions by almost 34% compared to 2012.
In April, the cement plant received $22.5 million from the fund for a new, less polluting grinding shop. It is scheduled to start operations in early 2024 and promises to reduce 66,200 tons of greenhouse gases per year. Ciment Québec did not respond to our interview request.
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