For years, the notion of rapidly expanding Alberta’s Industrial Heartland sat on the backburner. A combination of high oil prices, high costs for labor and soaring demand for natural gas liquids in Asian markets created unfavorable conditions for the construction of so-called “value-add” facilities on domestic turf. As an example, Imperial Oil’s refinery in the Strathcona region (pictured), which produces a wide range of products, was built over 40 years ago. But with prices for feedstock expected to remain low for the foreseeable future, there is a heightened incentive to create more finished products north of Edmonton.

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