원유와 가스 대기업인 BP사가 기술투자 파트인 BP Ventures를 통해 캐나다 수처리 회사 Saltworks Technologies의 지분을 갖게 됐다.

밴쿠버 기반의 Saltworks사는 보통 셰일가스, 오일샌드, 광산 등에서의 ‘수자원 도전과제’에 중점을 둔 회사로, 이온 교환 멤브레인 등의 제품을 보유하고 있다.

“Saltworks는 세계에서 가장 수요가 많으며 매우 오염된 염수 자원으로부터 담수를 필요로 하는 애플리케이션을 위한 비용 효과적이고 튼튼한 담수화 시스템을 개발했다”고 회사는 설명했다.

 

 

 

Oil and gas giant, BP, has taken a stake in Canadian water treatment company, Saltworks Technologies, through its technology investment arm BP Ventures.

 

Vancouver-based Saltworks focuses on "challenging water sources" typically found in shale gas, oil sands, and mining. Its product include ion exchange membranes. "Saltworks has developed cost-effective and robust desalination systems for the world's most demanding applications which require freshwater from highly impaired saline water sources," the company claims.

 

BP's investment in Saltworks follows similar moves by other companies, including Cenovus Energy, ConocoPhillips, and Teck Resources. The investment also comes after "successful test projects" between BP and Saltworks.

 

Saltworks' chief executive officer, Benjamin Sparrow, said: "BP's investment will immediately go to work as we construct our new manufacturing facility and further grow our field operations team. After successful product uptake in Australia, California,Texas, and Pennsylvania, we are extremely pleased to welcome BP to our shareholder base. BP's investment will increase our scale and our reach."

 

According to BP Ventures its focus is on emerging, strategic technologies for oil and gas exploration and production, and downstream technologies including fuels and chemicals, biotech and bioenergy. It has 30 investments with committed capital of over US$200 million the company said.

 

[출처 = Desalination & Water Reuse / 2014년 12월 16일]