‘Limitless’: City of Moose Jaw and MAX Power Mining Corp. sign hydrogen-focused MOU

Moose Jaw and Max Power Mining Corp. sign MOU to explore opportunities for natural hydrogen development in southern Saskatchewan. Damian Smith reports.

The City of Moose Jaw has signed a memorandum of understanding with MAX Power Mining Corp to identify strategic opportunities related to natural hydrogen.

The MOU focuses on economic growth and business development, funding opportunities, research and educational and advocacy opportunities.

The site, ‘Lawson,’ is located just outside of Central Butte, and is expected to employ around 80 people, with plans to drill in three seperate wells.

“I’m going to be on the record for this, this is all about building economic development opportunities, and I see this as being limitless. The possibilities are very, very great here,” said Moose Jaw Mayor James Murdock, who hails from Central Butte.

“The sign we look for is economic development, especially the regional and rural economic development is very important for MAX Power, to our team and also our board of directors,” said CEO, Ran Narayanasamy.

“We are putting the money we are raising from foreign direct investments and from Bay Street, into the province of Saskatchewan, creating jobs.”

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According to MAX Power, this is Canada’s first dedicated natural hydrogen well. They officially started drilling for the first time in November.

“Hydrogen is not new, it’s been around the industry for many decades,” said Narayanasamy.

“All the hydrogen the industry is using is manufactured, so you’re using energy to produce energy. Here is a naturally occurring geological hydrogen, so basically there’s no input cost for energy to produce energy.”

Murdock says this project will help not only Moose Jaw, but large parts of southern Saskatchewan

“The demand for electricity and power is only growing,” he said.

“So, any form of a natural, pure energy that’s clean, is really going to, I think, set our community ahead,”

MAX Power says it’s hired companies to analyze reservoir modelling and infrastructure, and are talking to the federal government for funding assistance.