Husky Energy Inc. is contributing $8 million to the University of Calgary for further asphalt research.
The financial and corporate support will go to the U of C’s Chair in Bituminous Materials over the next five years.
Husky Energy will set up an endowment fund of $3 million for research by the Chair. The company will provide other continuing support at a cost of $5 million.
Husky supported the position from 1995 to 2004 to the tune of $8 million; an additional $3.8 million in matching grants was contributed by NSERC (the federal Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council).
“Our commitment celebrates the 100th anniversary of our province in 2005,” said John Lau, president and CEO of Husky.
The Chair is a focal point for research, product development and materials-testing for the asphalt industry in Canada.
Its research uses discarded tires. It has shown that when asphalt is mixed with rubber tire-crumb additives, it lasts longer and requires less repair.
Husky noted the Alberta government will spend more than $2 billion over the next three years on highway construction, rehabilitation and maintenance.
Husky’s support for the Chair has helped it obtain three new patents, and other patent applications are pending approval.
