SaskEnergy is preparing to conduct a controlled natural gas flaring at its existing valve site, just 1.0 km west the Hamlet of Guernsey, in the RM of Usborne, north of the Nutrien Lanigan Mine. 

The flaring will take place between 6:00 am to 10:00 am on Tuesday, November 28, and 6:00 am to 8:00 am on Wednesday, November 29. 

SaskEnergy says residents and drivers in the area may see a 40-foot flame being emitted from the flare stack temporarily attached to SaskEnergy’s infrastructure. 

“The flaring is necessary to perform maintenance work on the natural gas line system in the area and supports the safe and reliable delivery of natural gas to SaskEnergy’s customers. During this process, a portion of the gas line will be isolated from the system and natural gas will be removed from the line in a controlled burn called a flare. Flaring is an industry standard practice when natural gas needs to be removed from a line and reduces the carbon footprint of the vented natural gas by 85 per cent,” stated SaskEnergy in the release. 

SaskEnergy says the area around the flares will be supervised to ensure public safety. Residential natural gas services in the area will not be affected. 

SaskEnergy has notified the RM of Usborne and the local fire department about the flaring.