Alberta Petrochemicals Incentive Program (APIP)
Compared with the 242 other application forms we have read
- Winning means you must produce audited accounts. 13 ask that.
- Scored mainly on what it puts back into the local economy. 19 lead with that.
- What does not disqualify you: No advisor conversation needed. 119 record an exemption like this.
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Provides a 12% grant on eligible capital costs for new facilities and brownfield expansions in Alberta that process natural gas, natural gas liquids, or petrochemical intermediates into petrochemicals, hydrogen, fertilizers or fuels. Designed for large industrial projects; minimum $50M capital investment required. The smaller-project tier ($50M-$150M capex) closed in November 2025; the larger-project tier (>$150M capex) accepts applications until November 1, 2030, and those projects must also be In-Service by that date.
Eligibility Requirements
- Project must be physically located in Alberta
- Minimum capital investment above CAD $150M for new applications — the $50M–$150M tier closed in November 2025
- Facility must process natural gas, natural gas liquids (ethane, propane, butane), or petrochemical intermediates (ethylene, propylene, benzene) into petrochemical intermediates, petrochemical products, hydrogen, fertilizers or fuels
- Eligible project types: new manufacturing facilities, brownfield expansions, and existing facility expansions
- Standalone hydrogen projects and projects producing fuels from natural gas or NGLs must capture the CO2 by-product generated from the production process
- Must create permanent Alberta jobs
- Must submit an Advance Notification (Stage 1) before full application (Stage 2)
- Facility must reach operational status to receive grant payment; projects over $150M must be In-Service on or before November 1, 2030
- A project may receive Alberta Energy funding from either the Petrochemicals Development Program (PDP) or APIP, not both
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- 12% of the estimated total eligible capital cost, capped at that amount (minimum $50M capital investment required)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Deadline
- November 1, 2030 (larger projects >$150M capex only; $50M-$150M tier closed November 2025)
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Very difficult — extensive requirements
Moderate competition — prepare a strong application
Very complex — extensive preparation required
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipThe smaller-project tier ($50M-$150M capex) officially closed in November 2025.
Rejection Pitfalls 9
- Capital investment below $50M (and below $150M for new applications after November 2025)
Success Profile
Evaluation Criteria
How the Government of Alberta judges your application
What the reviewer scores, what gets applications rejected, and what to write.
Distilled from 6+ source documents, condensed into one brief. Sources as of 2026-09-10.
6 of the sources
- Alberta Petrochemicals Incentive Program alberta.ca
- The Alberta Petrochemicals Incentive Program: Program Guidelines… open.alberta.ca
- The Alberta Petrochemicals Incentive Program: Reporting Guidelines open.alberta.ca
- APIP Online Portal - Registration Guide alberta.ca
- APIP Program Guideline Document open.alberta.ca
- APIP Program Guideline Document open.alberta.ca
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What the Government of Alberta favours
Grows existing value chains or advances along Alberta's value chain◦
“Describe how the proposed project grows existing value chains or advances further along the value chain within Alberta.”
The form
Registration
- 1APIP account registration in the Electronic Transfer System (ETS)selection
Advance Notification
- 2Project Proponent Information (Step 1: Advance Notification)list
- 3Project Summary (Step 1: Advance Notification)list
- 4Eligible Capital Costs (Step 1: Advance Notification)table
Qualification
- 5Project and Proponent Information (Step 2: Qualification)list
- 6Part 1 – Business Planwritten answer
Provide an overall description of the project and business plan, including feedstock type and sourcing, technology choice and engineering design, products produced, marketing strategy, competitive advantage, financing, and infrastructure requirements, amongst other components discussed below.
- 7Part 1 – Business Plan: economic viability model and other fundingspreadsheet
- 8Part 2 – Project Timingwritten answer
Provide the project execution plan, describing how the project will be carried out.
- 9Part 3 – Technology and Project Configurationwritten answer
- 10Part 4 – Proponent's Capabilitywritten answer
- 11Part 5 – Economic Benefits to Albertawritten answer
- 12Part 6 – Environmental Performancewritten answer
- 13Capital Cost Information (Step 2: Qualification)table
Consent and agreement
- 14Written consent to share tax informationcheckbox
- 15Grant Agreement signature and EFT Direct Depositshort answer
Construction reporting
- 16Status Update Report – Project Details Sectionlist
- 17Status Update Report – Material Changes Sectionyes/no + written
- 18Status Update Report – Financial Sectionspreadsheet
- 19Status Update Report – Project Impacts / Supporting Informationspreadsheet
- 20Undepreciated Capital Cost (UCC) Information Reportlist
In-service and payment
- 21In-Service declaration and bank details (Step 3: Payment)short answer
- 22Post In-Service Reportlist
- 23Earned Grant Applicationlist
the Government of Alberta states no length limits for these answers.
Judged against
- 1
Is the project viable and well planned?
Show them Give the business plan, the discounted cash flow model with 8%, 10% and 12% returns, and a dated execution plan for the six Appendix 2 parts.◦
In the funder’s words · 2
- Business Plan
- Project Timing
- 2
Is the technology proven and can this proponent deliver?
What to show, and the funder’s 3 criteria behind it in Premium
- 3
What does Alberta gain from this project?
What to show, and the funder’s 2 criteria behind it in Premium
- 4
Does the project meet every program criterion?
What to show, and the funder’s 3 criteria behind it in Premium
Where applicants fail
“An Advance Notification approval issued by the Department does not represent a guarantee of funding.”
“Proponents will be held to the original information provided at this step and changes to the project may disqualify the project under the program if these changes breach any of the conditions of the grant agreement.”
Premium · the rest of this brief
See all 22 rules that can reject you and every criterion you are judged on. Then we draft your application for you.
19 more rules that can reject you · 8 more criteria · 21 more prompts
Do you pass?
Each one can rule you out. Tick the ones you meet.
Your business
Only APIP or PDP, not both
Projects can only receive funding from the Department from either PDP or APIP
The project
Located in Alberta
The proposed petrochemical project must be physically located within Alberta.
Processes qualifying feedstock
The petrochemical project must process natural gas, natural gas liquids (ethane, propane, butane etc.), or petrochemical intermediates into different petrochemical intermediates, petrochemicals products, hydrogen, fertilizers or fuels.
1 thing this funder says you do NOT need, in Premium.
Documents to attach
Ticks are kept on this device.
The money
Maximum grant12% of eligible capital cost
Grants are calculated based on 12 percent of the estimated total eligible capital cost of the project. Grants are capped at that amount.
Payment after operationsPaid after commercial operations start
Grants are paid after the project achieves commercial operations.
Payment by EFTWithin 30 business days by EFT
Payment will be issued within 30 business days by electronic funds transfer (EFT) to the Recipient's bank account.
StackingOne Department program: PDP or APIP
projects can only receive funding from the Department from either PDP or APIP
Costs before approvalFID before launch: apply by Feb 1, 2021
Projects with a Final Investment Decision before the launch of APIP, were required to apply under the program before February 1, 2021.
What it pays for · 3
- Costs eligible for reimbursement under APIP are related to manufacturing and processing capital expenditures.
- Costs of property described in clause (a)(i) of Class 29, of Schedule II of the Income Tax Regulations (Canada) as that clause read on November 1, 2020
- Costs of property described in clause 1100(1)(a.1) of the Income Tax Regulations (Canada) as that clause read on November 1, 2020
What it does not pay for · 2
- Not all capital costs associated with a project are eligible for reimbursement as part of the grant process.
- Parts or the entirety of petrochemical projects associated with the following activities are ineligible for participation or receipt of incentive in the program:
From application to money
- File Advance NotificationNovember 1, 2030File advance notification by November 1, 2030
- File Qualification applicationSubmit six-part application and cost information
- Sign grant agreement30 daysReturn signed copy within 30 days
- Report during constructionReport semi-annually during construction
- Declare In-ServiceDeclare In-Service Date in writing
- Claim earned grantEvery 12 monthsFile Earned Grant Application every 12 months
In the funder’s words · 6
- File Advance Notification
- Register in the Electronic Transfer System and file the proponent, project, cost-estimate and funding information for a high-level grant estimate.
- File Qualification application
- Submit the project and proponent information, the six-part application, the capital cost information and the written consent.
- Sign grant agreement
- Return a signed copy within thirty days of receiving it and complete the EFT Direct Deposit form.
- Report during construction
- File semi-annual Status Update Reports during construction and commissioning, and annual undepreciated capital cost information.
- Declare In-Service
- Declare the In-Service Date in writing with bank account details and confirm compliance with the grant agreement.
- Claim earned grant
- File an Earned Grant Application for each 12-month period of commercial operations, with metered feedstock and product evidence.
Quoted lines are word for word from the source documents; lines marked ◦ are our reading of them.
Everything you need to win APIP
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 9 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 7-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- Your Application Game Plan — the print-ready PDF the preview below describes
- 6-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 3-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 7
Eligible Expenses 5
Ineligible Expenses 7
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
- 5 more application steps
- 5 more required documents
- 5 eligible expenses
- 7 ineligible expenses
- Intake periods
- Deadline notes
- Ineligible organizations
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
High RiskHow APIP Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about APIP