PREMIER, MINISTER MEET WITH U.S. VICE-PRESIDENT

Premier Lorne Calvert and Industry and Resources Minister Eric Cline today met with U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney in Washington D.C. as part of a seven-day economic mission to the United States.

The Premier used the meeting to highlight the important role Saskatchewan plays as a secure and reliable energy supplier to the United States.

"By raising awareness of Saskatchewan's vibrant uranium and crude oil industries among top American officials we're confident of attracting further U.S. investment in those important sectors," Calvert said. "The meeting with Vice President Cheney also provided an opportunity to promote Saskatchewan's clean coal, carbon dioxide capture and storage, renewable, and enhanced oil recovery technologies."

Calvert also highlighted the potential of Saskatchewan's estimated 19 billion barrel resources of heavy oil and welcomed U.S. investment in new technologies that would stimulate the recovery of this resource.

In a separate meeting, Calvert and Cline also met today with U.S. Department of Energy officials, during which the Premier reiterated the importance of continuing Canada-U.S. collaboration on energy research and development initiatives.

"The new U.S. Energy Policy Act and President Bush's recent State of the Union address both present exciting new possibilities for U.S.-Saskatchewan co-operation and collaboration across the energy spectrum," Cline said.

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