Canada's Imperial Oil Ltd aims to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity from its oil sands operations by 30% by the end of 2030, compared with 2016 levels, the company said on Wednesday.

It plans to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions intensity through implementation of newer technologies at its Cold Lake operation in Alberta, efficiency improvements at its facilities and the use of carbon capture and storage. 

The Calgary-based energy company also reaffirmed its goal to achieve net zero Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions in its oil sands operations by 2050.

Scope 1 refers to emissions from a company's direct operations such as a diesel generator on an offshore platform, while Scope 2 are emissions from the power a company uses, such as gas-powered electricity purchased.

Imperial, which is majority-owned by Exxon Mobil, is part of Canadian oil sands producers alliance formed last year to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from their operations by 2050, as the cash-rich firms come under pressure to meet the country's goal on energy transition.

Exxon on Tuesday also pledged to cut to zero its net carbon emissions from its global operations by 2050, a step in the direction of rivals minimizing their carbon footprints

(Reporting by Arunima Kumar in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber) ((Arunima.Kumar@thomsonreuters.com; Twitter: https://twitter.com/Aru_Kumar94 ;))