Oil Sands Truth: Shut Down the Tar Sands

Climate Change / Emissions

Climate Change is caused by greenhouse gas emissions, in particular carbon. 40% of Canada’s emissions already come from Alberta alone, not counting the entire tar sands infrastructure across North America nor counting the projected increase in tar sands production or the infrastructure built across the continent to accommodate such increases in production. Factor it all in and you get the picture. You haven’t even burned the petrol yet.

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Suncor fined over $1-million [re: Firebag]

Suncor fined over $1-million
Apr. 02 2009
ctvcalgary.ca

Suncor and one of its contractors have been ordered to pay over $1 million in fines after pleading guilty to breaching environmental laws.

Suncor pleaded guilty to not having emissions controls at its Firebag oilsands facility.

The lack of pollution control equipment meant hydrogen sulphide and other compounds were released into the air.

For this violation, Suncor Energy Inc. has been fined $675,000.

Suncor is also in trouble for allowing sewage to be dumped into the Athabasca River.

Petro-Canada Cuts 200 Jobs, blames Fort Hills

Petro-Canada Cuts 200 Jobs From Oil-Sands Unit On Proj Delay
* APRIL 15, 2009

OTTAWA (Dow Jones)--Petro-Canada (PCZ) is cutting some 200 jobs in its oil-sands unit as its Fort Hills project remains stalled amid weakened oil prices and the stuttering economy.

The layoffs, which will affect nearly a third of the department's employees, are "absolutely not at all connected" to the merger with Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) announced last month, said Petro-Canada spokeswoman Kelli Stevens.

United Steelworkers join with Sierra Club, challenge Keystone Pipeline

United Steelworkers Challenges TransCanada Keystone Pipeline Permit for Safety

PITTSBURGH, PA UNITED STATES

Joins Sierra Club filing on leak risk of under-standard thin-wall pipe

PITTSBURGH, April 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United Steelworkers (USW) announced it has challenged the pending federal permit in the controversial $5.4 billion TransCanada Keystone Pipeline that's using under-standard thin-wall pipe for transport of crude oil from Alberta, Canada to Houston, Tex.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080131/DC12982LOGO)

Carbon capture and storage 'being oversold as a panacea'

The Hill Times, April 13, 2009
Carbon capture and storage 'being oversold as a panacea'
But critics and experts say there are geological risks, it's a waste of taxpayers' money and the 'economics are deadly.'

By Bea Vongdouangchanh

China buys more of tar sands; Now owns 50% of proposed mine

China buys more of oil sands; Now owns 50% of proposed mine
By Claudia Cattaneo, Financial Post
April 2, 2009

The purchase of an additional 10% interest in the proposed Northern Lights oil sands project Wednesday by China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (Sinopec) points to a renewal of interest by the Chinese in Canada's oil, said a University of Alberta expert.

Former tar sands exec named head of climate working group

Former oilsands exec named head of climate working group

By Glen McGregor , The Ottawa Citizen
April 7, 2009

OTTAWA — The Harper government has named a former oil and gas industry executive who led a company active in the Alberta oilsands as a representative on a U.S.-Canada working group on clean energy.

Charlie Fischer, who until recently served as president and chief executive officer of Calgary-based Nexen Inc., will head up one of three working groups with American counterparts as part of the Clean Energy Dialogue, Environment Minister Jim Prentice has confirmed.

Total: May Delay Joslyn Mine Project Decision To Cut Costs

Total: May Delay Joslyn Oil Sands Proj Decision To Cut Costs
* APRIL 6, 2009, 1:17 P.M. ET

OTTAWA (Dow Jones)--Total SA (TOT) may delay its investment decision for the proposed C$9 billion Joslyn oil sands mine in northern Alberta by a few months as it looks to cut project costs, the company said Monday.

The French oil major holds a 74% interest in the oft-stalled development and had previously intended to make a go-ahead decision in early 2010.

Energy giants lose interest in Alberta carbon capture fund

Energy giants lose interest in Alberta carbon capture fund
Last Updated: Thursday, April 2, 2009
The Canadian Press

Some of the biggest players in Alberta's oilsands have dropped out of the running to be part of the province's $2 billion carbon capture and storage fund.

Nine companies, including Suncor Energy, Syncrude Canada Ltd., and ConocoPhillips Canada, are no longer interested in sending the province proposals for carbon capture and storage projects. A total of 20 companies were chosen by the province in November to apply for the fund.

Province hires Washington lobbyists

Province hires Washington lobbyists
Updated: Sat Apr. 04 2009
ctvcalgary.ca

The province has hired Washington lobbyists to pitch the oil patch to Alberta's biggest customer.

"There is so much at stake for Alberta and we will be applying the full-court press. Not only on elected officials but also on the U.S. administration," says Premier Ed Stelmach.

The move comes as the American government is under increasing pressure to invest in and purchase green energy.

Stelmach says many don't realize how clean Alberta's oil sands are and that's why he's enlisting the help of lobbyists.

Nexen, Opti Canada May Be Targeted in Tar-Sands Deals

Nexen, Opti Canada May Be Targeted in Oil-Sands Deals
By Joe Carroll

April 3 (Bloomberg) -- Nexen Inc. and Opti Canada Inc. may be among Canadian oil companies targeted for takeovers as a price collapse triggers a rush by larger producers to amass holdings in the biggest crude deposits outside Saudi Arabia.