Oil Sands Truth: Shut Down the Tar Sands

Energy

Energy and how it is captured and consumed is barely viable in tar sands production. While the amount of oil in places such as the tar sands in Alberta or the Orinoco Belt in Venezuela may have deposits of similar size to the reserves of countries such as Saudi Arabia or Iraq, the return of new energy after expending energy in production is not even close. In Iraq, the process of using one barrel of oil generates 100 new barrels. In the tar sands, estimates of 3 to 1 and even as low as 1.5 to 1 have been made. Offsetting the net energy loss would require minimally 25-30 tar sands facilities for one Saudi plant operating at the same capacity.

warning: Creating default object from empty value in /var/www/drupal-6.28/modules/taxonomy/taxonomy.pages.inc on line 33.

Stalled upgrader receives approval [Petro Can Fort Hills]

Stalled upgrader receives approval

By Dan Healing And Dina O'Meara, Calgary Herald
January 21, 2009

Provincial energy regulators have approved plans for an Edmonton-area upgrader associated with Petro-Canada's proposed $24-billion Fort Hills integrated oilsands project--even though the company has deferred the project indefinitely.

In a news release Tuesday, the Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board announced it had conditionally approved the plan by Petro-Canada Oil Sands Inc. to build and operate the upgrader in Sturgeon County north of Edmonton.

Suncor shelves expansion amid first loss in 16 years

Suncor shelves expansion amid first loss in 16 years
Falling prices, rising costs prompt cuts

By Dan Healing, Calgary HeraldJanuary 21, 2009

Suncor Energy Inc. is "downing tools" on the $20.6-billion Voyageur expansion underway at its northern Alberta oilsands operations as it reports its first quarterly loss in 16 years, blamed on falling commodity prices, production setbacks and higher costs.

Sault St Marie: Canadian politicians/stakeholders see benefits from U.S. lock project

Canadian politicians/stakeholders see benefits from U.S. lock project
Posted By BOB MIHELL
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Sault St Marie This Week

Politicians from Sault Canada, Essar Steel Algoma, and the vice-president of the Canadian Shipowners Association have reacted favourably to a proposed new super lock at Sault Michigan.

Youth protest against the tar sands in Fort Chipewyan

January 9, 2009
Youth protest against the tar sands in Fort Chipewyan

Youth from Fort Chipewyan marched through the streets to protest against the tar sands in -32 degree temperatures this afternoon.

The march was organized by 10 year old Robyn Courtoreille, who got other youth involved in the protest.

"Syncrude and Suncor have been poisioning our water, air, so we protested to let them know we want a future not cancer," said Dailen Powder, 12, after the protest.

"I was protesting because I dont want anymore deformed two jawed fish in our lake," said Cherish Kaskamin, 11.

Survival is Non-Negotiable!

Survival is Non-Negotiable!
January 19, 2009
Are climate talks the new World Trade Organization?
by Ben Powless

The Dominion - http://www.dominionpaper.ca

Economic downturn shuts down Trailbreaker reversal (tar sands in Montreal)

Economic downturn shuts down oil pipeline proposal

By Canwest News ServiceJanuary 18, 2009

Environmental activists are relieved by the indefinite shelving of an oil pipeline proposal that they say would make Ontario too dependent on "dirty oil" from Alberta and bring it to Quebec for the first time.

However, activists with Environmental Defence and ForestEthics are concerned the project put on hold by Calgary-based Enbridge could be resurrected in the future.

BA Energy first tar sands developer to file for bankruptcy protection

BA Energy first oil sands developer to file for protection
Financial Post
Wednesday, January 14, 2009

CALGARY -- BA Energy Inc., developer of the $4-billion Heartland
Upgrader near Edmonton, Wednesday became the first oil sands company to
file for bankruptcy protection, fearing its parent company's major
lender, Credit Suisse, will recall a US$507-million loan.

Columba Yeung, chief executive of parent company Value Creation Inc.,
said that company could default on its multi-million bank loan after BA
was unable to repay it a $50-million loan. BA's failure to make good on

Tar sands 'change everything' says Ignatieff

Oilsands 'change everything' says Ignatieff

By Tom Barrett January 15, 2009

The Alberta oilsands will allow Canada to stand up to the U.S. on everything from Arctic sovereignty to rewriting NAFTA, Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff said Wednesday.

Ignatieff told a town hall meeting in a Gastown pub that Canadians are just starting to understand "how powerful the oilsands make us."

He told an overflow audience crammed into the pub's tiny back room that he toured the project in August.

Canadian Natives Get U.S. Support

Alexandra Paul, Winnipeg Free Press

Canadian First Nations chiefs say aboriginal affairs advisers to U.S.
president-elect Barack Obama told them Thursday the new administration
will be in their corner in their push for aboriginal rights.

In a 20-minute meeting in Washington, the advisers suggested to the
assembly of chiefs from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the United
States that the new administration could support their push for more
control over oil and mineral resources.

Tar sands companies have PR problem: survey

Oilsands companies have PR problem: survey
By Dave Cooper, edmontonjournal.com
January 8, 2009

EDMONTON - Oilsands producers have received the word from the public — half don't believe what they are being told.

An industry-funded poll released Thursday found a lot of mistrust among respondents in Edmonton and Toronto. However, Edmontonians were generally more favourable towards the industry than Torontonians, particularly on questions around environmental responsibility.