Canada’s stranded barrels
Without major technology breakthroughs, carbon restrictions will mean a smaller future for the oil sands
After years of being tarred as an environmental laggard Alberta will do something no other major oil-producer has done: cap carbon emissions from its major asset. From 2017, the oil sands will only be allowed to emit 100 megatonnes a year. The policy is meant to prove that the province is finally getting serious about addressing climate change. Oil sands are the largest and fastest-growing source of green-house gas (GHG) emissions in Canada. Part of the pitch, to the industry at least, was that the emission restrictions would allow for continued output expansion by softening opposition from oil sands critics and helping to win approvals for new pipelines to both coasts and the US. The policy

Also in this section
25 July 2025
KRG, Iraq’s central government and Turkey are all working to get exports flowing from the key port, but complications remain
25 July 2025
Mozambique’s insurgency continues, but the security situation near the LNG site has significantly improved, with TotalEnergies aiming to lift its force majeure within months
25 July 2025
There is a bifurcation in the global oil market as China’s stockpiling contrasts with reduced inventories elsewhere
24 July 2025
The reaction to proposed sanctions on Russian oil buyers has been muted, suggesting trader fatigue with Trump’s frequent bold and erratic threats