Oil sands coping on the cusp of change
Canada's big four producers are profitable at $50 oil, but the growth outlook is murky
On 1 August, former Suncor chief executive Rick George died of complications from leukemia at the age of 67. The passing was significant because more than any other man, George is widely acknowledged as the one who ushered the oil sands into the modern era. In 1995, George took over a struggling Suncor and completely reorganised its oil sands division, which had been pumping heavy crude since 1968. As today, he took over at a time when the oil sands' fate looked bleak and many thought it was too expensive to compete. He responded by changing the face of the oil sands, retiring the massive draglines and replacing them with the iconic trucks and shovels that have become emblematic of today's o
Also in this section
2 June 2025
More than anything else, weak Chinese gas demand is providing relief to EU consumers, but it is uncertain how long this relief will last
30 May 2025
Energy majors argue transition debate has started to factor in the complexities of demand shifts and the wider role for gas
29 May 2025
Sovereignty is the watchword for the new government, but there are still upstream opportunities for those willing to work closely with the state
29 May 2025
A cautious approach to coal-to-gas switching offers lessons to others who are looking to balance cost with cleaner energy
