Canada’s oil sands fight for their future
A combination of material reductions in environmental footprint and better communication aims to safeguard the beleaguered industry for the long term
Major Canadian oil sands producers, with the support of the federal and Alberta government, are trying to put the pieces in place to give their industry a fighting chance of continuing to produce and export substantial volumes of oil as the world moves towards net-zero emissions—in defiance of gloomy prognoses for its long-term future such as the IEA’s most recent report on its outlook. The industry has, in the view of Kevin Birn, vice-president of North American crude oil markets at consultancy IHS Markit in Calgary, gone through three major stages of development since the turn of the millennium: a free-for-all for its first 10-15 years, characterised by cost overruns and process inefficien
Also in this section
10 December 2024
Sector at economic and strategic crossroads, but clear path ahead for midstream additions
30 November 2024
Decades of turmoil have left Iraq’s vast energy potential underutilised, but renewed investment and strategic reforms are transforming it into a key player in the region
29 November 2024
The country's fifth and sixth oil and gas bid rounds have attracted a range of new players with gas as well as oil ambitions—and there’s a seismic shift in the contracting process
28 November 2024
Iraq is charting a new path for its indigenous resources and its youth, hoping to electrify the future with a mix of reforms and modernisation to fuel growth