Nuclear SMRs could decarbonise Canada’s oil sands sector
But cost and commercialisation timeframes may prove a barrier to adoption
Nuclear energy—and especially new small modular reactor (SMR) technologies—could slash emissions from the oil sands industry in Canada, according to industry experts. Oil sands companies use large amounts of high-temperature heat to produce steam to extract bitumen from sand, both at upgraders at the mine sites and by pumping steam underground to produce bitumen in situ. The heat tends to be produced by burning gas, and as a result the oil sands industry accounts for about a tenth of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. “Some of the SMR technologies presently under development will be producing substantially more high-temperature heat compared to conventional nuclear reactors that are geared f

Also in this section
3 June 2025
Datacentres to drive demand for gas and position the fuel as more than just a bridging solution
2 June 2025
It is time to acknowledge that the US-Saudi Arabia nexus is driving a fundamental shift in OPEC strategy
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