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Alberta's Oil Sands



Premier StelmachPremier responds to U.S. retailers' concerns over oil sands

"Unfortunately, these retailers have chosen a course of action without first talking to us about our environmental commitment and the efforts of thousands of Albertans working for government, industry and academic institutions to reduce the impact of oil sands development ..."

Oil Sands and the Environment

Alberta has long been Canada's energy province. Albertans' spirit to achieve has made the first 25 years of oil sands development about producing the oil sands competitively in world markets. Through ongoing research and technology work continues to find new and improved ways of recovering this significant resource and reducing the environmental footprint. As we look to the next 25 years, innovation, determination and people realizing possibilities will help our province develop this resource in a responsible way that helps meet the growing global demand for energy.

News Highlights

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    Telling it like it is

    Alberta is the only jurisdiction in North America with mandatory greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for large emitters.

    Over $187 million has been put into a clean energy technology fund.

    We have committed $2 billion to carbon capture and storage.

    $32 million has been earmarked for research into green energy production in the oil sands region at major academic institutions in the province.

    $25 million has been allocated to the University of Calgary and Carbon Management Canada for clean energy production research. 

    Despite growth, air quality has actually improved in the oil sands region and is rated ‘good’ 95 per cent of the time.

    The Athabasca River has one of the most protective water management frameworks that exist on any river in the northern hemisphere.

    The Alberta government is currently conducting a Contaminant Load Study to examine the potential impacts of oil sands operations on the transport and accumulation of contaminants in the region’s waterways.

    All tailings ponds have groundwater monitoring and systems that recapture any seepage – continuous and ongoing monitoring for over 40 years indicates there has been no detectable impact on the Athabasca River.

    Industry is required by law to reclaim all disturbed lands to a productive state. In fact, 67 square kilometres is already reclaimed or undergoing active reclamation.

    We are working with researchers to develop new tailings performance criteria, management technologies and practical solutions to reduce and potentially eliminate tailings ponds as we know them today.

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    Facts and stats

    Read Premier Stelmach's blog about the campaign

     

    Emissions from oil sands comparable to other crude oils

    The Alberta Energy Research Institute has released two reports on the Life Cycle Analysis of North American and Imported Crude Oils. The independent reports demonstrate how greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the oil sands derived crude oils are similar to conventional oil production in some areas. View the report. Read the news release

    Responsible Actions

     

    Responsible Actions: A Plan for Alberta’s Oil Sands outlines Alberta’s long-term vision for the oil sands. Learn more about the plan.