Yahoo Finance Suncor's (SU) Fort Hills Mine Expansion Plan Under AER Review
Suncor Energy's SU expansion plan for its Fort Hills oil sands mine hit a regulatory snag as the Alberta Energy Regulator (“AER”) announced that it was reconsidering the project's approval. The plan involves extending the mine into nearby wetlands, which belong to the McClelland Lake Wetlands Complex.
The AER previously granted approval for Suncor's plan to protect certain areas of the complex. This was necessary for allowing mining expansion in the area. However, following concerns raised by environmental groups and indigenous communities, the agency decided to review its approval of the project.
Fort Hills Expansion Plan
Suncor's Fort Hills mine is one of the largest oil sands mining operations in Canada. It became functional in 2018 and has a production capacity of 194,000 barrels per day. The expansion plan will have increased production up to 120,000 barrels per day.
McClelland Lake Wetlands Complex
The McClelland Lake Wetlands Complex is an important ecological area that provides habitat for a variety of plant and animal species, including migratory birds. It is also holding cultural significance to indigenous communities in the area.
Several environmental groups and native communities have raised concerns about the expansion’s negative impacts on the wetlands complex and the species that depend on it. They have expressed concerns about the loss of habitat for wildlife, the disruption of migratory patterns and the potential for contamination of the water supply. The activists argue that the AER did not adequately consider the environmental impacts of the project before granting approval.
In support of its mine expansion plan, Suncor claimed that it took adequate measures to minimize the impacts on the wetlands. These include the use of advanced reclamation technologies to restore the affected areas post mining operations.
The company also assured that it would cooperate with the AER's review of its Fort Hills expansion plan. It emphasized its commitment to responsible resource development and environmental stewardship.
One of Suncor's key initiatives at reducing its environmental footprint is its Oil Sands Innovation Alliance. It is aimed at inviting oil sands producers, government and academia to collaborate on oil sands development-related research and development.
The company invested in renewable energy projects, including wind and solar power. It operates several wind farms in Canada and the United States, and runs a solar farm in Ontario.
Suncor also implemented a number of initiatives for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from its operations. It has set a target to reduce the emissions intensity by 30% within 2030.
Suncor's Plant 2 Maintenance
In another development, Suncor announced that it began maintenance at Plant 2 of its Commerce City refining complex in Colorado. This will require the entire plant to be shut down throughout early June.
The company plans to spend more than $100 million on the project, which will include improvements designed to check equipment and reduce air emissions.
The Commerce City refining complex has a capacity of 98,000 barrels per day and produces a variety of petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.
Conclusion
AER's decision to reconsider Suncor's Fort Hills mine expansion plan highlights the growing importance of environmental concerns in the oil and gas industry. Companies like Suncor are facing increasing pressure to balance profitability with sustainability, and adopt more sustainable practices in their operations. By adopting strategies to reduce carbon footprint, promote indigenous reconciliation and invest in renewable energy projects, companies like Suncor can contribute to a more sustainable future.
Zacks Rank and Key Picks
SU is a Canadian integrated energy company that specializes in the production of synthetic crude oil from oil sands. It is one of Canada's largest producers of oil and gas, with operations spread across Canada, the United States and the U.K. The company’s oil sands operations are located in northeastern Alberta, where it extracts bitumen from the ground and processes it into synthetic crude oil.
Currently, Suncor carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Investors interested in the energy sector might look at some better-ranked stocks like Par Pacific PARR, Marathon Petroleum MPC, each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), and Ranger Energy Services RNGR, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
PARR is worth $1.63 billion. Par Pacific's shares have risen 82.1% in the past year.
The company manages and maintains interests in energy and infrastructure businesses. Its operating segment consists of refining, retail and logistics.
MPC is valued at $58.02 billion. Marathon Petroleum delivered an average earnings surprise of 20.91% for the last four quarters and its current dividend yield is 2.30%.
The company currently has a forward P/E ratio of 6.36. In comparison, its industry has an average forward P/E of 9.10, which means that MPC is trading at a discount to the group.
RNGR is valued at $242.99 million. In the past year, the company's s shares have gained 16.8%.
Ranger Energy Services currently has a forward P/E ratio of 5.30. In comparison, its industry has an average forward P/E of 11.60, which means that RNGR is trading at a discount to the group.
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