Canadian oil is responsible energy

CALGARY, March 4 /CNW/ - Several environment groups today ran a paid advertisement in Variety, an entertainment magazine. The advertisement likens Canada's oil sands industry to the computer-animated film Avatar.

Canada - a stable country with the highest standards of democracy as well as environmental and social responsibility - is the largest provider of energy to the United States.

"Canadian oil is responsible oil," said Janet Annesley, Vice President of Communications for the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. "Unfortunately this blurring of the lines between fact and fiction by anti-oil activists has become all too common.

"We invite these activists back to planet Earth to discuss the appropriate balance between environmental protection, economic growth and a safe and reliable supply of energy."

The Canadian oil sands are a vital resource that supplies responsible energy to Canada and North America. Located in Northern Alberta, oil sands are developed using two techniques: surface mining or in situ drilling. Surface mining, which is used to develop 20 per cent of the resource, utilizes large electric shovels and trucks. In more than 40 years, oil sands development has disturbed approximately 530 square kilometers of land. This is equivalent to 4.8 per cent of the Los Angeles County or 0.02 per cent of Canada's Boreal Forest. The other 80 per cent of the resource must be developed using advanced in situ drilling technology, similar to conventional oil production.

All lands disturbed by oil sands development must be fully reclaimed under both federal and provincial laws. The land, air, and water surrounding development are closely monitored and companies must abide by one of the strongest government regulatory systems in the world.

Oil sands development does not go ahead without direct and meaningful Aboriginal consultation about both environmental impacts and economic benefits. Discussion, science, stakeholder viewpoints and disputes are brought forward transparently at public, government-moderated hearings.

"Aboriginal people are the oil and gas industry's neighbours, employees, contractors and stakeholders," Annesley said. "Productive relationships are crucial to oil and gas companies earning their licence to operate. Canadian regulation requires industry to address First Nations' economic, social and cultural needs. Delivering economic and social benefits and minimizing environmental impacts is fundamental to an oil sands project being found 'in the public interest,' the final test a development must pass in order to proceed."

Oil sands industry facts:

    
    -   1,500 Aboriginal people have direct full-time jobs in the oil sands
        industry
    -   More than half a billion dollars in contracts were awarded to
        Aboriginal contractors in 2008
    -   More than $3 billion earned by Aboriginal companies between 1998 and
        2008
    -   More than $3 million in support of Aboriginal community programs in
        2008

    "Canadians and Americans expect and deserve an opportunity to look at the
real facts about oil sands, our social and environmental performance, and to
decide for themselves," Annesley said.


    Backgrounder:

    Global Energy Mix
    

Fossil fuels (primarily oil, coal and natural gas) are forecast to play an important role in the global energy mix for the foreseeable future. It is also forecast that an increasing share of energy demand will be met by hydroelectricity, wind, solar, nuclear and other forms of renewable and alternative energy. All of these sources of energy will be required to meet global demand.

Canada's oil sands, located primarily in the province of Alberta, have the potential to significantly enhance North America's energy security by providing a safe and reliable supply of crude oil and petroleum products, and the oil sands industry is committed to the responsible development of this important resource.

    
    GHG Quick Facts

    -   1/3 better: GHGs from oil sands crude have declined by 1/3 since
        1990.
    -   Oil sands crude is 5 - 15 per cent more GHG-intensive than the US
        average on a well-to-wheel, or lifecycle basis.
    -   Canada produces two per cent of global GHG emissions.
    -   Oil sands production accounts for five per cent of Canada's total GHG
        emissions.
    -   Oil sands production accounts for 0.1 per cent, or 1/1000th of global
        GHG emissions.
    -   Oil sands' total GHG emissions of 38 megatonnes(1) is equivalent to
        one per cent of emissions from the United States power generation
        sector.

    GHG Solutions

    -   Advancing technology = lower emissions: Technology enables
        Canada's oil and gas industry to deliver more energy with fewer GHGs
        per barrel of oil equivalent.
    -   Billions of dollars invested every year: $50 billion was invested by
        the oil and gas industry in 2007 and 2008 - Canada largest single
        private sector investor. 2010 investment is projected at $40 billion.
    -   Diversity: With energy demand increasing, all sources of energy -
        from renewables to oil sands - will be needed.
    -   Lower Carbon: Canada has large reserves of natural gas, a lower
        carbon fuel. Natural gas could play an even larger role in meeting
        our energy needs.

    Canada's Rank in World Energy

    -   2nd largest crude oil reserves in the world
    -   Largest uranium reserves in the world
    -   3rd largest natural gas producer in the world
    -   2nd largest hydroelectric generator
    -   Largest supplier of energy to the United States, the biggest energy
        market in the world

    Top Five Sources of Crude Oil and Petroleum Products to the United States

    Of the top five sources of oil to the United States, Canada is the only
country that currently has GHG regulation in place and which has signed the
Copenhagen Accord. In fact, all oil sands production is subject to provincial
GHG regulation.

    1. Canada - GHG regulated
    2. Saudi Arabia -unregulated
    3. Mexico - unregulated
    4. Venezuela -unregulated
    5. Nigeria -unregulated

    Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Cambridge Energy Research
Associates

    The Value of Canada's Energy Exports

    -   $126 Billion in 2008
    -   6 per cent of Canada's GDP
    -   26 per cent of all Canadian exports

    Note: All values are in Canadian dollars.

    For more information on Canada's oil sands, please visit the following
links:
   
http://www.capp.ca/canadaIndustry/oilSands/oil-sands-videos/Pages/Oil-Sands-Tour.aspx
    www.capp.ca/avatar
    www.capp.ca/aboutUs/mediaCentre/NewsReleases/Pages/Avatar.aspx

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    (1) Environment Canada 2007
    

For further information: Travis Davies, Media Relations, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, (P): [phone], (M): [phone], (E): [email protected]