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<\/a><\/p>\nSteam generators at a SAGD oil sands production site in northern Alberta. Photo courtesy Cenovus Energy<\/p>\n
Reality: Oil sands emissions are strictly regulated and monitored. Producers are making improvements through innovation and efficiency.<\/p>\n
The sector\u2019s average emissions per barrel \u2013 already on par with the average oil consumed in the United States, according to<\/a> S&P Global \u2013 continue to go down.\u00a0<\/p>\n The province reports<\/a> that oil sands emissions per barrel declined by 26 per cent per barrel from 2012 to 2023. At the same time, production increased by 96 per cent.<\/p>\n Analysts with S&P Global call this a \u201cstructural change<\/a>\u201d for the industry where production growth is beginning to rise faster than emissions growth. <\/p>\n The firm continues to anticipate a decrease in total oil sands emissions within the next few years.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Pathways Alliance \u2014 companies representing about 95 per cent of oil sands activity \u2014 aims to significantly cut emissions<\/a> from production through a major carbon capture and storage (CCS) project and other innovations.<\/p>\n Myth: There is no demand for oil sands production<\/p>\n Expanded export capacity at the Trans Mountain Westridge Terminal. Photo courtesy Trans Mountain Corporation<\/p>\n Reality: Demand for Canadian oil \u2013 which primarily comes from the oil sands \u2013 is strong and rising.\u00a0<\/p>\n Today, America imports more than 80 per cent more oil from Canada than it did in 2010, according to<\/a> the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).<\/p>\n New global customers also now have access to Canadian oil thanks to the opening of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in 2024.\u00a0<\/p>\n Exports to countries outside the U.S. increased by 180 per cent since the project went into service, reaching a record 525,000 barrels per day in July 2025, according to<\/a>\u00a0the Canada Energy Regulator.\u00a0<\/p>\n The world\u2019s appetite for oil keeps growing \u2014 and it\u2019s not stopping anytime soon.<\/p>\n According to<\/a> the latest EIA projections, the world will consume about 120 million barrels per day of oil and petroleum liquids in 2050, up from about 104 million barrels per day<\/a> today.<\/p>\n Myth: Oil sands projects cost too much<\/p>\n Heavy haulers at an oil sands mining operation in northern Alberta. Photo courtesy Suncor Energy<\/p>\n Reality: Operating oil sands projects deliver some of the lowest-cost oil in North America, according to<\/a> Enverus Intelligence Research.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Unlike U.S. shale plays, oil sands production is a long-life, low-decline \u201cmanufacturing\u201d process without the treadmill of ongoing investment in new drilling, according to BMO Capital Markets.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Vast oil sands reserves support mining projects with no drilling, and the standard SAGD drilling method involves about 60 per cent fewer wells than the average shale play, BMO says.\u00a0<\/p>\n After initial investment, Enverus says oil sands projects typically break even at less than US$50 per barrel WTI.\u00a0<\/p>\n Myth: Indigenous communities don\u2019t support the oil sands\u00a0<\/p>\n Chief Greg Desjarlais of Frog Lake First Nation signs an agreement in September 2022 whereby 23 First Nations and M\u00e9tis communities in Alberta acquired an 11.57 per cent ownership interest in seven Enbridge-operated oil sands pipelines for approximately $1 billion. Photo courtesy Enbridge<\/p>\n Reality: Indigenous communities play an important role in the oil sands sector through community agreements, business contracts and, increasingly, project equity ownership.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Oil sands producers spent an average of $1.8 billion per year with 180 Indigenous-affiliated vendors between 2021 and 2023, according to<\/a> the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.\u00a0<\/p>\n Indigenous communities are now owners of key projects that support the oil sands, including Suncor Energy\u2019s East Tank Farm<\/a> (49 per cent owned by two communities); the Northern Courier<\/a> pipeline system (14 per cent owned by eight communities); and the Athabasca Trunkline<\/a>, seven operating Enbridge oil sands pipelines (~12 per cent owned by 23 communities).\u00a0<\/p>\n These partnerships strengthen Indigenous communities with long-term revenue, helping build economic reconciliation.<\/p>\n Myth: Oil sands development only benefits people in Alberta\u00a0<\/p>\n The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) on Bay St. Getty Images photo<\/p>\n Reality: Oil sands development benefits Canadians across the country through reliable energy supply, jobs, taxes and government revenues that help pay for services like roads, schools and hospitals.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The sector has contributed approximately $1 trillion to the Canadian economy over the past 25 years, according to<\/a> analysis by the Macdonald-Laurier Institute (MLI).\u00a0<\/p>\n That reflects total direct spending \u2014 including capital investment, operating costs, taxes and royalties \u2014 not profits or dividends for shareholders.<\/p>\n More than 2,300 companies outside of Alberta have had direct business with the oilsands, including over 1,300 in Ontario and almost 600 in Quebec, MLI said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Energy products are by far Canada\u2019s largest export, representing $196 billion, or about one-quarter of Canada\u2019s total trade in 2024, according to<\/a> Statistics Canada.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/trans-mountain-expansion-berth1.jpeg\"){kind=spacer}
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