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Alberta.
Oil and gas top the list of valuable resources being extracted in Alberta, but there are other stories in the mining and exploration industries here, including coal and precious gemstones.
103 stories
Alberta accepts recommendations to strengthen scientific oversight of environmental monitoring
Alberta is restructuring its environmental monitoring system by replacing the Alberta Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Agency (AEMERA) with a new government-led division under a Chief Scientist. The new structure will include independent science advisory and traditional ecological knowledge panels to strengthen oversight of environmental impacts from industry and resource development.
TransAlta to power down Cowley Ridge—first and oldest commercial wind facility in Canada
TransAlta is decommissioning Canada's first and oldest commercial wind facility, Cowley Ridge in Alberta, which has operated since 1993 and reached the end of its 20-year design life. The 16-megawatt facility with 57 turbines will be dismantled with over one million pounds of metal recycled, and the company is considering repowering the site as part of Alberta's clean energy transition.
Hydraulic products distribution deal unites Bosch Rexroth and Norcan Fluid Power in Western Canada
Bosch Rexroth and Norcan Fluid Power announced a distribution partnership making Norcan the exclusive distributor for Bosch Rexroth industrial and mobile hydraulics products across Western Canada. The deal covers British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, with mining and energy sectors representing 60-70% of Norcan's business.
The Eastern Alberta Transmission Line (EATL) was energized in December 2015
The Eastern Alberta Transmission Line (EATL), Alberta's longest transmission line at 485 kilometers, was energized in December 2015, connecting Brooks in the southeast to the Gibbons-Redwater area northeast of Edmonton. Valard completed all construction phases including the assembly and erection of 1,387 steel lattice towers using innovative safety procedures. The transmission line reduces electricity losses and supports Alberta's renewable energy infrastructure by facilitating the movement of wind and solar power.
Suncor raises offer, finally reaching agreement with Canadian Oilsands in takeover bid
Suncor Energy Inc. has reached agreement with Canadian Oil Sands Limited for a revised takeover offer valued at approximately $6.6 billion, with COS shareholders receiving 0.28 Suncor shares for each COS share. The deal has been approved by both boards of directors and is recommended by COS despite a 37% decline in oil prices since the initial offer.
Geothermal—Canada on the brink of sustainable energy?
The Canadian Geothermal Energy Association is working through Alberta's Energy Futures Lab to promote geothermal energy as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. The article highlights how skills from mining and oil extraction can be directly applied to geothermal projects, creating significantly more permanent jobs than natural gas production.
Top 10 hydroelectric dams in Canada
Canada ranks as the world's third-largest hydropower producer with over 82,000 MW of installed capacity across 600 stations, generating 60% of the country's electricity from hydroelectric sources. Major recent developments include BC's $16-billion Site C dam reaching full operation in 2025 and the landmark Churchill Falls contract renegotiation between Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Energy Comment: Amidst volatility, Alberta investors remain calm—ATB Investor Beat
ATB Investor Services released its first Investor Beat survey showing Alberta investors remain resilient despite energy market volatility, with 95% optimistic about near-term investing prospects. However, 42% of investors have been impacted by lower oil prices, with some reducing contributions or withdrawing savings. The survey will be conducted quarterly to track Alberta investor sentiment.
Altitude/JOGMEC receives approval for Palisades Coal Project drill program near Hinton
Altitude Resources and Japan's JOGMEC joint venture received Alberta regulatory approval for a 3,240-meter drill program at the Palisades coal project near Hinton. The program will consist of 18 drill holes and aims to update the current 12 million tonne inferred coal resource estimate with results expected in Q4 2015.
The $9-billion Kearl Oilsands mine: An overview
Imperial Oil announced the completion of its $9-billion Kearl oilsands expansion northeast of Fort McMurray, Alberta, which will produce 110,000 barrels of crude per day and double the mine's total capacity to 220,000 barrels per day. The expansion represents a major milestone in Canadian oilsands development, utilizing proprietary technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional upgrading processes.
Driverless trucks: Peering into the technological future of the oilsands
Suncor Energy has signed a multi-year agreement with Komatsu to purchase autonomous-ready heavy haulers for its oilsands operations north of Fort McMurray. Testing will begin in Q4 2015 to evaluate the technology in soft-rock mining conditions, with implementation potentially taking several years if successful.
Oil and gas site reclamation takes hands-on approach
Dr. Amanda Schoonmaker is leading applied research at NAIT to develop hands-on methods for reclaiming thousands of former oil and gas well sites in Alberta. Her work focuses on restoring upland forest sites using native species and innovative soil preparation techniques. The research aims to help companies meet provincial reclamation requirements that mandate restoration of woody vegetation rather than just basic grass seeding.
Ulmer Contracting is the Canadian Ultimate Crew Finalist!
Ulmer Contracting has been selected as the sole Canadian finalist among 8 North American crews for Vermeer's Ultimate Horizontal Directional Drilling Crew contest. The winner will receive use of a new Vermeer D24x40 Series II drill for twelve months and other prizes following a skills competition at ICUEE 2015.
Haul truck tire drives more than three and a half times around the globe
Syncrude Canada broke a tire performance record when a heavy haul truck tire at its Aurora mine lasted 11,158 hours and travelled 147,426 kilometres before replacement. The achievement represents significant cost savings given each tire costs $65,000 and is part of Syncrude's seven-year tire management program.
Fed. Competition Bureau greenlights Holcim/ Lafarge merger - with conditions
The Federal Competition Bureau approved the merger of cement giants Holcim and Lafarge with conditions requiring Holcim to divest all Canadian operations and some U.S. assets. The deal creates the world's largest cement company but requires asset sales to preserve competition in the Canadian market.
Editorial Comment: Oil train derailments expose folly of anti-pipeline movement says Kenneth P.Green
Kenneth P. Green argues that recent oil train derailments in Canada and the US demonstrate that pipeline opposition has increased safety risks by forcing more oil transport to railways. His analysis shows pipelines are significantly safer than rail transport, with lower accident rates and injury rates 30 times lower than rail.
AER responds to Auditor General’s audit
The Alberta Energy Regulator accepted all six recommendations from the Auditor General's pipeline safety audit, which found well-functioning pipeline regulation systems. The AER also took responsibility for regulating 65 energy-related dams in Alberta and will launch a comprehensive inspection program by May 2015.
Imperial Oil to build next generation research facility in Calgary
Imperial Oil has broken ground on a new state-of-the-art oilsands research facility in Calgary that will open in 2017, focusing on improving recovery efficiency and reducing environmental impact. The facility will develop technologies like electrical co-generation and non-aqueous extraction methods to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption. These innovations are already being tested at Imperial's Kearl project, a 4.6 billion barrel deposit north of Fort McMurray.
Waste energy at Edmonton-area industrial sites could heat 15,200 homes
A groundbreaking study of Edmonton-area industrial sites identified 300 MW of waste heat that could be captured to heat 15,200 homes and generate 5 MW of power. The Community Integrated Energy Mapping Feasibility Study, involving 16 companies including Suncor, Shell Canada, and Rio Tinto Alcan, represents the first comprehensive waste energy mapping project in Canada and could reduce regional CO2 emissions by 151,000 tonnes.
CanAm Coal diversifies with frac sand property purchase
Alabama-based CanAm Coal Corp. completed a $1.5 million acquisition of mineral rights for a 1,200-acre frac sand property in central Alberta. The strategic purchase allows the coal company to diversify into the growing frac sand market, with initial testing indicating tier 1 and tier 2 quality sands suitable for oil and gas fracking operations.
Guest Editorial: Special interest groups erode Canada’s prosperity says Gwyn Morgan
Business leader Gwyn Morgan warns that special interest groups and regulatory challenges are threatening Canada's resource sector prosperity. He highlights ongoing court challenges against multiple projects across Canada and uncertainty created by the Supreme Court's Aboriginal Title decision. Morgan argues that without understanding how resource wealth is generated, Canada risks losing its economic advantage.
New fracking sand terminal for Rocky Mountain House
Di-Corp is breaking ground on a 30-acre fracking sand terminal near Rocky Mountain House, Alberta in partnership with CN Rail and Superior Silica Sands. The facility will serve the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin with six silos holding 2,000 tons of storage capacity and rail access for 95 cars, targeting early 2015 completion.
Suncor’s Millenium Mine uncovered one of Alberta’s most important dinosaur discoveries
Suncor's Millenium Mine made a significant paleontological discovery in 2011 when shovel operator Shawn Funk uncovered a 115 million-year-old ankylosaur fossil during routine mining operations. This armoured dinosaur represents the first land dinosaur discovered in Alberta's oil sands and is 40-50 million years older than any other dinosaur specimen found in the province.
Perception study of Aboriginal Canadians reveals low opinion of Mining industry
PR Associates released the first national survey of Aboriginal Canadians' perceptions of the mining industry, revealing only 38% have a favorable view compared to 76-82% among general Canadians. The study aims to help mining companies improve community relations and gain social license, particularly following the 2014 Tsilquot'in Supreme Court decision on Aboriginal title.