Curtailment at northern Alberta Suncor plant likely won't affect gas prices: expert
Suncor Energy Inc. says it has curtailed some production after a wildfire forced the company to withdraw all non-essential workers from its Firebag oilsands site.
Suncor is "leveraging our integrated asset base in the region to minimize business disruption," spokesperson Tara Weber said, adding there's no risk to Suncor's other operations or the Firebag airport.
The fire, MWF047, is part of the Cattail Lake Complex.
Alberta Wildfire says MWF047 grew 10,000 hectares in the last 24 hours and is currently burning about eight kilometres from the Firebag site.
"We're seeing extreme fire behaviour in that area. We've got over 140 wildland firefighters and support staff responding to that fire," Melissa Story of Alberta Wildfire said Friday.
Story says winds are currently pushing the fire away from the Firebag site but causing challenging conditions for firefighters.
"We're working around the clock. We have night-vision-capable helicopters that are working in the overnights and evenings. We've got heavy equipment that is working to build a fire guard on the west side of the fire right now to kind of put a barrier in between that in any infrastructure or cities or towns."
Curtailment won't affect gas prices
Despite the curtailment at Firebag, at least one industry expert says gas prices won't be impacted.
"It won't affect consumer gasoline or diesel prices," Richard Masson of the University of Calgary's School of Public Policy told CTV News Edmonton on Friday.
"These are very sophisticated plants. They have very, very sophisticated control systems. So you can do a lot with a few people, and their production will be safely curtailed."
"This is a project of about 240,000 barrels a day when we export about 1.6-million barrels a day. It's a piece of the puzzle, but it's not the main piece."
As of Friday afternoon, there are 65 wildfires burning in Alberta, 17 are out of control, 28 are under control and 20 are being held.
Four of the fires started in 2023.
With files from CTV News Amanda Anderson, and The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6955487.1720456604!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Liberal government hopes changes to dental care program will increase uptake
Less than one year after federal Liberals announced a new dental care program to mixed reviews, the government is making changes in hopes to get more providers on board.
How Canada's dream supersonic bomber became a national nightmare
The Avro Arrow meant to be one of the most advanced aircraft of its era, dispatching the threat of Soviet nuclear bombers and making Canada a world leader in military aviation and engineering.
The most devastating sleep disorder of all, according to an expert
Jill was in middle school when she began eating in her sleep. Despite carrying the food back to her bed to devour night after night, she didn’t have a clue about what she had done until the next morning.
Alice Munro's daughter says mom kept silent when stepfather sexually abused her
The youngest daughter of celebrated Canadian author Alice Munro has opened up about sexual abuse by her stepfather and the deep hurt she felt when her mother chose to support her husband instead of her child.
Inmates at large following escape from Sask. correctional centre
Police are searching for two men following an escape at a correctional centre in Yorkton, Sask.
Read the letter Biden sent to House Democrats telling them to support him in the election
U.S. President Joe Biden wants Democrats in Congress to know he has no intention of exiting this year's election, sending them a letter on Monday on his personal letterhead.
Barcelona anti-tourism protesters fire water pistols at visitors
Protesters in Barcelona have sprayed visitors with water as part of a demonstration against mass tourism.
Scorching summer heat hits Canada, remnants of hurricane Beryl on the way
Sweltering summer weather blanketed much of the country Monday, with Environment Canada issuing heat warnings for parts of eight provinces and the Northwest Territories.
3 Columbia University officials lose posts over texts that 'touched on ancient antisemitic tropes'
Columbia University said Monday that it has removed three administrators from their positions and will keep them on leave indefinitely after finding that text messages they exchanged during a campus discussion about Jewish life 'disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes.'