Alberta conditionally approves Total’s new Joslyn oil sands mine
28 January 2011
A Joint Review Panel of the Government of Alberta’s Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) has conditionally approved Total’s Joslyn oil sands mine. (Earlier post.)
The project is to be located about 70 kilometers north of Fort McMurray. It consists of an oil sands surface mine and ore preparation and bitumen extraction facilities. It is designed to produce about 16,000 cubic meters per day (about 101,000 barrels) of liquid hydrocarbon. The project also includes tailings management facilities and other supporting infrastructure. Initial operations are planned for 2017.
The report follows a public hearing the Panel held from 21 September 2010 through 8 October 2010, in Fort McMurray and Sherwood Park, Alberta. The project would increase Alberta’s approved mineable project area by about 7%.
The decision places 20 conditions on Total related to environmental and technical aspects of the project, including tailings and reclamation management.
Resources
Tar sands extraction operations are being extended to many Athabasca River tributaries (Joslyn Creek, Tar River, Ells Rive, Mackay River, Muskeg Rive, Jackpine Creek etc). Sooner or latter, all those tributaries will carry associated pollutants to the Athabasca River. People (animals and plants) close to the Athabasca will be affected for generations unless operators are forced to clean up their mess after oil as been extracted. We all know that they will not do it voluntarily.
Posted by: HarveyD | 28 January 2011 at 06:24 AM