New group shows oil sands industry serious about environment – by Claudia Cattaneo (National Post – March 2, 2012)

The National Post is Canada’s second largest national paper.

Some will say it’s about time, others that it doesn’t stop expansion plans, still others that they want to see results before getting too excited, but Canada’s oil sands sector deserves recognition for launching the world’s biggest collaborative effort by any industry to do better by the environment.
 
In a ceremony in Calgary Thursday, the top executives of 12 major oil sands companies came together to sign a founding charter in which they committed to accelerate improvement in four major areas: tailings ponds, greenhouse gas emissions, land disturbance and water use.
 
They are doing it as part of a new group, Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA), representing 80% of oil sands production: BP PLC, Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., Cenovus Energy Inc., ConocoPhillips, Devon Energy Corp., Imperial Oil Ltd., Nexen Inc., Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Statoil ASA, Suncor Energy Inc., Teck Resources Ltd. and Total S.A.
 
With most hands on deck, it has the promise of a Manhattan Project for the oil sands.
 
The mandate is broader and more ambitious than any past collaboration. CEOs are taking charge, are committed to success, and will measure outcomes. Arch-rivals are offering up some of their most prized intellectual secrets to accelerate innovation for the common good. Companies that have been out in front, and those that have been laggards, will benefit equally.
 
“We have made strides through advancing technology and innovation, but the pace of that change has not been enough,” Steve Williams, president and CEO designate of Suncor, underlined to a gathering of industry peers.
 
“We have listened to Canadians and we know that our operations have an environmental impact, and we have heard what you want our companies to do better. We believe environmental stewardship is a shared responsibility, whether on tailings, water, land or greenhouse gases. This is a recognition and genuine desire to do better.”
 
John Abbott, executive vice president of Shell Canada, said the 12 companies will continue to compete “rigorously and vigorously” in all other areas, from costs to yields, but will work cooperatively in the environmental space so collective improvement comes faster, under a legal framework that ensures they are not offside competition laws.
 
For the rest of this column, please go to the National Post website:
http://business.financialpost.com/2012/03/01/new-group-shows-oil-sands-industry-serious-about-environment/?__lsa=69407e92