Canada-based Suncor Energy has restarted operations in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB).
Initial production from its Firebag in situ facility had already began. At the Base Plant and the MacKay River in situ facility, start-up activities are underway and depending upon the conditions of the region, Suncor is expecting initial production by the end of this week.
The company moved more than 4000 employees and contractors back into the region, which includes Fort Hills workers. Another 3,500 people are expected to be moved over the coming week to support its return to operations.
Suncor said that its property at all the sites have not been damaged from the recent wildfire.
Critical third party pipeline and power infrastructure needed for supporting the start-up has been restored.
At Suncor’s Fort Hills mine, construction activities have been undertaken at a rapid pace and the company expects that the workforce will return to its full capacity this week. Syncrude is making progress in returning to its operations, the company said.
Suncor assures that it will continue to work closely with the province, region and industry and monitor and manage situations which include risk of fire, air quality and the return to the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo community.
Suncor’s operations include oil sands development and upgrading, onshore and offshore oil and gas production, petroleum refining, and product marketing under the Petro-Canada brand.