Tar Sands Co. Imperial Oil Already Taking Fire On GHG Potential Of New Plant - G&M

[hatrack]

OTTAWA -- Imperial Oil Ltd. has come under fire for proposing a new oil sands project that opponents say will be among the country's worst greenhouse gas emitters, even as the federal government faces increasing pressure to toughen its approach to climate change.

At a hearing of the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board in Fort McMurray yesterday, the Pembina Institute, an Alberta-based environmental policy research organization, accused Imperial of neglecting climate change concerns in its proposed $5.5-billion Kearl oil sands development.

"They have absolutely no greenhouse gas management plan," Marlo Raynolds, the institute's executive director, said in an interview from Fort McMurray. "And given today's business realities and international realities, that a company would bring forward a $5-billion project with 3.7 million tonnes of greenhouse gas pollution every year should be a complete embarrassment to its shareholders and its consumers."

EDIT

Environmental groups have consistently pointed to Imperial -- and its parent, Exxon Mobil Corp. in the United States -- as the oil companies that are most resistant to adopting strategies to combat climate change. However, Imperial insists that it is proposing to use the best available technology to reduce its energy use at Kearl. "We do have a plan to manage our greenhouse gas emissions and that is by managing the energy efficiency of our project," spokeswoman Kim Fox said. "We believe that by driving down our use of energy, we're not only reducing greenhouse gases, but all emissions."

EDIT

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20061116.ROILSANDS16/TPStory/Environment

[Astrad]

1. "We do have a plan to

manage our greenhouse gas emissions and that is by killing off future generations through accelerted climate change we will actually reduce greenhouse gasses in the long run." spokeswoman Kim Fox said.