Alberta Mining News and Commentary

Oil sands school bus: Alberta is picking up the tab for teacher site tours

Michael Allan McCrae | May 13, 2012

Teachers are being offered all-paid, six-day field trips to experience the Alberta oil sands.

Coalspur substantially increases its coal resources following recent vista extension acquisition extension acquisition

CNW Telbec | Mining/Metals | May 9, 2012

Coalspur Mines Limited ("Coalspur" or "Company") (ASX: CPL, TSX: CPT) is pleased to announce an initial Coal Resource estimate on the recently acquired11 Vista Extension, comprising 173.7 million tonnes ("Mt") in the Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource categories and 969.3Mt in the Inferred Mineral Resource category.
Alberta sues oil sands firms over royalties

Globe and Mail | May 8, 2012

Alberta is suing the partners of Canada's second-largest oil sands project for $100 million over a dispute tied to royalty payments.
Alberta suing oilsands companies, claims Syncrude Royalty Project owes it $100 million

Vancouver Sun | May 4, 2012

The Alberta government is suing a handful of oilsands companies for $100 million for allegedly failing to pay the province its share of revenues from the Syncrude Royalty Project.
Canadian Oil Sands divvies up 17% more as $23 syncrude discount evaporates

Frik Els | May 1, 2012

From a 7-year low against US benchmark crude only six weeks ago, syncrude on Monday moved into premium territory.
Surfeit of sulphur at Alberta oilsands

MINING.com Editor | April 29, 2012

Business Insider's Robert Johnson took some photos of the mountains of sulphur piling up in northern Alberta- part of the website's series on the Alberta oilsands.
Wildrose's pedal to the metal strategy for the oil and gas sector

Michael Allan McCrae | April 22, 2012

The favourite in Monday's Alberta election, Danielle Smith and her Wildrose party, plans to push the province's oil and gas advantage if elected.
No argument over oil sands in Alberta election

Globe and Mail | April 20, 2012

Alberta’s oil sands stir controversy during election season − just ask politicians trying to solidify power in Ottawa or Washington. But for leaders jostling for the premier’s seat in Alberta? Not so.
Nexen wins regulatory approval for major expansion

Michael Allan McCrae | April 16, 2012

Oil sands producer, Nexen Inc. (TSX, NYSE: NXY), said it received regulatory approval to proceed with development of pads 14 and 15 at Long Lake and the Kinosis 1A area.
Who's the fairest of them all: David Suzuki Foundation ranks provinces on climate change leadership

Michael Allan McCrae | April 12, 2012

David Suzuki Foundation says Quebec, Ontario and B.C are "Very Good" regarding climate initiatives while Alberta and Saskatchewan rank as "Worst".
Shell to conserve 1800 acres of forest in northern Alberta

CNW Group | April 11, 2012

Shell Canada today announced it purchased a 1,820 acre (740 ha) tract of land in northern Alberta to conserve boreal forest habitat near its oil sands operations.
Canadian crude falls to $47.50 below world price after dropping 14% in one day

Frik Els | March 28, 2012

Bitumen is expensive to extract, upgrade and refine and cannot compete with the many new shale oil plays, which have pushed US production to its highest level in a decade.
Alberta premier promises $3 billion to help clean up oil sands

MINING.com Editor | March 28, 2012

Alison Redford, the premier of the Canadian province of Alberta, promised on Wednesday to spend $3 billion on clean-up projects in the oil sands.
Canada to trim environmental assessments for large projects

Cecilia Jamasmie | March 27, 2012

Canada's government will disclose new guidelines this week to reduce the time it takes for environmental reviews of major energy and industrial projects, in a move that Reuters qualifies as an attempt set to help the oil industry.
Two new pipelines to compete with Keystone XL

Cecilia Jamasmie | March 27, 2012

U.S.-based Enterprise Products Partners LP (NYSE:EPD) and Canadian Enbridge Inc. (NYSE/TSX:ENB) are shaping up as the main competitors for TransCanada Corp’s Keystone XL, as the two companies announced they will build new pipelines that will move as much as 850,000 barrels of crude oil a day from Canada to refineries along the Gulf Coast by mid-2014.
Japan looks to Canada as new source of natural gas

Cecilia Jamasmie | March 26, 2012

Japan and Canada have formally agreed to launch negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) to eliminate import tariffs on most products and cooperate on developing energy resources, including natural gas and minerals, reports Platts.
What a Mulcair win means for miners

Michael Allan McCrae | March 25, 2012

Canada has a fresh face leading the government in waiting, and Thomas Mulcair may be the most pragmatic choice to lead the left-leaning NDP.
Don't drop anything down the hole: Q&A with a roughneck

Michael Allan McCrae | March 18, 2012

A roughneck can net $7,000 a month in northern Alberta, just don't drop anything down the hole.
Oilsands producers plan reconstruction of wetlands

Huffington Post Canada | March 11, 2012

lberta's oilsands producers are used to thinking big, and their plans to clean up the mess their mines leave behind are fully in line with the outsized trucks that prowl their pits and the outsized budgets that keep them growing.
Alberta oil sands: bear death toll rises, Lakotas protest

People's World | March 9, 2012

Black bears are frequently wandering into the oil sands of Alberta, Canada in search of food. And they are being shot on site, by the hundreds, by conservation officers.
Grizzly finds potash in Alberta, investors find somewhere else to put their money

MINING.com News | February 21, 2012

On much heavier volumes than usual Grizzly Discoveries shed 3c or 6.52% by midday Tuesday. Before the market open the Edmonton-based company announced a potash discovery near Medicine Hat in Alberta Canada that wasn't as exciting as investors had clearly hoped – drilling yielded potash grades up to 31.1% K2O, but only over 0.3 metres.
Pacific Potash Discovers Potash in Alberta, Drills 10.01 Feet of 18.79% KCL at Provost

Marketwire - Mining and Metals | February 15, 2012

Pacific Potash Corporation (the "Company) (TSX VENTURE:PP)(OTCQX:PPOTF)(FRANKFURT:P9P) is pleased to provide results for the first wells drilled and cored within the company's 100 per cent owned Provost Potash Property, located near Provost, Alberta.
Canadian jobs: It's oil sands all the time

Frik Els | February 4, 2012

Statistics Canada reported Friday that of the jobs created in January 65% were in Alberta.
Imperial Oil green-lights $2 billion Cold Lake expansion

Andrew Topf | February 3, 2012

Imperial Oil is spending $2 billion to expand its Cold Lake insitu oilsands operation in northeastern Alberta.
Oilsands workers are a 'high risk' group for sexually transmitted infections

MINING.com Editor | January 31, 2012

While Alberta is showing progress in slowing sexually transmitted infections, oilsands workers and First Nation communities are considered high risk groups.
Panel to check Teck's Frontier Oil Sands potential for "significant adverse effects on the environment." Review can take 6 years

MINING.com News | January 20, 2012

Peter Kent, Canada's environment minister on Friday referred Teck Resources's newly acquired Frontier Oil Sands project in northern Alberta to an independent review panel because of the propose mine's "potential for significant adverse effects on the environment. "