Oil Sands: Strategies For Future Development - An Overview

Abstract

Abstract Alberta Chamber of Resources has represented the resource industries in the Province of Alberta for almost 60 years. The Chamber's primary objective is to promote and support the orderly development of Alberta's natural resources. In the early 1980's, the Chamber identified Alberta's oil sands as the priority mineral resource for further development during that decade. Towards this end, a Task Force of industry and government representatives was set up in 1984 to promote oil sands development. One objective of the Task Force was to identify and publicize the social and economic benefits of oil sands operations. In 1993, a "National Task Force on Oil Sands Strategies" was formed by the Alberta Chamber of Resources, on behalf of both the government and the private sector. The Task Force's objective is to act as a catalyst for the further development of Canada's immense oil sands resources. During the last two years the Task Force has carried out its mandate to identify a clear vision for growth and to develop strategies and plans for long-term implementation. This paper summarizes briefly the formation and the mission of the National Task Force and focuses on impediments and opportunities for development and offers strategies and recommendations for the future. 2.0 NATIONAL TASK FORCE ON OIL SANDS STRATEGIES During 1992, the ACR Executives have had a series of meetings with the senior officials of the Alberta and Federal Energy departments for the formation of a National Task Force to formulate a set of strategies for oil sands development. The ACR proposals were well received and fully supported by both levels of government. Early in 1993, a Steering Committee was formed by the representatives of the Alberta and Federal governments and the industry. This committee accepted the responsibility to carry out its mandate and formulated its mission statement as follows: To be a catalyst for further development of Canada's oil sands resource through identification of a clear vision for growth and preparation of a plan of action. P. 203