A report on mining.com explains: “Many of the oil sands companies in the Fort McMurray area are offering shelter and other assistance to local residents who are coping with a large forest fire that is threatening the city.”
Canadian Natural Resources is providing accommodation for 800 people at its camp. “We have offered the support of our aerodrome services to government officials for firefighting efforts and a portion of our firefighters and equipment are in the city helping to fight fires. Many people are currently moving in and out of camp, and daily operations remain stable,” said the company in a statement.
Shell’s Albian Sands mining operations has temporarily stopped production so workers and their families can concentrate on avoiding the fire. The company is also making a work camp available for workers and using its air strip to fly workers to Edmonton and Calgary. Suncor is reducing production at its facility to allow workers and their families to get to safety. It is also working with the regional emergency response to help coordinate the evacuation efforts.”
Suncor stated yesterday that “as a result of the fires in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) and in consideration of the safety of people and the community, it has taken a number of actions.
“First and foremost, we’re doing what we can to ensure the safety and well-being of our employees, their families and members of the broader community,” said Steve Williams, Suncor President and Chief Executive Officer. “To that end, we’ve been demobilizing non-critical staff to ensure that sufficient space is available for employees, their families and other Fort McMurray residents at our camps, we’ve activated our humanitarian grant program and through the Suncor Energy Foundation we have made a preliminary grant to the Red Cross of $150,000 in addition to matching employee donations. We will continue to support the relief effort and work closely with the regional emergency response to help coordinate the evacuation efforts.”
Suncor has conducted an orderly shutdown of its base plant operations. In addition, with the reduced availability of diluent in the region, its in situ facility operations are running at reduced rates. Syncrude facilities are also operating at reduced rates. All of Suncor’s operations in the RMWB region remain in safe condition.
The Red Cross has also set up a donation page.
The Mining Association of Canada (MAC), representing mining operations active in almost every Canadian jurisdiction, is making a contribution of C$50,000 to the Red Cross in Alberta to support the families devastated by the wild fire that has ravaged Fort McMurray and surrounding areas.
“Fort McMurray is a major Canadian mining town. MAC members, several of which are active in the oil sands mining industry, wanted the Association to make this gesture of support. Doubtless countless Canadians and Canadian businesses will be doing the same over the coming days and weeks to help the individuals and families who have lost their homes,” stated Pierre Gratton, MAC’s President and CEO.
Picture from CTV News Edmonton
