Syncrude still a part of the community
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Editorial appeared in Fort McMurray Today May 26, 2006.
Some companies might have backed off. But not Syncrude Canada.
The oilsands giant went ahead with a planned celebration of the completion of its Stage 3/UE-1 project Wednesday night less than a week after it was forced to shut the project down by Alberta Environment.
Environment Minister Guy Boutilier, the politician in charge of the department that ordered the measure, was still on the guest list at the event.
He remarked that the decision to halt production on the equipment causing a bad smell was the right one. And the fact that Syncrude could agree with him, despite losing millions of dollars a day, showed the company's commitment to this region.
No one doubts that Syncrude will find the technical answers to squelching the smell. The company has thousands of skilled workers who have surmounted bigger problems than this one in the past.
And they've come out on top.
Wresting oil from its home in the ground is not easy. Syncrude stands on the shoulders of failures and successes in the past.
The company has contributed a lot to not only the science of the industry, it has helped implement practical solutions that almost every current operation has taken advantage of to streamline the process.
As president Jim Carter pointed out, he and thousands of company employees live here. They're part of the success story, and they're directly affected when something goes wrong.
It's clear they want to get it right -- not only for the company's bottom line, but for them and their families.
The Fort McMurray Factor that pushed up costs at the UE-1 project is a disease that's invading every niche of life here. For individuals seeking home improvements, to the municipality building quality-of-life projects, to the oilsands giant, costs have spiralled higher and higher. It's to Syncrude's credit that its owners pressed ahead in the face of big cash calls; their foresight is being borne out with high oil prices and a clear path to profits in the future.
The success of Syncrude and other oilsands giants is tied directly to Wood Buffalo's success.
At the same time that Syncrude is addressing environmental and business needs, the company isn't forgetting its home. The $2.5-million contribution to the new Timberlea Athletic Park is a big shot in the arm for local residents, whether they work in the industry or not.
While some may take donations like this for granted, we must remember that Syncrude handed over the cash because it wants to, not because it has to.
The UE-1 celebration lasted a few hours. Lots of hard work must still be done.
But it was time well spent, marking another signpost to this region's future as Canada's oilsands capital.
© Copyright 2006, Fort McMurray Today.
Editorial appeared in Fort McMurray Today May 26, 2006.
Some companies might have backed off. But not Syncrude Canada.
The oilsands giant went ahead with a planned celebration of the completion of its Stage 3/UE-1 project Wednesday night less than a week after it was forced to shut the project down by Alberta Environment.
Environment Minister Guy Boutilier, the politician in charge of the department that ordered the measure, was still on the guest list at the event.
He remarked that the decision to halt production on the equipment causing a bad smell was the right one. And the fact that Syncrude could agree with him, despite losing millions of dollars a day, showed the company's commitment to this region.
No one doubts that Syncrude will find the technical answers to squelching the smell. The company has thousands of skilled workers who have surmounted bigger problems than this one in the past.
And they've come out on top.
Wresting oil from its home in the ground is not easy. Syncrude stands on the shoulders of failures and successes in the past.
The company has contributed a lot to not only the science of the industry, it has helped implement practical solutions that almost every current operation has taken advantage of to streamline the process.
As president Jim Carter pointed out, he and thousands of company employees live here. They're part of the success story, and they're directly affected when something goes wrong.
It's clear they want to get it right -- not only for the company's bottom line, but for them and their families.
The Fort McMurray Factor that pushed up costs at the UE-1 project is a disease that's invading every niche of life here. For individuals seeking home improvements, to the municipality building quality-of-life projects, to the oilsands giant, costs have spiralled higher and higher. It's to Syncrude's credit that its owners pressed ahead in the face of big cash calls; their foresight is being borne out with high oil prices and a clear path to profits in the future.
The success of Syncrude and other oilsands giants is tied directly to Wood Buffalo's success.
At the same time that Syncrude is addressing environmental and business needs, the company isn't forgetting its home. The $2.5-million contribution to the new Timberlea Athletic Park is a big shot in the arm for local residents, whether they work in the industry or not.
While some may take donations like this for granted, we must remember that Syncrude handed over the cash because it wants to, not because it has to.
The UE-1 celebration lasted a few hours. Lots of hard work must still be done.
But it was time well spent, marking another signpost to this region's future as Canada's oilsands capital.
© Copyright 2006, Fort McMurray Today.
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