Supplier-Customer Relationship Lauded Syncrude and two of its key suppliers received international recognition in 2005 for a long-term collaboration that has made significant advances in the development of heavy equipment. The Canadian-American Business Council honoured Syncrude, Caterpillar Inc. and Finning International Inc. for a more than 25-year relationship that has, among other achievements, led to the introduction of the world’s largest off-road mining truck, the Caterpillar 797B, and improved the productivity and reliability of many other Caterpillar products used by Syncrude. Judges noted the relationship has also enhanced prospects for Canada’s oil sands industry and other equipment users in the global mining industry.

Future Growth Potential

Syncrude’s Stage 3 expansion will be followed by completion of the Syncrude Emissions Reduction project in 2009. This project will ultimately reduce SO2 emissions to less than 100 tonnes per day, 60 per cent lower than current average daily emissions.

Syncrude has additional opportunities to grow beyond Stage 3. Total recoverable resources are sufficient for Syncrude to increase production to over 500,000 barrels per day on a sustained basis for several decades. Development of further growth projects will be contingent on meeting strict economic, capital cost, operating cost and environmental performance criteria.

Syncrude has to date produced more than 1.6 billion barrels of crude oil from its oil sands leases, and aims to remain at the forefront of oil sands research and sustainable resource development. Ongoing investment in physical and human resources, industry-leading land reclamation practices, environmentally friendly technologies and energy conservation initiatives will maintain Syncrude’s position as a major contributor to social and economic development in Alberta and Canada for decades to come.