Nuclear SMRs could decarbonise Canada’s oil sands sector
But cost and commercialisation timeframes may prove a barrier to adoption
Nuclear energy—and especially new small modular reactor (SMR) technologies—could slash emissions from the oil sands industry in Canada, according to industry experts. Oil sands companies use large amounts of high-temperature heat to produce steam to extract bitumen from sand, both at upgraders at the mine sites and by pumping steam underground to produce bitumen in situ. The heat tends to be produced by burning gas, and as a result the oil sands industry accounts for about a tenth of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. “Some of the SMR technologies presently under development will be producing substantially more high-temperature heat compared to conventional nuclear reactors that are geared f
Also in this section
26 April 2024
While the US has been breaking records for its premium grade crude, there are doubts over whether you can have too much of a good thing
26 April 2024
Slowing demand growth and capacity expansions will squeeze refiners in coming years
25 April 2024
Some companies with assets in Israel have turned towards Egypt as tensions escalate, but others are holding firm despite rising tensions
24 April 2024
But even planned exploration activity is unlikely to reverse declining output from mature fields