Oil sands face uncertain future in post-peak world
The long-term prospects for the sector may depend on the rate of decline in global oil consumption
Supporters and critics of Canada’s oil sands sector are broadly optimistic in their short- and medium-term outlooks, but they diverge sharply when looking further ahead. In the longer term, proponents are optimistic about Opec+ cohesion and crude prices as global oil consumption declines, but others are pessimistic. This leads to differing views on how the federal government should spend its decarbonisation dollars. Petroleum Economist interviewed G. Kent Fellows, a professor at the University of Calgary, and Aaron Cosbey, a senior associate at Winnipeg-based International Institute for Sustainable Development to learn more about these alternate perspectives on how the oil sands industry mig
Also in this section
10 March 2026
From Venezuela to Hormuz, the US—backed by the most powerful military force ever assembled—is redrawing not only oil and gas flows but also the global balance of energy power
10 March 2026
By shutting the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has cut exports of distillate-rich Middle Eastern crude, jet fuel and diesel, and is holding the energy market hostage
10 March 2026
Eni’s director for global gas and LNG portfolio, Cristian Signoretto, discusses how demand will respond to rising LNG supply, and how the company is expanding its own gas and LNG operations through disciplined, capital-efficient investments
9 March 2026
Petroleum Economist analysis sees increases in output from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Kazakhstan among others before region’s murky descent






