Alberta Tar Sands

Synopsis

Alberta's tar sands contain the world's second largest resource of oil, in the form of bitumen which needs to be mined, separated from the sand, and intensively processed to become usable petroleum products. The mining, extraction and upgrading all result in large greenhouse gas emissions, and water, land and air pollution. First Nations and other groups, including environmentalists, faith, and social justice organizations are advocating to clean up, ramp down, and even shut down the tar sands.

Category Energy

Type Energy Group

Prov AB SK

Region Northern

Posted 29Oct09

Updated 30Oct09

Status

Includes these hotspots:

Tar Sands - Beaver Lake Cree

Contacts

PROVINCIAL
REGIONAL

Greenpeace, www.greenpeace.ca, 800-320-7183
- Mike Hudema, Climate and energy campaigner, 780-504-5601
- Jessica Wilson, Media and public relations officer, 778-228-5404

Pembina Institute's Oil Sands Watch, Simon Dyer, Director, email form, www.oilsandswatch.org, 403-721-3937

GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES

Alberta Energy, email form, www.energy.gov.ab.ca, 780-427-0265

More information

Locations

Alberta Energy oil sands pages

Alberta Geological Survey

A map of tar sands projects