New fact sheet compares environmental impacts of oil sands mining and in situ extraction

May 26, 2010, Calgary, Alberta -- The Pembina Institute has compared the environmental impacts of oil sands mining and in situ extraction and found that some of the impacts from in situ extraction are higher than from mining. Far from being a "low-impact" method of oil sands extraction, on average in situ has higher greenhouse gas and sulphur dioxide intensities than mining.

The new fact sheet, Mining vs. In Situ (www.oilsandswatch.org/pub/2017) draws on the Pembina Institute's two oil sands report cards -- Under-Mining the Environment (www.oilsandswatch.org/pub/1571) and Drilling Deeper (www.oilsandswatch.org/pub/1981). It provides an initial, much-needed comparison of the environmental impacts of oil sands mining and in situ extraction.

In situ extraction techniques are used where oil sands deposits lie too deep underground for surface mining. Given that about 80,000 square kilometres of Alberta -- an area the size of Scotland -- has been leased for in situ development, the potential environmental impact of these projects could be significant.

For more information, contact:

Simon Dyer
Oil Sands Program Director
The Pembina Institute