Stelmach defends oilsands' environmental record

Alberta is a leader in protecting the environment, premier Ed Stelmach said Thursday, taking exception to a report card from two lobby groupsthat gave the oilsands industry a failing grade.

Stelmach rejected the conclusions of the report from the Pembina Institute and the World Wildlife Fund. It gavenorthern Alberta10 oilsands plants an averagemark of 33 per cent, withnine of the 10 projects receiving a failing grade. The industry uses too much water and pumps out too much greenhouse gas, the report said.

"The government of Alberta and all of the oilsands operators work closely to ensure we take a leadership role in environmental technology [and] research," the premier said in defence of his government's record. "The kind of technology we do here is something can be applied in many other provinces in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions."

The Pembina Institute pointed out that whileindividual oilsands companies have reduced the intensity of their emissions, overall emissions are increasing as the industry expands.

The province has not set a target datefor overall reductions.

Syncrude, one of the largest companies in the oilsands, also slammed the report card in which it tied for last place among the 10firms surveyed. Syncrude and Synenco Energyscored 18 per cent.

"We obviously don't agree with their assessment. In fact, we consider ourselves a leader in sustainability in the oilsands industry," Syncrude spokesman Alain Moore said.

The report ranked Albian's Muskeg mine the highest, with a 56 per cent grade.