Tar Sands

where are the largest tar sand reserves

Canada has the world's largest tar sand reserves, with three major deposits in Alberta. 

what role does the gov play in the tar sands

• They promote the use of tar sands for energy and economic development 

• They believe Alberta must help meet global demand 

• Also promote sustainable extraction

what role do oil companies play in tar sands

• Believe it will greatly benefit economies

what role do environmental agencies play in tar sands

• green peace called for an end to the ‘industrialisation of indigenous territories’ 

• Disrupts forests and wetlands

what are the benefits of exploiting tar sands

• Diversifying world energy supplies

• By 2030 could meet 16% of North America's needs

• Used as a fuel stopgap until more renewable and cleaner sources become viable

what is an economic struggle of using tar sands

• Only viable when the price of crude oil exceeds $40 a barrel as it costs $20 to extract bitumen per barrel

disadvantages of exploiting tar sands

• Its a high consumer of other raw materials to extract- per barrel it takes 4 barrels of water to produce 

• Produces 1.8 million tonnes of toxic wastewater per day

how valuable are the tar sands to canada

generate 100 billion$ per year

what impact does tar sand exploitation have on carbon emissions

• one of the most carbon intensive fuels in the world

• produces 3-4 time more greenhouse gas than conventional oil extraction

• enhances the green house effect

what impact do tar sands have on the forest

• requires deforestation of Boreal Forest

• Boreal forest is a large store of carbon as it absorbs more than it emits

• loss of cabron sinks

impact of tar sands on the indigenous community

• loss of hunting land

• health impacts from heavy metal exposure

what is the danger of heavy metal poisoning

• mercury can cause severe neurological damage and cause severe cognitive changes

• arsenic can cause cancers of the liver, lungs and kidney