FORT MCMURRAY — Suncor (TSX:SU) unveiled the first reclaimed surface tailings pond in Canada at a site north of Fort McMurray, on Thursday.
The company called it an industry milestone and showed off 225 hectares of land featuring 600,000 newly planted trees and a fresh-water pond in front of a crowd of industry and government officials, including Premier Ed Stelmach.
“It’s not only good for the company but it’s good for oilsands development, good for the region, good for the province and most importantly for the country of Canada,” said Stelmach.
Suncor said the site was where the company operated its first tailings pond, where waste was dumped from Suncor’s mining operations, back in 1967. It was closed nearly four years ago to begin the reclamation process.
“It’s just absolutely incredible for us in terms of actually demonstrating our commitment to get this back to a natural state,” said Suncor’s CEO Rick George.
“This is just one pond, this is one step.”
Tailings ponds have been the target of widespread criticism from environmentalists. Less than three years ago, 1,600 ducks were killed on a Syncrude pond nearby.
Some critics said Suncor’s move is a step in the right direction, but others said the sustainability of the areas is still questionable.
“We have more tailings today than we did last year,” said Mike Hudema of Greenpeace. “There are more toxins pouring onto Alberta’s once pristine landscape everyday and this toxic stew of carcinogens and heavy metals continue to leech into the ground, poisoning our rivers and downstream communities.”
Suncor admitted this is just a first step and hopes new dry tailings technology will help reclaim all of its toxic ponds in the next few decades.
“I hope this will set the stage for future reclamation,” said Chief Jim Boucher with the Fort McKay First Nation.
Stelmach hailed the reclamation as an historic achievement but admitted existing tailings ponds will continue to be a challenge for Alberta.
“Albertans are excellent innovators and I’m confident that one day tailings ponds as we know them will no longer exist,” he said.