Start-up has begun at the first new project to open in the area since 2008.
Imperial Oil announced Saturday, the beginning of production at its Kearl site 75 kilometres north-east of the city
It has access to 4.6 billion barrels of resource that should last 40 years.
It is the first mining operation without an upgrader.
It uses paraffinic froth treatment technology, where bitumen is only processed once, instead of twice, which reduces emissions.
It says it will continue to reduce its energy consumption by installing energy-saving co-generation facilities.
Production of mined diluted bitumen has started at the first of three froth treatment trains.
With the other two trains expected to start later this year, it’s expected to produce 110-thousand barrels per day.
It says it also has on-site water storage to stop river withdrawals in low-flow periods, advanced reclamation efforts, earlier tailings reclamation than other oil sands mining operations and a cutting edge system to deter birds.
Initial development construction used 45-million person work hours and employed more than 5-thousand people.
It also says more than $1-billion went to local suppliers and contractors.
Imperial Oil is an affiliate of ExxonMobil.
April 29th, 2013
