Canada’s largest oil producer evacuated three sites in northern Alberta as a weeks-old wildfire bore down on its operations. Via Bloomberg, Suncor Energy flew workers from its MacKay River, Firebag and base plant sites just a few days after beginning restart operations. The sites were shut down as a precaution as the fires raged through Fort McMurray. More than 80,000 people were forced to flee the town.
Producers have cut output by 1.2 million barrels per day — a reduction that researchers say costs Alberta CAN$985 million in just two weeks.
Some refiners in the U.S. may be forced to cut processing rates under a prolonged shutdown.
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