LondonFreePress: Suncor, Shell lower production targets

8 July 04

CALGARY -- Two of Canada's major oilsands producers are facing lower production targets this year due to unplanned maintenance at their huge open-pit mining operations in northern Alberta. Oilsands giant Suncor Energy announced yesterday that corrosion damage in June at its main facility will reduce annual production targets to an average of 220,000 barrels a day, down from an original expectation of 225,000 to 230,000 barrels.

The news comes one day after a similar warning from the Muskeg River mine, part of the new Athabasca oilsands project operated by Shell Canada.

Shell announced Tuesday that the facility will be at half production "until approximately mid-July" after a mechanical problem July 1 shut down one of two froth-treatment tanks.

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