Calgary’s Suncor U.S. refinery offline due to extreme cold and fires
Posted Dec 29, 2022 8:58 am.
Last Updated Dec 29, 2022 11:11 am.
Calgary-based Suncor Energy Inc. has put its Colorado, U.S., refinery offline after fires broke out in the facility on Christmas eve and cold swept across the state.
According to a statement on Wednesday, Suncor’s Commerce City refinery suffered equipment damage in days leading up to Dec. 24.
It shut down on Dec. 27 due to “record-setting” weather that has pelted the U.S. along with the fires.
“Consistent with our operational excellence and safe operating practice, … it was determined that the entire facility would be shut down and put into safe mode to allow for the inspection of all units and repair of the damaged equipment,” the statement read.
The 98,000-barrel-a-day refinery is expected to remain offline until March 2023.
Several refinery alarms went off between Dec. 22 and Dec. 24, with the refinery being impacted by a fire on the latter day. Crew members spotted smoke on most of those alarms.
Suncor reported no injuries, and it says Colorado air quality workers “did not indicate any acute public health concerns.”
The Calgary-based company has been under increased scrutiny for its safety record after at least 12 workers have died at its oilsands operations in northern Alberta since 2014.
Former president and chief executive officer Mark Little resigned one day after an incident in July led to another workplace death in the province.
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In early December, Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore oil and gas regulator laid charges against Suncor for alleged safety violations that happened in December 2019.
The matter is set for its first court appearance on Jan. 25, 2023, at Provincial Court in St. Johns.
-With files from The Canadian Press
