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Suncor Energy Inc.

Company description:

Suncor Energy, Canada’s largest integrated energy company, recovers bitumen from oil sands near Fort McMurray, Alberta, and upgrades it to refinery-ready feedstock and diesel fuel. Suncor’s strategy is to be Canada’s leading energy company by optimizing our existing hydrocarbon business and transforming our greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint, while growing our business in low GHG fuels, electricity and hydrogen, all enabled by our expertise, long-life resources, integrated business model, strong connection to customers and world-class environmental, social and governance performance.

The Mining Association of Canada’s Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) protocols reinforce continuous improvement opportunities for Suncor and support the company’s emphasis on sustainability throughout the organization.

For more information, including detailed facility specific performance metrics, please visit suncor.com.

 

TSM Performance Assessment:

Suncor’s 2023 TSM Internal Self-Assessment Results

The 2023 internal self-assessment results for Suncor’s oil sands Base Plant and Fort Hills mine reflect performance to the date they are published, where feasible, and are aligned with TSM’s annual reporting timeline.

Water Stewardship

Responsible water use is critical to Suncor. A holistic approach to water management is necessary to sustainably develop our oil sands mines and meet our commitments to reclaiming disturbed lands. This approach needs to consider all components of water management, including reducing, recycling, reusing and releasing treated mine water.

Base Plant: The facility has maintained a level A for indicator 1, 2 and 4, and level AAA for indicator 3.

Fort Hills: The facility has maintained a level A for indicator 1, 2 and 4, and level AAA for indicator 3.

 

Tailings Management

The facilities continue to make progress in tailings management and have worked hard in this area to ensure alignment with the protocol. Work progresses to ensure the company can continue to learn and adapt its approach to tailings management. Evolving guidelines, regulations and community expectations also provide valuable input for improvement opportunities in this area.

Suncor’s tailings management system underwent a TSM external audit in 2022. This audit confirmed a strong system is in place. Following the external audit Base Plant’s Indicator 2 level has increased back to a level AAA as the emergency response exercise scheduled for 2023 was completed. Therefore, level AAA was scored for all indicators at Base Plant and Fort Hills in 2023.

Base Plant: The facility scored a level AAA results for all indicators.

Fort Hills: The facility maintained a score of level AAA results for all indicators.

 

Indigenous and Community Relationships

External outreach has always been a key part of maintaining Suncor’s social license to operate, and the company regularly engages with communities of interest (including several Indigenous communities). Its stakeholder relations framework outlines the company’s commitment to collaboration, transparency and respect for all views. This guides development of long-term meaningful relationships with those affected by its business, including employees, Indigenous communities and other local community members, shareholders, customers, organizations and governments.

Base Plant: The facility has consistently performed well in this area and achieved Level AAA for all indicators.

Fort Hills: The facility has consistently performed well in this area and achieved Level AAA for all indicators.

 

Biodiversity Conservation Management

Throughout the life cycle of our projects, we seek to avoid, minimize, restore and/or offset impacts to biodiversity from our operations. To minimize impacts, Suncor leverages scientific research and best management practices while working with neighbouring companies and communities to reduce cumulative effects of development. The company also collaborates with industry peers and multi-stakeholder organizations on initiatives to conserve and reclaim habitat for birds, mammals, fish and other species.

Base Plant: The facility maintained Level AAA for all three indicators.

Fort Hills: The facility maintained Level AAA for all three indicators.

 

Crisis Management and Communications Planning

Suncor has a strong commitment to crisis and emergency management, ensuring the organization’s risks are identified through an internal risk management system. The company has established response plans and an incident command system is implemented across the organization.

Base Plant: The facility completed all requirements for this protocol and maintained a “yes” score for all indicators.

Fort Hills: The facility completed all requirements for this protocol and maintained a “yes” score for all indicators.

 

Safety and Health

Suncor demonstrates a strong commitment and accountability to safety and health with policies established and commitments being driven throughout the organization. Additionally, the company maintains strong training, behaviour and culture through extensive programs engaging all personnel in health and safety activities.

The company has experienced poor performance with significant incidents occurring in the last number of years. The company is committed to taking the actions necessary to improve safety across its sites. Among the focus areas are critical controls assurance, leadership coaching, and creating more effective corrective actions with high likelihood of avoiding incidents and reducing consequences.

Base Plant: The facility maintained a level AAA for indicators 1 and 3, a level AA for Indicators 2, 4 and 5.

Fort Hills: The facility maintained a level AAA for indicators 1 and 3, and a level AA for Indicator 2, 4 and 5.

 

Climate Change

Suncor’s climate objectives depend on decarbonizing our operations and expanding low-carbon businesses. In this way, we are supporting the energy transition in line with social and consumer expectations and contributing to global energy security, which is underpinned by all forms of energy. Both responsible and secure energy is needed to create a more resilient business – and world.

Our focus is, first, on reducing base business emissions with fuel switching, energy  efficiency and CCS, and, second, growing profitable businesses in low-carbon power and fuels. Since many of the technologies and projects we are progressing will deliver step-change improvements, our 2030 emission reduction trajectory is not linear. We estimate about half of our 10 Mt objective will be met by direct emission reductions in our operations and the rest will be met elsewhere in our value chain, including through the sale of low-carbon products.

Corporate: Suncor scored a level A for indicator 1.

Base Plant: The facility scored a level AA for indicator 2 and an A for indicator 3.

Fort Hills: The facility scored a level AA for indicator 2 and an A for indicator 3.

 

For more information, please visit: www.suncor.com.

Self-Assessed Results

2023 TSM Results

Suncor Energy Inc.

Crisis Management and Communications Planning Assessment
Facility Crisis management and communications preparednessReviewTraining
Suncor Energy Inc. – Corporate
Base Plant
Fort Hills
Results as of: Dec 20, 2023
Preventing Child and Forced Labour Assessment (Pre-2024)
Facility PREVENTING FORCED LABOURPREVENTING CHILD LABOUR
Base Plant
Fort Hills
Results as of: Dec 23, 2022
Note: These requirements are assessed every three years during the external verification.
Safety and Health Assessment
Commitments and accountabilityPlanning and implementationTraining, behaviour and cultureMonitoring and reportingPerformance
Base Plant
Fort Hills

AAA

AA

A

B

C

Results as of: Jan 04, 2024
Tailings Management Assessment
Tailings management policy and commitmentTailings management systemAssigned accountability and responsibilityAnnual tailings management reviewOperation, maintenance and surveillance (OMS) manual
Base Plant
Fort Hills

AAA

AA

A

B

C

Results as of: Jan 04, 2024
Biodiversity Conservation Management Assessment
Commitment, accountability and communicationsConservation planning and implementationReporting
Base Plant
Fort Hills

AAA

AA

A

B

C

Results as of: Dec 20, 2023
Water Stewardship Assessment
Water governanceOperational water managementWatershed-scale planningWater reporting and performance
Base Plant
Fort Hills

AAA

AA

A

B

C

Results as of: Jan 04, 2024
Indigenous and Community Relationships
Community of Interest IdentificationEffective Community of Interest Engagement and DialogueEffective Indigenous Engagement and DialogueCommunity Impact and Benefit ManagementCommunity of Interest Response Mechanism
Base Plant
Fort Hills

AAA

AA

A

B

C

Results as of: Dec 20, 2023
Energy Use & Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Data
Facility Total Direct Emissions (Tonnes CO2e)Total Indirect Emissions (Tonnes CO2e)Total EmissionsTotal Energy Use (GJ)
Base Plant772000007720000112400000
Fort Hills234000010000235000038490000
Results as of: Jan 04, 2024
Climate Change Protocol Assessment
Corporate Climate Change ManagementFacility Climate Change ManagementFacility Performance Targets and Reporting
Suncor Energy Inc. – Corporate
Base Plant
Fort Hills

AAA

AA

A

B

C

Results as of: Dec 20, 2023

Letters of Assurance

Suncor Energy Inc. | 2022 | TSM Letter of Assurance

Suncor Energy Inc. | 2018 | TSM Letter of Assurance

Suncor Energy Inc. | 2015 | TSM Letter of Assurance

Suncor Energy Inc. | 2006 | TSM Letter of Assurance



Verification Summary Reports

Suncor Energy Inc. | Base Plant | 2022 | Verification Summary Report



Historical TSM Results

TSM Results 2023

TSM Results 2022 (Externally Verified)

TSM Results 2021

TSM Results 2019

TSM Results 2018

TSM Results 2017

TSM Results 2016

TSM Results 2015 (Externally Verified)

TSM Results 2014

TSM Results 2013

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