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 growing its business in low greenhouse gas (GHG) fuels, electricity and hydrogen while sustaining and optimizing its existing hydrocarbon business and transforming its GHG footprint; all enabled by its expertise, long-life resources, integrated business model, strong connection to customers, and world-class environment, social and governance (ESG) 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.

Suncor’s 2023 TSM Internal Assessment Results

Internal 2023 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 essential to Suncor. A holistic approach to water management is necessary to sustainably develop our oil sands mines and meet our commitments to reclaim disturbed lands. This approach must consider all elements of water management, including the reduction, recycling, reuse and discharge of treated mine water.

Base Plant: The facility maintained a Level A for Indicators 1, 2 and 4, and a Level AAA for Indicator 3.

Fort Hills: The installation maintained a Level A for Indicators 1, 2 and 4, and a Level AAA for Indicator 3.

Tailings Management

Facilities continue to make progress in tailings management and have worked hard in this area to align with the protocol. Work continues to allow the company to continue to learn and adapt its approach to tailings management. Changing guidelines, regulations and community expectations also provide valuable insight into opportunities for improvement in this area.

Suncor’s tailings management system underwent an external TSM audit in 2022. This audit confirmed that a robust system was in place. Following the external audit, the level of indicator 2 of the base plant was returned to level AAA, as the emergency response exercise planned for 2023 was successfully completed. Therefore, Level AAA was achieved for all indicators at the base plant and Fort Hills in 2023.

Base Plant: The facility achieved a Level AAA result for all indicators.

Fort Hills: The installation maintained a Level AAA rating 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 highlights the company’s commitment to collaboration, transparency and respect for all points of view. This framework guides the development of meaningful, long-term relationships with those affected by its activities, including employees, indigenous and other members of local communities, shareholders, customers, organizations and governments.

Basic factory: The factory has always performed well in this area and has reached the AAA level for all indicators.

Fort Hills: The institution has consistently performed well in this area and achieved the AAA level for all indicators.

Biodiversity Conservation Management

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

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

Fort Hills: The establishment maintained the AAA level for all three indicators.

Crisis Management and Communications Planning

Suncor is strongly committed to managing crises and emergencies, ensuring that business risks are identified through an internal risk management system. The company has established response plans and an incident command system is implemented throughout the organization.

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

Fort Hills: The facility has met all requirements of this protocol and received a “yes” score for all indicators.

Safety and Health

Suncor demonstrates a strong commitment and accountability to health and safety, with established policies and commitments made across the organization.

Additionally, the company maintains strong training, behavior and culture through extensive programs involving all staff in health and safety activities.

The company has experienced poor performance with significant incidents in recent years. It is committed to taking the necessary measures to improve security on all of its sites. It focuses in particular on ensuring critical controls, coaching managers and implementing more effective corrective actions, likely to avoid incidents and reduce their 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 installation maintained a Level AAA for Indicators 1 and 3, and a Level AA for Indicators 2, 4 and 5.

Climate Change

Suncor’s climate goals depend on decarbonizing our operations and expanding low-carbon businesses. In this way, we support the energy transition in line with societal and consumer expectations and contribute to global energy security, which is based on all forms of energy. Energy that is both responsible and safe is needed to create a more resilient business – and world.

We focus, on the one hand, on reducing core corporate emissions through fuel switching, energy efficiency and CCS and, on the other hand, on developing profitable businesses in the field of electricity and low-carbon fuels. Because many of the technologies and projects we are implementing will deliver incremental improvements, our emissions reduction trajectory to 2030 is not linear. We estimate that around half of our 10 Mt target will be achieved through direct emissions reductions in our operations and the remainder will be achieved elsewhere in our value chain, including through the sale of low carbon products.

Business: Suncor achieved a Level A for Indicator 1.

Base plant: The plant achieved a level AA for indicator 2 and an A for indicator 3.

Fort Hills: The establishment received an AA level for indicator 2 and an A for indicator 3.

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