Move to scrub "dirty oil" imageFP says Suncor, others move to scrub "dirty oil" image
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Thursday July 31 2008 - In the News
The Financial Post reports in its Thursday edition that faced with an unflattering image as a global environmental disaster area, tar sands companies including Suncor Energy are stepping up the offensive to counteract critics. The Post's Claudia Cattaneo writes they have rebranded the Oil Sands Developers Group. That is Fort McMurray coalition of 28 companies in the sands business. Its president, Don Thompson, is tasked with getting out the message the tar sands are not the "dirty oil" producers portrayed by green groups. Members of the coalition range from industry pioneers such as Syncrude Canada and Suncor to newcomers like Norway's Statoil Hydro ASA and Korea National Oil Corp. "There has been a lot of responsiveness [by industry and government] to our issues recently, and we want to make sure people understand that," said Mr. Thompson, who is also Syncrude's public relations chief. "When you understand the facts, you are able to put things into a much better context." For example, the Northern Alberta region is often portrayed with images of unsightly mines, billowing smoke stacks and giant industrial plants. However, the air quality at Fort McMurray is as good as anywhere in Alberta.