MORE CUTS !!!!!(Bloomberg) -- Major oil sands producers in Western Canada will idle about half a million barrels a day of production next month, helping tighten global supplies as oil prices surge. Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.s plans to conduct 30 days of maintenance at its Horizon oil sands upgrader in April will curtail roughly 250,000 barrels a day of light synthetic crude output, company President Tim McKay said in an interview Thursday. Work on the Horizon upgrader coincides with maintenance at other cites. Suncor Energy Inc. plans a major overhaul of its U2 crude upgrader, cutting output by 130,000 barrels a day over the entire second quarter. Syncrude Canada Ltd. will curb 70,000 barrels a day during the quarter because of maintenance in a unit. The supply cuts out of Northern Alberta, following a surprise OPEC+ decision to not increase output next month, could add more support to the recent rally in crude prices. OPEC+ had been debating whether to restore as much as 1.5 million barrels a day of output in April but decided to wait. The Saudi-led alliance closely monitors other major oil producers as it seeks to manage the entire global market, and surging production in North America was its biggest headache in recent years -- especially from U.S. shale but also from Canada. The U.S., Saudi Arabia, Russia, Canada, Brazil and other well endowed countries with hydrocarbon reserves -- we need to work with each other, collaboratively, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said after the groups meeting on Thursday. Canadas contribution to balancing the market with less production, much like slowing output in the U.S., is not a deliberate market-management strategy but significant nonetheless. Even though the output cuts are short-term, the battered oil-sands industry shouldnt be a concern for the Saudis in the long run either, judging from McKays outlook for the industry. I cant see much growth in the oil sands happening because there is going to be less demand in the future, he said. The first step is we have to get our carbon footprint down. After years of rising output turned Canada into the worlds fourth-largest crude producer, expansion projects have nearly halted on the heels of two market crashes since 2014. Adding to its struggles, Canadas oil industry is being shunned by some investors such as Norways $1.3 trillion wealth fund amid concern that the higher carbon emissions associated with oil sands extraction will worsen climate change. These forces help make future growth in the oil sands unlikely, said McKay, whose company is among the largest producers in the country. Oil sands upgraders turn the heavy bitumen produced in oil sands mines into light synthetic crude thats similar to benchmarks West Texas Intermediate and Brent. Syncrude Sweet Premium for April gained 60 cents on Thursday to $1.50 a barrel premium to WTI, the strongest price since May, NE2 Group data show. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2021 Bloomberg L.P. In this article: RECOMMENDED STORIES Reuters OPEC+ extends most oil output cuts into April, Saudi keeps voluntary curb 16h ago FX Empire OPEC+ Status Quo Relief Oil Bulls 16h ago Bloomberg Saudis Bet Drill, Baby, Drill Is Over in Push for Pricier Oil 3h ago MarketWatch Gasoline prices may hit highest levels since 2014 as OPEC+ keeps oil output cuts: report 3h ago MarketWatch OPEC+ extends output cuts through April, in surprise move 7h ago FX Empire Natural Gas Price Prediction Prices Slide on Smaller than Expected Inventory Draw 6h ago Oilprice.com Oil Soars As OPEC+ Sources Suggest No Production Increase 9h ago Benzinga Job Listing Hints Rivian Is Looking To Make Solid State Batteries 1d ago Yahoo Finance Canada Why oil could miss out on the next commodity supercycle 5h ago MORE FROMBLOOMBERG Bloomberg China Sets GDP Growth Target Above 6% as Recovery Takes Hold 12m ago Bloomberg Asia Stocks Drop as Treasury Yields Rise on Powell: Markets Wrap 40m ago Bloomberg Broadcom CEO Says Demand Is Real as Chip Orders Flood In 48m ago Bloomberg Technology Amazon, NFL Negotiating Exclusive Streaming Deal: WSJ 49m ago