AER issues order to Sunshine Oilsands Ltd.

On November 14, 2024, the AER issued an order requiring Sunshine Oilsands Ltd. to suspend its wells, facilities, and pipelines; post a security deposit; and provide reasonable care and measures for its sites as the company has repeatedly failed to comply with regulatory requirements and address compliance issues in a timely manner.

The AER’s order requires Sunshine Oilsands to take a number of actions:

• Suspend all wells, facilities, and pipelines.
• Immediately report any hazards that present a risk to public safety or the environment.
• Ensure that any containment devices or equipment are depressurized, emptied, and rendered safe in a manner sufficient for winter conditions and acceptable to the AER.
• Submit a reasonable care and measures plan to demonstrate that reasonable care and measures are being provided at the sites.
• Post a security deposit in the amount of $6 091 318, which represents 100% of Sunshine’s estimated inactive liability.

The AER has issued this order to ensure that the sites licensed to Sunshine Oilsands will not pose a risk to public safety or the environment. Failure to comply with this order may result in escalation of enforcement, which could include an abandonment order.

A copy of the order issued to Sunshine Oilsands can be found on the AER’s Compliance Dashboard.