The Suncor-owned Syncrude oil sands operation recently achieved a major milestone: extracting first ore from Mildred Lake Extension – West (MLX-W). The project is Suncor’s largest since the completion of the Fort Hills mine.
This achievement is a key step in Syncrude sustaining its current bitumen production capacity as its North Mine approaches end of life. Syncrude conducted consultation with local Indigenous communities and other stakeholders ahead of the project. The environment and wildlife were priorities in the MLX-W design. “We’re not just mining; we are building a legacy for our community and our country,” says Andrew Rosser, Senior Vice President, Syncrude.
The MLX project has been designed to minimise operational effects on the environment and wildlife. A 100 m setback from the top of the escarpment is being maintained along both the MacKay and Athabasca rivers, with available corridor and riparian areas between 600 m to 2.5 km wide.
The primary infrastructure construction is a bridge across the MacKay River to allow heavy haulers to move oil sand to Syncrude’s existing facilities. The bridge design mitigates impacts on fisheries and is designed to allow the safe movement of wildlife along the river valley.
MLX is using existing extraction and upgrading facilities so no new infrastructure or tailings ponds will be required. Objectives of the project include not increasing emissions or fresh water import from the Athabasca River, and progressively reclaiming disturbed land as it is available.
The project consists of two mine sites – the first one going into operation is MLX West, located northwest of the current North Mine and northeast of our MacKay River in situ asset. The second mine yet to start operations is MLX East, located on the east side of the Mildred Lake Settling Basin.
