Getting to market: emerging investor risks in the tar sands

International oil companies continue to rely on Canadian tar sands for future growth. Tar sands extraction projects are again expanding and the industry ambition is to grow production from today’s level 37 per cent by 2015 and an extraordinary 138 per cent by 2025. Significant risks however still face the industry. Major environmental constraints remain - particularly greenhouse gas emissions and water use - as well more conventional challenges, including labour, equipment and service cost inflation in the region.