By Canadian Press

COVID-19 STRIKES SECOND MINE

Reassurances emerge after second oilsands mine work camp outbreak

May 15, 2020 | 6:49 AM

CALGARY – Observers say the second outbreak of COVID-19 at an oilsands mine work camp in northern Alberta is concerning but the industry is dealing with the risk in an appropriate way.

Oilsands analyst Phil Skolnick of Eight Capital says the example set by Imperial Oil Ltd. in continuing production while taking measures to deal with an outbreak that began last month at its Kearl oilsands mine is reassuring for investors.

He adds that oilsands producers throughout the industry are slowing work and reducing staffing levels to reduce the risk of transmission, decisions that have the added benefit of reducing production at a time when oil prices are at low ebb because demand has fallen during the pandemic.

On Wednesday, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health Deena Henshaw reported there had been an outbreak of five COVID-19 cases at the Horizon mine camp operated by Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. At Kearl, the number has climbed to 107.

She said she is confident the spread can be contained at Horizon, adding she spoke with other camp operators in the region earlier this week and found they were co-operative and aware of precautions they should be taking before and after an outbreak is discovered.

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In an email, Canadian Natural says four of the five cases were linked to an employee of a maintenance service provider and the other was an employee of the camp services provider. It added it has implemented stringent measures to control transmission, including pre-screening and requiring face masks on company planes and buses.

Gil McGowan, who’s the president of the Alberta Federation of Labour, says the province is relying too much on self-inspection and is slow to take action despite recent outbreaks at meat-packing plants.

But he didn’t suggest the province shut the work camps down.

McGowan says officials should instead put an end to fly-in, fly-out staffing at the camps, noting there are enough people in Alberta to do the work.

(The Canadian Press)