Septembre 2007 / The Independent

Shell could take nuclear option to mine oil from Canadian tar sands

Shell could take nuclear option to mine oil from Canadian tar sands

By Tim Webb

Published : 09 September 2007

Shell is considering using nuclear power to operate its controversial tar sands programme in Canada.

Tar sands extraction – mining oil from a mixture of sand or clay, water and very heavy crude oil – uses a huge amount of energy and water. Environmentalists say it results in more than three times as many emissions of carbon dioxide compared to conventional oil production. (...)