This sector is also a source of job creation, with more than 700,000 jobs, and a return of approximately $17 billion per year in taxes, royalties, and fees to governments, which has a direct impact on their communities.

Sarens recalls the importance of maintaining a stable investment in technological innovation in the construction of new oil sand processing infrastructures and in the gradual renovation of existing ones.

The extraction and processing of oil sands continue to be one of Canada’s main economic drivers. According to the Business Council, the industry is expected to contribute with more than $200 billion a year to the country’s GDP, providing up to 700,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Sarens, the world leader in heavy lifting, engineered transport, and crane rental, has consolidated itself over the last few years as a major player in the sector, being directly involved in the construction and upgrading of several oil sand processing plants in Canada. It, therefore, calls on public institutions and private companies to maintain stable investment in the development of new processing infrastructures for these materials, and in the renovation of existing ones as a way of guaranteeing the production of processed products, which at the end of 2022 amounted to more than 3.7 million barrels per day.

The impact of oil sand extraction is also felt in the communities in which it takes place. It is estimated that the payment of taxes, royalties, and fees for the various projects currently underway amounts to $17 billion a year, which translates into investments in education, health, and the country’s road network.

According to Jason Lavoie, Branch Manager of Sarens, “our company is a key partner for the hydrocarbon sector in our country. Sarens has one the largest fleet of cranes and machinery in the world, so we can be very responsive to our client’s technological needs and move the right machinery to the project site in a matter of days”.

One of the most common processes for the renovation of oil sand processing plants involves the installation of new furnaces, process modules, and bridge modules, jobs in which Sarens is a specialist. By upgrading these elements, the process of bitumen obtained from oil sands can be optimized. Once processed, the bitumen is converted into synthetic crude oil (SCO) which, once processed in a refinery, is derived into liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or gasoline, among others.

Sarens has extensive experience in the construction and upgrade of oil sand process plants in Canada. In 2014, Sarens was part of the installation of the oil sands process units at a client facility near Fort Mcmurray, AB by using units such as the Demag CC8800-1 and SPMTs (Self-Propelled Modular Transporters) to transport and install the modules on site. In 2021/2022, Sarens also participated in the installation of a new construction facility which involved the assembly, relocation, and installation of up to 34 process modules at this same facility utilizing a CC2800, CC8800, SPMT, and a specialized jacking and skidding system.