Power output in Alberta oil sands near pre-fire levels

The amount of power generated by cogeneration electric plants around the fire-ravaged town of Fort McMurray in Alberta, Canada, climbed near levels seen before wildfires forced oil sands producers to shut their facilities in May. Analysts look to the rising output from the cogeneration plants as a precursor to an increase in production from the oil sands facilities. "The rising cogeneration output says that most of these operations are fully up or on the way back," said Martin King, an analyst at Alberta energy advisory FirstEnergy Capital. Cogeneration plants produce electricity that powers oil sand operations, as well as steam to cook the oil sands to produce crude.

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