Work is moving forward on an $8 billion oil sands mining project in Alberta, Canada, even though the equipment may be stalled by a legal roadblock in Idaho.
The Kearl oil sands mine is a joint venture being built by Imperial Oil and ExxonMobil. An Imperial Oil spokesman says the first phase of the mine is set to begin operating at the end of 2012, and about 2,500 people are already working on the site.
The company hopes to begin hauling more than 200 oversized shipments of oil equipment along U.S. Highway 12 later this year, but some Idaho residents, environmentalists, businesses and others have heavily opposed that plan. Those opponents recently sued to block four similar oversized loads destined for an oil refinery in Montana.
It’s unclear if that will affect Imperial’s shipments, which haven’t yet received approval from the state. (AP)
