Not all oil extraction It is the same since in certain areas it is easier and a little less harmful to the environment than in other places.
The explotion of tar sands oil It is the most technically difficult and causes the greatest environmental damage. Since it requires open pit mining, use a large amount of natural resources such as Energy and water in addition to dangerous chemicals.
In Alberta, Canada is expected to begin to extract oil from the tar sands, thus generating significant opposition from environmentalists and other social groups in the country.
The extraction process of this type of oil It is much more polluting than the one extracted in the wells of the Arab countries or Venezuela. The crude from the sands of bitumen or bitumen Huge amounts of water and chemicals must be washed to separate bitumen from sand and clay.
This bitumen is then processed to turn it into fuel but it requires more energy than conventional bitumen.
The problem in Canada in addition to the contamination What it will produce is that these tar sands are found under thousands of km of forests, so they will be deforested for oil extraction.
Also once it is converted into fuel This crude oil has been proven to generate more emissions when burned, which will further increase environmental pollution.
In the European Union and the US there is strong opposition to importing this oil from bitumen sands due to the great environmental impact it produces.
The governments of China and Canada are the ones that announced the exploitation of this type of crude in the coming years.
Oil extraction in itself is an activity that generates a negative environmental impact but even more so when it is carried out in bitumen sands.
This shows that oil companies and governments are more interested in business than taking care of the the environment and people's health by authorizing this type of harmful exploitation.
SOURCE: BBC