05 January 2026

Above: A Suncor employee stands on the platform of an electric shovel.

Industry Partner Spotlight

This story was provided by Suncor, a CIM Industry Partner, and appears in the December 2025/January 2026 issue of CIM Magazine (view it in flip format here).

Breaking new ground

Suncor’s innovation journey in oil sands mining

As Canada’s leading energy provider, Suncor continues to set the pace for progress and transformation in the oil sands sector, building on a legacy of pioneering achievements and a relentless commitment to improvement.

Suncor’s oil sands story began in 1967, when it launched the first commercial oil sands project, forever changing the landscape of Canadian energy. Since then, the company has continually evolved its operations, transitioning from draglines and bucketwheels to truck-and-shovel mining, introducing hydrotransport and opening the industry’s second in-situ facility. These milestones, coupled with ongoing advancements in water management and energy efficiency, have kept Suncor at the forefront of the industry and unlocked new possibilities for resource development.

“The pace of change is accelerating and Suncor is constantly pushing the boundaries of innovation,” said Peter Zebedee, Suncor’s executive vice-president, oil sands. “Our trucks are bigger, more efficient, and some even drive themselves. But innovation isn’t just the latest machinery, it’s about continuously improving safety, sustainability and operational performance.”

Today, Suncor continues to deploy new techniques, new equipment and new technology to maintain its leading position in oil sands and mining.

Redefining mining efficiency

Automation is transforming mining, and Suncor is at the leading edge of this change. After introducing the autonomous haulage system (AHS) at its Base Plant operation in 2018, the company now operates the world’s largest autonomous ultra-class haul truck fleet at a single site, with 140 trucks expected by year-end. These driverless giants, guided by GPS and advanced sensors, enhance safety, reliability and production.

Centralized control allows operators to optimize truck performance, proactively manage traffic flow and reduce equipment wear. While the trucks operate autonomously, it’s the teams of deployment specialists, field operators and dispatchers who drive the success of the AHS.

A new era of equipment

Advancements in mining equipment continues with the Komatsu PC9000, the largest hydraulic shovel on the market. Operating at Fort Hills, this powerhouse features a 46-cubic-metre bucket and perfectly pairs with the mine’s Komatsu 980E haul trucks for fast, efficient loading. Its advanced design, including pivoting to load from either side and variable swing motors for faster cycles, delivers tangible gains in productivity and fuel economy.

Early results show the shovel can fill a 980E in just four passes under the right conditions, already exceeding expectations and setting new benchmarks for efficiency.

Harnessing the power of data

Innovation isn’t just about big equipment; it’s about drilling down into the data. In 2024, Suncor launched Mine Connect, a unified platform providing near real-time performance data across all of its mines. Standardized metrics empower teams to identify opportunities, close gaps and foster healthy competition between sites.

This platform ensures everyone, from frontline workers to head office, is speaking the same language, translating insights into real results.

Eyes in the sky for safer, smarter operations

Since 2019, Suncor’s centralized drone program has revolutionized data collection, making it safer, faster and more cost-effective. The company operates one of Canada’s largest industrial drone programs, which delivers timely, high-quality data to enhance mapping, surveying, inspections and regulatory compliance.

Drones reduce the need to put personnel in high-risk areas, deliver superior imagery and enable frequent, flexible data collection. They play a crucial role in environmental monitoring, from tailings pond inspections to wildlife surveys, supporting responsible development.

Collaboration: the heart of innovation

Collaboration is at the heart of innovation, and Suncor recognizes that meaningful progress can be accelerated when stakeholders (governments, academia and the broader industry) work together.

Among the most impactful collaborations for Suncor are those with Indigenous communities. These partnerships have been instrumental across many areas of the company’s business, leading to meaningful equity agreements, the integration of cultural practices into land reclamation and a strong commitment to Indigenous procurement. Suncor is a leader in Indigenous procurement, spending over $3 billion with Indigenous companies in 2024.

Innovation is imperative

“As we look to the future, one thing is clear: innovation and technology advancements are essential, not optional,” said Zebedee. “Our adoption of new tools and solutions is driving material gains in safety, production, reliability and environmental performance. But technology alone isn’t enough—the expertise and dedication of our workforce and partners continue to propel us even further.”

Zebedee encourages mining professionals to champion innovation, collaborate across disciplines and seek new solutions. Together, he said, the industry can set new standards and ensure Canada remains a global leader in mining.

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