Cenovus evacuates oilsands project due to nearby forest fire

Access road cut off, about 1,800 workers involved

FOSTER CREEK, ALB. (Reuters) — Cenovus Energyhas evacuated about 1,800 workers and shut down productionat its Foster Creek oilsands site in Alberta asa precaution because of a nearby forest fire, the company said.

"Most of thesewere construction contractors. We won't be able to return to the site untilfire officials deem it safe," Reg Curren,a spokesman for Cenovus Energy, said in an email early on Sunday.

The company hadsaid on Saturday that the fire was about 30 kilometers south ofthe facilities and had shut the only access road to the operations.

Production at Foster Creek,which is jointly owned with ConocoPhillips, was averaging about 135,000 barrelsper day, with the output split between the two companies, Curren said.

Separately, CBC reportedCanadian Natural Resources has also evacuated their facilities within theCold Lake Air Weapons range due to a nearby fire. The company did notimmediately respond to a request for comment. 

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