Greenpeace: Shell reopens mine as protest enters second day.
Muskeg mine reopens despite protest
Shell said today the Muskeg River oil sands mine in northern Alberta was operating at full production as an environmental protest at the site entered its second day.
Shell said it has let the Greenpeace protesters continue their action, which is aimed at spreading the message that development of Canada's oil sands worsens climate change.
The peaceful demonstration coincides with Canadian Prime Minster Stephen Harper's visit with US President Barack Obama in Washington this morning.
About 25 activists entered the mine on yesterday and locked down a massive dump truck and mining shovel.
The company temporarily suspended production at the 155,000 barrel per day site, but resumed operations late in the day.
A Greenpeace spokesman who spent the night on the truck in the mine said the group would remain at the site until at least the Harper-Obama meeting ends.
"The objective of action is really to send a strong message to President Obama and Prime Minister Harper in their meeting today that real climate leaders don't buy tar sands," Mike Hudema said in a Reuters report.
Hudema said there was a "cordial atmosphere" among the demonstrators and Shell staff at the mine, and both sides stressed they were taking care to ensure the safety of everyone.
"Our offer to discuss their concerns about oil sands developments and their vision for the energy future still stands. Greenpeace has not yet responded," the oil major said in a statement.
The company said it is working to hard to improve its environmental performance, by developing a carbon capture and storage project for its oil sands operations and advocating a Canadian and international carbon cap and trade policy.
The mine's other owners are US supermajor Chevron and US giant Marathon Oil, with 20% each.
It is one of four major oil sands mining operations near Fort McMurray, Alberta.