Canada: Oil sands mine protest ends
Greenpeace calls off Muskeg protest
Greenpeace activists who occupied mining equipment at Anglo-Dutch Shell's Canadian oil sands project ended their protest today after one and a half days and were escorted away without facing charges, the environmental group said.
Shell said production at the Muskeg River mine operated at normal rates throughout the day as the demonstrators worked to spread their message that developing the oil sands hampers the fight against global warming.
The protest, which began with 25 activists and ended with 15, coincided with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's visit with US President Barack Obama in Washington today.
Greenpeace spokesman Mike Hudema said the group was allowed to leave the mine after leaders spoke with company officials and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
The Harper-Obama meeting did not produce the results that climate change activists hoped for, reported Reuters.
The activists entered the mine, north of Fort McMurray, Alberta, 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.
Hudema said there was a "cordial atmosphere" between demonstrators and Shell staff at the mine, and both sides stressed they had taken care to ensure the safety of everyone.
Shell said it is working hard to improve its environmental performance by developing a carbon capture and storage project for its oil sands operations, and by advocating a Canadian and international carbon cap and trade policy.
The Muskeg River mine's other owners are Chevron and Marathon Oil, with 20% each.