Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL) has announced plans to advance the development of the Jackpine North Mine Expansion, a significant capital undertaking estimated to cost between $7.5 and $9.0 billion with a projected development timeline of six years. Upon completion, this expansion is targeted to add 150,000 barrels per day (bbl/d) of bitumen production to the company's asset base.
While the foundational regulatory approvals for the expansion were secured by previous owner Shell in 2013, the updated project scope requires the construction of a new Extraction and Froth Treatment processing plant. 
The facility operates alongside the Muskeg River Mine as part of the wider Albian Sands Project (current capacity: 328,000 bbl/d); however, unlike existing Albian volumes that are processed at the Scotford Upgrader, production from this future Jackpine expansion train will be diluted and sold directly to the market as a diluted bitumen product.