Suncor released its 2022 corporate guidance today which supports the previous announcements of doubling the dividend, increasing share buybacks and lowering the capital program by $300 million.
The 2022 guidance reflects strong operational performance across all assets and continued capital and cost discipline. Highlights include:
- Upstream production of 750,000 to 790,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d), approximately five per cent higher than the expected 2021 levels, supported by the Fort Hills ramp-up to full rates and partially offset by the sale of Golden Eagle;
- Record Synthetic Crude Oil (SCO) production capturing the additional upgraded crude value, approximately five per cent higher than 2021 expected levels;
- Refinery throughput in-line with 2019 levels and highest anticipated sales in the company’s history from our industry leading downstream business, positioned to capture strong and improving consumer demand, and;
- Capital program of $4.7 billion, six per cent or $300 million below the previously announced $5 billion planned capital program ceiling.
“Our strong execution in 2021 and confidence in our plan enabled us to double the dividend, increase the buyback program to seven per cent of the public float, and reduce net debt at the highest annual pace ever,” said Mark Little, president and chief executive officer. “We enter 2022 with strong momentum and remain steadfast in our focus on operational excellence, capital and cost discipline, increasing shareholder returns and delivering a more resilient future for Suncor.”
Production & Operating Cost Guidance
Suncor’s expected upstream production of 750,000 to 790,000 boe/d represents an approximately five per cent year-over-year increase from expected 2021 levels supported by the Fort Hills ramp-up to full rates, partially offset by the sale of Golden Eagle.
Suncor’s Oil Sands operations production of 395,000 to 435,000 barrels per day (bbls/d) and cash operating costs per barrel of $25 – $28 reflects a larger proportion of production being higher margin SCO as well as planned maintenance at Firebag – its first major turnaround in 10 years.
Fort Hills production of 85,000 to 100,000 bbls/d, net to Suncor, represents a two-train operation for the year and expected utilization of 90 per cent. This production increase and focus on costs is expected to result in an approximately 40 per cent reduction of Fort Hills cash operating costs per barrel to $23.00 – $27.00 compared to the midpoint of 2021 guidance. Fort Hills will ramp up imminently in late December 2021 to a stable two train operation.
Under the first year of Suncor operatorship, Syncrude’s production guidance of 175,000 to 190,000 bbls/d is approximately five per cent higher than 2021 expected production and cash operating costs per barrel are expected to reduce by three per cent, to $31.00 – $34.00 per barrel when compared to midpoint of 2021 guidance, as a result of previously announced synergies.
The downstream business is expected to deliver throughput on par with 2019 levels as consumer demand in 2022 is expected to continue to increase from current levels as demand recovers.
(Globe Newswire)
