Learn more about Hart Energy Conferences
Get our latest conference schedules, updates and insights straight to your inbox.
Canada’s Suncor Energy faces a long slog to fix its poor safety record and regain investor confidence, analysts said on July 11, after CEO Mark Little resigned following another worker fatality at a company site.
Little stepped down as head of Canada’s third-largest oil producer on July 8, a day after a worker was killed at Suncor’s oil sands base plant in northern Alberta.
It was the fifth fatality at a Suncor site since 2019, when Little became CEO, and the 13th since 2014, by far the worst safety record among Canadian oil producers.
“This level of events is something we have never seen in the 25 years of covering the sector,” Phil Skolnick, an analyst at investment dealer Eight Capital, wrote in a note to clients.
“This is not just the CEO’s fault ... Ultimately, we believe a meaningful overhaul will be needed; and we see that taking time and money.”
RELATED:
Suncor Considers Sale of Gas Stations after Deal with Activist Investor
Little was already under pressure from U.S. activist investment firm Elliott Management, which in April disclosed a 3.4% stake in Suncor and called for a management overhaul, new board members and improved operating performance.
Elliott also highlighted Suncor’s poor safety record and its share price underperformance versus rival oil sands producers.
Neither Elliott nor Suncor immediately responded to requests for comment.
Daniel Loeb’s investment firm Third Point also revealed a stake in Suncor in May, acquiring 3.5 million shares.
Capital Eight and brokerage Raymond James both downgraded Suncor’s stock on July 11. The company’s shares closed down 2.1% on the Toronto Stock Exchange at CA$41.52.
Calgary, Alberta-based Suncor, which is a also refiner and owns one of Canada’s largest retail fuel networks, named Kris Smith, executive vice president of downstream, as interim CEO while the board searches for a replacement for Little.
The next CEO will likely be hired from outside Suncor in a process that could take several months, said Laura Lau, chief investment officer at Brompton Group, a Suncor shareholder.
“I’d expect there to be some turmoil for a while,” Lau said. “Improving operations takes time and improving a culture takes even longer.”
National Bank analyst Travis Wood said a long-term cultural shift was needed across the 17,000-strong workforce.
“The size, scale and integrated nature of Suncor’s operations is another reason we do not believe the blame should fall on one person, leaving us to consider that additional executive changes will likely be required,” Wood said in a note.
“There is no easy fix.”
Recommended Reading
Aethon Cuts Rigs but Wants More Western Haynesville Acreage
2024-03-28 - Private gas E&P Aethon Energy has drilled some screamers in its far western Haynesville Shale play—and the company wants to do more in the area.
Energy Transition in Motion (Week of March 28, 2024)
2024-03-28 - Here is a look at some of this week’s renewable energy news, including proposals submitted to develop about 6.8 gigawatts of wind projects offshore Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
SLB to Acquire Majority Stake in Aker Carbon Capture
2024-03-28 - SLB and Aker Carbon Capture plan to combine their technology portfolios, expertise and operations platforms to bring carbon capture technologies to market faster and more economically, SLB said in a news release.
CERAWeek: Tecpetrol CEO Touts Argentina Conventional, Unconventional Potential
2024-03-28 - Tecpetrol CEO Ricardo Markous touted Argentina’s conventional and unconventional potential saying the country’s oil production would nearly double by 2030 while LNG exports would likely evolve over three phases.
DUG GAS+: Chesapeake in Drill-but-don’t-turn-on Mode
2024-03-28 - COO Josh Viets said Chesapeake is cutting costs and ready to take advantage once gas prices rebound.