20 SEPTEMBER 2003, Page 38

The price isn't right

From W. Oise Sir: Regarding the article by Paul Michael Wihbey about the Alberta oil sands (`The end of the affair', 6 September), the proven reserves are immense, but the extraction of this oil would be very difficult, and very large expenditures would be required to enable these oil sands to replace the Saudi supplies. I believe at present there are two extraction plants and, although I do not know the current figure, some years ago, when I was in the oil industry, a figure of $25 a barrel was required for it to be eco nomical. I am sure that is higher now. Crise11

Ontario, Canada