Some facts about Syncrude and its Mildred Lake site

Mar 14, 2017 | 3:30 PM

FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. — Syncrude Canada was responding to an explosion and fire Tuesday at its upgrader at Mildred Lake near Fort McMurray in northern Alberta. Here are some facts about Syncrude:

Incorporated in 1964. Started operations in 1978.

Current production capacity 350,000 barrels a day of high-quality light crude oil. Cumulative production exceeds 2.4 billion barrels.

 Employs about 5,000 people directly as well as another 2,400 contract employees on average.