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Internal bitumen transfers reached 45,300 bbls/d in the fourth quarter of 2023, demonstrating the increased level of integration within Suncor’s regional Oil Sands assets. The increase was primarily driven by 41,800 bbls/d of bitumen transferred from Fort Hills to upgrading at Oil Sands Base, taking advantage of the yield uplift from Fort Hills barrels.
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The company’s saleable non-upgraded bitumen production increased to 281,700 bbls/d in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to 170,600 bbls/d in the prior year quarter, reflecting the company’s increased working interest and strong production at Fort Hills, as well as increased In Situ and Fort Hills bitumen production sent to market in the current quarter due to lower upgrader availability as a result of the planned turnaround at Oil Sands Base Upgrader 2.
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E&P production during the fourth quarter of 2023 decreased compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due to the divestment of the company’s U.K. portfolio.
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Refinery crude throughput was 455,900 bbls/d and refinery utilization was 98% in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to 440,000 bbls/d and 94% in the prior year quarter, reflecting strong utilization across all refineries in the current quarter, and the impact of unplanned maintenance in the prior year quarter.
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Refined product sales were 575,500 bbls/d in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to 548,200 bbls/d in the prior year quarter, with the increase due to higher refinery production, partially offset by a larger build of refined product inventory in the current quarter compared to the prior year quarter.
Corporate and Strategy Updates
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Closed purchase of TotalEnergies’ Canadian operations. On November 20, 2023, Suncor completed the acquisition of TotalEnergies Canada, which held the remaining 31.23% working interest in Fort Hills, for $1.468 billion before closing adjustments and other closing costs, making Suncor the sole owner of Fort Hills. The effective date of the transaction was April 1, 2023.
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Terra Nova return to production. The Terra Nova Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading vessel safely restarted production in the fourth quarter of 2023, with production expected to continue ramping up in the beginning of 2024.
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Quarterly dividend increase. In the fourth quarter of 2023, Suncor’s Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.545 per share, an increase of approximately 5% over the prior quarter dividend.
Corporate Guidance Updates
There have been no changes to the corporate guidance ranges previously issued on December 5, 2023.
For further details and advisories regarding Suncor’s 2024 corporate guidance, see www.suncor.com/guidance.
Normal Course Issuer Bid (NCIB)
Subsequent to the fourth quarter of 2023, the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) accepted a notice filed by Suncor to renew its NCIB to purchase the company’s common shares through the facilities of the TSX, New York Stock Exchange and/or alternative trading systems. The notice provides that, beginning February 26, 2024, and ending February 25, 2025, Suncor may purchase for cancellation up to 128,700,000 common shares, which is equal to approximately 10% of Suncor’s public float of 1,287,130,400 common shares as of February 12, 2024. On February 12, 2024, Suncor had 1,287,461,183 common shares issued and outstanding.
The actual number of common shares that may be purchased under the NCIB and the timing of any such purchases will be determined by Suncor. Suncor believes that, depending on the trading price of its common shares and other relevant factors, purchasing its own shares represents an attractive investment opportunity and is in the best interests of the company and its shareholders. The company does not expect the decision to allocate cash to repurchase shares will affect its long-term strategy.
Pursuant to Suncor’s previous NCIB, Suncor agreed that it would not purchase more than 132,900,000 common shares between February 17, 2023, and February 16, 2024. Between February 17, 2023, and February 16, 2024, and pursuant to Suncor’s previous NCIB, Suncor repurchased 47,106,802 shares on the open market for approximately $2.0 billion, at a weighted average price of $42.87 per share.
Subject to the block purchase exemption that is available to Suncor for regular open market purchases under the NCIB, Suncor will limit daily purchases of Suncor common shares on the TSX in connection with the NCIB to no more than 25% (1,970,790 common shares) of the average daily trading volume of Suncor’s common shares on the TSX during the previous six-month period (7,883,161 common shares). Purchases under the NCIB will be made through open market purchases at market price, as well as by other means as may be permitted by securities regulatory authorities. Suncor expects to enter into an automatic share purchase plan in relation to purchases made in connection with the NCIB on February 26, 2024.
Measurement Conversions
Certain natural gas volumes in this document have been converted to boe on the basis of one bbl to six mcf. See the Advisories section of this document.