Suncor production rebound after Fort McMurray fire leads to profit

A pedestrian is reflected in a Suncor Energy sign in this photo taken in Calgary on Feb. 1, 2010. (Jeff McIntosh/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

CALGARY - Oilsands giant Suncor Energy is reporting net third-quarter earnings of $392 million compared with a net loss of $376 million in the same period of last year.

The Calgary-based company reports a strong production rebound after second-quarter interruptions caused by the wildfire that swept through Fort McMurray, Alta.

It says output from its own oilsands operations rose to 433,700 barrels per day in the three months ended Sept. 30 from 178,000 bpd in the second quarter.

It says its 54 per cent ownership of Syncrude Canada delivered 183,800 bpd in the third quarter versus 36,000 bpd in the second quarter. It increased its 2016 production guidance from Syncrude by 15,000 bpd based on the improved reliability.

Operating earnings, which strip out one-time and non-cash items such as foreign exchange losses, were $346 million, down from $410 million in the third quarter of 2015, as lower crude oil prices and refinery profit margins offset operating improvements and lower costs.

In a release, Suncor said it started a sales process for certain assets in its renewable energy business in the third quarter and advanced a previously announced sales process for its lubricants division.