Suncor Energy Inc. says it will spend between $4.5 billion and $5 billion in 2018 to deliver average upstream production of about 760,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

All three projects are now over 95% built and transitioning into start up.

Suncor Energy’s plan to clean up tailings in some of its oil sands operations using water capping, also known as an end-pit lake, have hit a snag as the Alberta Energy Regulator rejected the proposal saying the firm’s plan lacked evidence the strategies would work.

Royal Dutch Shell, a long-time advocate of pricing carbon, says the strategy needs to be maintained regardless of what happens south of the border.