Canada’s biggest oil sands producers, which have stubbornly resisted halting output even as the price of their crude hits record lows, are planning a higher-than-normal maintenance schedule this year The move is seen temporarily curbing supply in the second and third quarters, which should lift crude prices in the region and give producers a respite from selling their barrels below cash costs. Among producers planning major work at their facilities, Suncor is planning the first five-yearly turnaround on its U2 upgrader, Cenovus has three turnarounds planned versus none last year and Canadian Natural has scheduled 30-35 days of maintenance deferred from 2015. Not all producers disclose the impact on output, making year-on-year comparisons difficult, but Suncor, Cenovus and Canadian Natural’s turnarounds alone will shut off about […]