CALGARY, Alberta, March 11 (Reuters) - Husky Energy Inc, Canada's No.3 integrated oil producer and refiner,said on Wednesday it has started oil production at the C$3.2billion ($2.5 billion) Sunrise oil sands project it co-owns withBP Plc.
The company, controlled by Hong Kong billionaire LiKa-shing, said it does not expect the 60,000 barrel per daythermal project, where steam is pumped into the ground toliquefy tarry bitumen from the world's third-largest crudereserve, to reach full output until the end of 2016.
The company has been working at the site, 60 kilometers (37miles) northeast of Fort McMurray, Alberta, for more than fouryears after sanctioning the project in late 2010. A second phasecould boost output to 200,000 bpd if the two partners decide togo ahead with the expansion.
Husky shares fell 49 Canadian cents to C$25.72 on Wednesdayon the Toronto Stock Exchange.
($1 = 1.2747 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by Scott Haggett; Editing by Diane Craft)
BP (BP.)
