Alberta is pursuing international oil sales to diversify markets, reduce reliance on U.S. trade, and strengthen global energy partnerships.

Alberta’s government is moving ahead with plans to allow oil sands producers to pay their royalties in bitumen, letting it turn around and sell those barrels in a major expansion of the government’s role in the market.

The Alberta government says Premier Danielle Smith has been in talks with a multinational oil and petrochemical player about selling two million barrels per month of province-owned heavy oil.