Part of Royalties

Oil sands rates of return

This page provides rate-of-return statistics, including the long-term bond rate and non-arm’s length (NAL) transactions for non-basic pipelines.

Long-term bond rate

The Long-term bond rate (LTBR), simple average rate and return allowance rate are available in monthly and year end files. Long-term bond rates from 1995 to 2012 are also available.

Table 1. Non-Arm’s Length

This is the Non-Arm’s Length transaction Non-Basic Pipeline chart, please note that from 2018 to 2004 the deemed corporate income tax rate type was variable. From 2003 to 1995 the corporate income tax rate type was fixed.

YearRate of Return on CapitalDeemed Corporate Income Tax
20237.55%23.00%Final
20226.71%23.00%Final
20215.87%23.00%Final
20205.78%24.00%Final
20196.81%26.50%Final
20187.05%27.00%Final
20176.64%27.00%Final
20166.88% Pg. 5 [see breakdown including prior year data] (Note: Revised due to new information)27.00%Final
20157.18%27.00%Final
20147.49%25.00%Final
20137.03%25.00%Final
20127.10%25.00%Final
20117.98%26.50%Final
20108.63%28.00%Final
20098.84%29.00%Final
20089.07%29.50%Final
20079.25%32.12%Final
20069.83%34.50%Final
200510.77%37.62%Final
200411.36%38.87%Final
200312.64%45.00%Fixed
200212.54%45.00%Fixed
200112.65%45.00%Fixed
200012.92%45.00%Fixed
199912.60%45.00%Fixed
199813.18%45.00%Fixed
199714.12%45.00%Fixed
199615.19%45.00%Fixed

Learn more

Refer to these pages for more help:

More on rates of return

Return allowance

All pre-payout projects are allowed a return allowance on the excess of cumulative costs, less cumulative revenue.

For post-payout projects, a return allowance may be claimed if a project has a net loss for the year.

In the case of pre-payout projects, the amount is calculated monthly. In the case of post-payout projects, the amount is calculated annually.

The rate of the return allowance is tied to the long-term bond rate, set by the Bank of Canada. The legislative authority for the return allowance is provided by Section 2 of the Oil Sands Allowed Costs (Ministerial) Regulation.

Non-arm’s length (NAL) pipeline return rate

Pipelines used to transport bitumen or bitumen blend to market are not allowed as project assets. As a result, only a per-unit charge is allowed based on volumes actually transported.

In the case of NAL pipelines, the amount charged is calculated by a formula. It includes a return-on-capital component, which is tied to the return allowed by the National Energy Board for multi-rate pipelines.

More information on this cost-of-service formula can be found in Section 5.3 of the Oil Sands Royalty Guidelines, 2018.

Contact

Connect with Oil Sands, Coal and Mineral Operations:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)

Email:
Oil Sands Royalty Project Applications and Compliance [email protected]
Oil Sands Royalty Administration [email protected]
Oil Sands Royalty Information Management [email protected]
Oil Sands Tenure [email protected]

Mailing Address:
Alberta Energy and Minerals
Oil Sands, Coal and Mineral Operations
6th floor, Petroleum Plaza, North Tower
9945 108 Street
Edmonton Alberta  T5K 2G6

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