Ronan Huitric, vice president of oil sands alliance for Total E&P Canada Ltd., addresses a crowd of about 150 engineering students.

Edmonton—A vice-president of the world’s fifth-largest oil company met with a group of U of A engineering students, saying his firm wants to draw from a strong field of candidates as its Canadian operations expand.

Ronan Huitric, vice president of oil sands alliance for Total E&P Canada Ltd., told a crowd of about 150 engineering students that Total is interested in energy as a product, not simply oil and gas, and that it will gradually increase its Canadian staff to more than 1,500. In Alberta alone, the company plans to be producing more than 300,000 barrels of oil per day 2018.

Global demand for energy is shifting and growing and more clean and renewable energy technologies are being developed. But fossil fuels will continue to dominate for the coming decades as the world transitions to a mix of energy sources, he said.

So it’s natural that Total, which operates in 130 countries, would get involved in Alberta’s Oilsands—making a $20 billion investment. It has also invested about $1 billion in research and development in 2010, he said.

Huitric told the students that careers in energy are demanding and rewarding.

“I hope that people in this part of the country are convinced, but the only thing I can tell you is that it’s fun,” he said. “You really face a lot fo challenges, they are never the same, and energy is at the heart of everything.”

Students appreciated the chance to learn more about the company.

“It’s really good, especially for international students because they don’t necessarily have networks here,” said Shima Khatibisepehr, an international student from Iran who is working on her PhD in chemical engineering. “It’s good to have a chance to become familiar with a company this way.”

Michel Herszak, who is working on his PhD in mechanical engineering, attended because he is interested in energy.

“For me, Alberta is an energy capital and I am interested in energy development,” he said. “Any time the future of energy or the mix of energy is being discussed, I will show up.”

Huitric said a tour of U of A engineering research labs was impressive, adding that he wanted to address the students because the faculty has a solid reputation.

“I have been told this is one of the most experienced places we can draw from and we like to draw from great resources in terms of natural resources and human resources.”