Company: IMO
Filing Date: 2025-02-19
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0000049938-25-000015
Chunk: 14

Company: IMPERIAL OIL LTD
Filing Date: 2025-02-19
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 1A
Chunk 14
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Operational efficiency

An important component of Imperial’s competitive performance, especially given the commodity-based nature of the company’s business, is the ability to operate efficiently, including the company’s ability to manage expenses and improve production yields on an ongoing basis. This requires continuous management focus, including technological integration and improvements, cost control, productivity enhancements and regular reappraisal of the company’s asset portfolio. The company’s operations and results also depend on key personnel and subject matter expertise, the recruitment, development and retention of high caliber employees, and the availability of skilled labour.

Research and development and technical change

Imperial relies upon the research and development organizations of the company and ExxonMobil, with whom the company conducts shared research. Innovation and technology are important to maintain the company’s competitive position, especially in light of the technological nature of Imperial’s business, the dynamic and rapidly evolving technological landscape, and the need for continuous efficiency improvement. 

The company’s research and development organizations must be able to adapt to a changing market, regulatory and policy environment, including developing or deploying technologies to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions intensity. To remain competitive, the company must also continuously adapt and capture the benefits of new technologies including growing the company’s capabilities to utilize digital data technologies (including but not limited to artificial intelligence technologies) to gain new business insights and support business operations. 

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There are risks associated with existing and new operations and projects that rely on new technology, including that the results of implementing the new technology may differ from simulated, piloted or expected results. The failure to develop and adopt new technology may have an adverse impact on the company’s operations, ability to meet regulatory requirements and operational commitments and targets (including those relating to environmental sustainability and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions), and financial results.

In 2023, the company’s Kearl site completed its multiyear program to convert its 81 haul trucks to autonomous operation. The autonomous system is composed of perception systems, sensors and mechanical components on each truck, which feed information to a number of onboard computer systems. These onboard computer systems send real time information over a wireless network to a central server and database that displays real time information to central control room operators who manage the overall fleet’s operation. Computer automation systems are used to both maneuver the individual trucks and in an overarching truck assignment application which manages truck routing patterns. The use of the autonomous system helps the company to capture productivity improvements while also reducing costs and further enhancing operational safety. Failure of the autonomous system to operate as intended could result in material adverse impacts to production