"The projects, four in total, collectively pump around 600,000 barrels a day of tar oil, which is converted into synthetic crude at special upgrading facilities,..."
This is not crude oil, but highly refined tar into synthetic crude, a very costly upgrade. This process is licensed by Chevron. If we pull out (I work for Chevron)they can't run the plant. Guess they get 100% of no profit.
By the way, 50 % of what? This garbage oil no one else wants isn't worth anything unless upgraded.
While the market moguls drive up the trading price of the good stuff, these guys make big bucks cooking the crap crude along with the books.