By Ethan Caleb   »   Canada's crude production is expected to double over the next 15 years, according to a new forecast, fuelling concerns that the country may be headed for a serious worker shortage.

If the forecast is on target, it would possibly mean an increase in the number of immigrants being accepted or a new foreign worker policy to deal with the need for manpower.

The country’s total crude production is expected to rise from 2.5 million barrels per day last year to 4.6 million barrels a day in 2015, according to a revised projection by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP). This is  a significant increase in CAPP’s forecasts from a year ago, and highlights growth at the Alberta oilsands following several newly announced projects and expansions.

By 2020, CAPP expects output to touch nearly 4.9 million barrels per day. Alberta's oilsands production, which currently accounts for over 1 million barrels per day, is expected to quadruple in 15 years and make up 80 per cent of the nation’s total output.

The CAPP report warned that production at the oilsands and the pace of development could be hampered by several factors, including a lack of manpower.

“Although solutions such as training and immigration are planned, it takes time to gear up government processes and support systems that deal with increasing the supply of qualified manpower,” the forecast said.

“This may pose a challenge not only for oilsands development but also the key support sectors, such as education, housing and infrastructure.”