Diluted bitumen, also known as dilbit, a mixture of oil sands bitumen and natural gas dilutants can seriously harm fish populations, according to research study at Queen’s University and the Royal Military College of Canada published this week. At toxic concentrations, effects of dilbit on exposed fish included deformities and clear signs of genetic and […]
Energy Hearings The Northern Gateway Joint Review Panel has released its schedule for first round hearings for the Northern Gateway Pipeline. The panel will visit most of the towns along the pipeline route and the coast. One surprise is that the bulk of the northwestern hearings will be held in Prince Rupert, not Kitimat as […]
Politics Environment Environment minister Peter Kent has attacked critics of the Northern Gateway pipeline while speaking to reporters at the climate conference in Durban, South Africa, Sunmedia/Quebecor reports. Foreigners funding 'mischief' against Canada's oilsands: Kent Environment Minister Peter Kent has warned that some of the opposition to the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline, which would run […]
Energy Environment A study by an Alberta provincial government agency has concluded that diluted bitumen (also known in the industry as "dilbit") is little different in its effects on pipelines than conventional or 'non-oil sands derived' crude oil. A review of existing studies was conducted by Jenny Been, P.Eng for the provincial agency, Alberta […]
Energy Environment Politics Updated 1915 Nov. 10, with link to TransCanada statement, 1940 with more reaction. The United States Department of State has delayed approval of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline until 2013. A news release posted on the State Department's website confirmed earlier media speculation about a delay in the pipeline project approval until […]
Energy Environment Politics Canada's minister of natural resources, Joe Oliver, has embarked on a media blitz, quietly pushing the idea that Canada will go ahead and build the Northern Gateway pipeline to send bitumen sands to Asia if the United States blocks the Keystone XL pipeline from Alberta to Texas. In a meeting with The […]
Energy Environment Commentary Michael Byers, the Canada Research Chair in Global Politics and International Law at UBC, writes about the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline in Salon.com, largely for an American audience, calling the pipeline The evil twin of the Keystone XL oil pipeline U.S. opponents of the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline should take take […]
Energy China is probably the largest long term customer for liquified natural gas that will be shipped through the port of Kitimat, executives from Encana, one of the three partners in the KM LNG project said in an investor conference call Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011. India could also be big customer for LNG shipped from […]
Editorial Memo to my media friends and colleagues: Last Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011, the District of Kitimat sponsored an "educational forum" here at Mount Elizabeth Theatre on the controversial Northern Gateway pipeline project which, if approved, would carry bitumen from Alberta to the port of Kitimat and on to Asia..There was an hour of presentations […]